New models - Mazda - Mazda3 - DieselDiesel drive for Mazda3The battle for small-car diesel sales intensifies with the Mazda3 Diesel15 Aug 2007 MAZDA Australia has added a diesel engine option to its wildly successful Mazda3 five-door hatch and four-door small-car range. Priced at $30,500 – or $3000 more than the equivalently equipped petrol-powered model – it uses the same MZR-CD 2.0-litre single-cam turbo-diesel four-cylinder unit as found in the Mazda6. An advanced engine, common-rail injection is used to pump fuel at a high 1800bar pressure, optimising power output and reducing nitrogen and particulate emissions, while a variable-geometry turbo aids torque accessibility across a wide rev-range. A relatively low compression ratio of 16.7:1 and a multi-stage injection system also help quell diesel clatter. Like its mid-sized sibling, the ‘3’ Diesel will only be available with the three-shaft six-speed manual gearbox also found in the 3MPS. An automatic is still some time away from production, and may not even make it before the current-generation Mazda3 is replaced sometime later next year or in early 2009. With outputs eclipsing the best that the “affordable” European diesel competition can offer, the MZR-CD delivers 105kW of power at 3500rpm and 360Nm of torque at 2000rpm. The 0-100km/h sprint takes 9.5 seconds, top speed is around 200km/h and the ADR 81/01 combined fuel-consumption average is 6.0L/100km. The latter means that the ‘3’ Diesel can travel 1010km on a single tank of fuel. To aid the CO2 figure of 162g/km (Euro figures only), the MZR-CD engine boasts a self-cleaning particulate filter trap to meet Euro IV emissions standards, as part of the diesel-specific exhaust system. Both body versions are based on – and look like – the popular sub-sports/luxury Maxx Sport model. However, the Diesel adds electronic stability control and traction control as standard, along with six airbags and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist. Larger brakes are also part of the Diesel deal, with the 300mm ventilated front and 280mm solid rear disc brakes shared with the 2.3-litre petrol SP23 models in the range. Also included are air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, a six-disc CD/MP3 compatibility audio, the Maxx Sport bodykit and 16-inch alloy wheels. To cope with almost twice the torque of the 182Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine, the front-wheel driveshafts have been beefed up. Mazda has stiffened the body MPS-style, by fitting reinforcements from the ‘3’ MPS. These include a stronger front suspension upper plate, front cowl member and middle tunnel cross member. Furthermore, the Diesel scores a uniquely tuned version of the MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension set-up, which also include front and rear anti-roll bars that are wider by 2mm - to 23mm and 22mm respectively. There have been no changes to the hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering system. Mazda is looking at shifting around 130 Mazda3 Diesels per month, with the sedan expected to outsell the hatch two-to-one, as it does in the petrol range. The last Japanese-built small car diesel to be sold in Australia was the Holden TE-TG Gemini Diesel, from 1981 to 1984. Read more:First drive: Distillate diet makes Mazda3 meatierDiesel revolution is here Read GoAuto's drive impressions of the Mazda6 diesel range All new modelsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hyundai HSV Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Pagani Opel Porsche Peugeot Ram Proton Rolls-Royce Renault Saab Rover Smart Skoda Subaru SsangYong Tesla Suzuki Volkswagen Toyota Volvo Mazda3 pricing
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