Well, this is kind of embarrassing. Turns out that despite sharing the same reveal date with what’s largely presumed to be the debut of the turbocharged Mazda 3, the surprise the Japanese manufacturer had in store for our market was something else.
This is the Mazda 3 clad in its new edition100 trim, and it’s what Mazda Philippines has been hyping up on social media for the past couple of days. So yeah, no turbo here, but if you add P100,000 on top of the 2.0-liter Mazda 3 Sportback’s P1,510,000 price tag, you get a substantial amount of added aesthetic.
First, you’ll notice that there is a prominent use of contrasting colors here: Opt for the Soul Crystal Red option, and your 3 gets stylish gloss black add-ons to the exterior. Choose Snowflake White Pearl or Jet Black for your 3’s exterior, and it’s matched with some eye-popping use of Soul Red.
The edtion100 package also equips the compact car with Midnight Black 18-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, and a different position for the vehicle’s front license plate holder. Inside, you’ll find attractive red leather seats and trim, too. No performance upgrades here, so edition100 units will still run on a 2.0-liter SkyActiv-G gasoline engine capable of 152hp and up to 200Nm of torque.
“For a hundred years now, Mazda has been at the forefront of designing and creating vehicles that arouse the emotions of its owner,” Steven Tan, Mazda Philippines president and CEO, said in a statement.
“We introduce the Mazda3 edition100 as the first model to celebrate the brand’s unrelenting passion for seamlessly combining stimulating design with groundbreaking engineering. As this year’s World Car Design of the Year winner, the Mazda3 edition100 becomes an even more compelling choice for those who appreciate the exclusivity of distinction.”
The edition100 package endows the Mazda 3 with what’s undoubtedly it’s sportiest appearance yet. Is this a look that appeals to you?