It looks like Mazda Mexico let the brand's upcoming turbocharged 3 out of the bag a wee bit early. Originally slated for a July 8 reveal (according to a teaser Mazda released a few weeks back), the latest addition to the Mazda 3 family had the wraps formally pulled off of it over the weekend in a video posted to Mazda Mexico's YouTube channel and hosted by Miguel Barbeyto, the president of Mazda's Mexican arm.
Per Barbeyto, the most powerful variant of the Japanese brand's compact model boasts a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder under its hood. It's almost certainly a familiar engine to Mazda fans, as a turbocharged 2.5-liter unit is already available in models such as the CX-5 and CX-9 crossover SUVs, as well as the 6 sedan. As in those Mazdas, the 3's new forced-induction four-pot packs 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque (likely rising to 250 horses and 320 lb-ft of twist on 93 octanes) and a six-speed automatic transmission. Better yet, the engine pairs exclusively with all-wheel drive (the 6 is front-drive only, while the CX-9 offers all-wheel drive as an option).