Highly rigid body
The basic development concept for the body shell of the all-new Mazda 3 was to improve the overall balance of the body's rigidity and ensure it firmly absorbs the reaction force of the dampers. To this end, particular attention went to reinforcing the area around the front and rear suspension mounts and the joint sections in each corner, which are subject to greater stress. Structural adhesive was used to strengthen the joints for the front and rear suspension towers, and spot welding was added to reinforce the joints of the door openings. The result is a substantial improvement in rigidity and body hysteresis (the degree of car body deformation due to repeated applications of torsional load).
See also:
Exterior
The 2007 redesign was as substantial as the 1999 reworking, which did away
with the pop-up headlights in favor of fixed units and a more curvaceous body.
The current generation retains the fixed h ...
Interior Lights
Illuminated Entry System
When the illuminated entry system
operates, the overhead light (switch is in
the DOOR position) turns on for:
- About 30 seconds after the driver's
door is unlocked and t ...
The Little Engine That Could
The Miata started its life with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that grew to 1.8
liters in 1994 and 2.0 liters with the current (third) generation in 2004.
Tweaks over the years, including the addition ...