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).
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Outside the United States and Canada
Government regulations in the United States and Canada require that
automobiles meet
specific emission regulations and safety standards. Therefore, vehicles built
for use in the
United States, i ...
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Operation
AWD provides excellent driveability on
snow-covered and ice-packed roads, sand
and mud, as well as on steep slopes and
other slippery surfaces.
AWD Driving
WARNING:
Avoid sharp turns, excessive ...
Competing for Space
The interior is well-engineered and well-executed, but there's no avoiding
the fact that there are six seats in a relatively small space. This isn't
uncommon, but many models sacrifice space in ju ...