There were two versions of the Mazda MX-3 that came out—the base model, which was equipped by a 1600cc in-line four engine; and the GS model which came with the small heavyweight of an engine, the 1.8-liter V6. The base model’s engine came with a 5-speed manual gearbox, 88 horsepower, and an EPA mileage figure of 29mpg for city driving and 35mpg highway driving.

The GS model came with a heftier 5-speed manual gearbox with a four-speed automatic transmission as another option. With the manual gearbox, the V-6 equipped GS registered 22 mpg for city driving and 28 mpg on highway driving.

The MX-3 first came out in 1992 and continued until 1994 in both the base and GS model. However, in 1995, the base model became the only choice. Mazda decided to take out the MX-3 model from its North America line up. While the MX-3 was, indeed, a sporty car fitted for the first timers and it sure was a blast to drive, a V-6 engine in a sporty coupe doest work out that well.

The MX-3 caught the attention of the market when everyone was looking away from the sports coupe then. The Mazda MX-3 said hello to the autophiles back in 1992 and had a production run until 1998. The Mazda MX-3 derived its DNA from the Mazda Familia EC Platform.

What made the MX-3 a hit was its veering away from the old style, boxy design of the 80s. It strut smooth lines that exuded some modern touch and sporty driving attitude.

For the MX-3, what you see is what you get. The car manufacturer gave buyers two options for the engine. There was the I4 that had a 1.6L powerplant and a V6 1.8L. It was also a sport coupe that Mazda marketed around the globe, thus the different identities. Canadians called it the MX-3 Precidia while the Australians tagged it as the Eunos30X. The Japanese had several labels like the AZ 3, Autozam AZ 3, and Eunos Presso.

The MX-3 also made some Hollywood appearanceslike in I Robot, The Italian Job, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Sweet November, 15 Minutes, Analyze That, ALIAS, and Someone Like You among others.

Shocked? Read on for the story behind that clip.

Somewhere along the scenic roads of Northern California, a Mazda3 was cruising to wherever the owner was going. As much as the first sentence sounded like a fairytale, this story is far from being one.

The story changed its phase when a BMW 335i exited a side street and pulling out just in front of the Mazda3 on the main road. The BMW driver stepped on the pedal while the Mazda3 decided to keep pace with the bimmer while keeping a good, safe distance.

The nice drive could have turned into an ugly fight when the owner of the BMW decided to suddenly stop and confronted the occupant of the Mazda. Swear words were thrown.

Good thing the driver of the Mazdaspeed3 kept his cool and avoided the fight.

What ticked off the bimmer owner is still a mystery. Maybe he bought the portion of the highway and was pissed off with the Mazda owner for entering a private property. If I were the driver of the Mazda tailing the BMW, I will not stop and just pass by a car suddenly stopping in front of me. Okay we have to credit the guy for keeping his composure instead of blowing his top like most drivers might have done.

The 2010 Mazda3′s exterior is a variation on the previous design, one sporting several minor changes. Among the changes are a redesign of the front grille, which features a large gap in the lower bumper, something some critics have compared unfavorably to a “sinister smile.” Other exterior alterations include the optional adaptive high-intensity-discharge xenon headlights, and LED taillights, as well as upgraded 17-inch tires to replace the standard 16-inchers. Also optional are a moon roof and a rear spoiler.

Interior features of the 2010 Mazda3, which is still being offered in both four-door hatchback and sedan versions, include a much more contemporary design, featuring front bucket seats and a rear bench (seating for a total of five including the driver), with optional upgrades from cloth upholstery to leather, heated or not. The backseat folds down in a 60/40 split to expand the cargo area in both versions of the car.

Other interior updates include red illumination for the gauges, and a screen atop the dashboard that displays air-conditioning and radio settings. There’s also an optional navigational system, which is operated via a collection of buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. A CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack, power windows, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel are all standard across the line, with air conditioning standard on every trim level except the base iSV, and cruise control and remote keyless entry standard on every trim but the iSV and the iSport.

Under the hood of the 2010 Mazda3 there’s a 2.0 liter, 148 horsepower, four-cylinder engine that comes mated to either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission, but the s-models come with a 2.5 liter, 167 horsepower, four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission (though the five-speed automatic is still an option). The automatic transmission comes with a clutchless-manual mode that allows driver control of gear changes, via a console gear selector.

Not surprisingly, it’s the manual-transmission Mazda3i that nets the best results in EPA gas mileage, coming in at 25 mpg in the city / 33 mpg highway. The automatic transmission reduces the city rating by 1 mpg, while the s-models are rated at 21 city/29 highway when fitted with a manual transmission, and 22 city/29 highway with an automatic.

Standard safety features of the 2010 Mazda3 include side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and an antilock braking system. All s-models and the iTouring model also come with an electronic stability system.

The starting MSRP for the 2010 Mazda3 ranges from US $15,045 – $21,500 depending on the trim level chosen.