Mazda reveals special edition 3 and 3 MPS at the SEMA Show

As part of the package, both cars come with Crystal White Pearl paintwork with soft gray graphics similar to that of the Mazda 3 World Challenge race car. The paintjob is a modern twist on the famous Renown graphics used on the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991.

Other styling changes include black paint being applied on the grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, roof, as well as the insides of the front headlamps, which was previously chromed. The cars also get tinted windows, dark red taillight lenses and 19-inch lightweight forged aluminium wheels.

The Mazda 3 has also been given a boost in power, with its 2.5 litre engine now producing 250bhp, thanks to a turbocharger and rugged cast iron turbo manifold supplied by Tri-Point Engineering, who also creates the World Challenge cars for Mazda. To cope with the extra power, the brakes have been replaced, with the front set taken from the Mazda 3 MPS and the rears using those on the Mazda 5. The suspension uses double-adjustable coil-overs from KW and a Tri-Point adjustable rear stabilizer bar further assists with the handling.

The Mazda 3 MPS meanwhile, has been given a new AEM cold-air intake to increase output by 20bhp.The powerplant remains mostly unchanged, and most of the modifications has been done to the suspension, with the top mounts of the KW coil-overs on the front struts modified to increase camber and provide additional cornering grip. The brakes have also been replaced on the modified 3 MPS, with the same system found in the World Challenge race car being used.