hot hatch, nice Options

[Benevolence]

oh baby




What Is It?
Mazda MX Sportif

What's Special About It?
The MX Sportif is a thinly veiled version of Mazda's new global small car platform — think Protegé in the U.S. It was designed with the "zoom zoom zoom" philosophy firmly in mind, boasting muscular but not overly forceful bodywork and a chassis that promises playful vehicle dynamics. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine should prove adequate motivation for the vehicle's compact dimensions and the use of a multilink rear suspension, along with MacPherson struts up front, will likely provide class-leading ride and handling much like the current Protegé. Maximum comfort was the name of the game for the interior so the MX uses a long wheelbase and a wide stance for plenty of room for legs, shoulders and hips.

Why Should You Care?
Although a production version of the MX Sportif is likelier to land on European shores first, its eventual migration into Mazda's U.S. lineup won't be far behind. Considering that the Protegé5 is already widely considered by many to be the most fun-to-drive compact wagon around, any vehicle that promises even more performance and functionality should be a guaranteed hit.

-edmunds.com