Hoping Mazda Southern Africa will soon add the new turbocharged Mazda3 to its local range? Well, we’ve got some bad news for you.

The Japanese firm’s local arm has confirmed to CARmag.co.za the “turbocharged engine [in the Mazda3] is only offered to the North American market for the next few years”.

Dubbed the Mazda3 2,5 Turbo, the new variant was first revealed in Mexico before Mazda released further details in the United States.

The turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2,5T unit (offered in that market in both hatchback and sedan body styles) generates 169 kW and 420 N.m when fed 87-octane petrol and 186 kW and 434 N.m when run on 93-octane fuel. That oomph is directed to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

As a reminder, the local Mazda3 range, which touched down in South Africa in July 2019, currently includes a naturally aspirated 1,5-litre unit (88 kW/153 N.m) and a similarly atmospheric 2,0-litre with 121 kW and 213 N.m. Some other markets also receive the Japanese firm’s Skyactiv-X motor.

Original article from Car