🔥 A 300-HP, AWD successor to the Mazdaspeed3 could finally be on the way, potentially bringing Mazda back into the serious hot-hatch fight. The Mazdaspeed3 disappeared after 2013 after two generations, leaving Mazda without a true performance hatchback for more than a decade. The original packed a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 263 HP and 280 lb-ft, sending everything through the front wheels with a limited-slip differential and plenty of infamous torque steer. Mazda later showed the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept and officially said it was considering the Mazda3-based special model for commercialization. Now, a new report out of Japan says a production performance Mazda3 could use Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with dedicated tuning targeting roughly 300 PS. For reference, the existing 2.5 Turbo already makes up to 255 HP and 317 lb-ft on premium fuel, giving Mazda a strong starting point for a hotter version. The report also points to AWD as a strong possibility...