Mazda 3 Concept by Bermaz’s MazdaSports division hints at new MS Edition – on display at 1U till April 13
Mazda distributor Bermaz is making full use of its prime location at 1 Utama’s Oval this week. The mall’s centrestage was used for yesterday’s 2025 Mazda MX-5 launch, and although the iconic roadster – both […] The post Mazda 3 Concept by Bermaz’s MazdaSports division hints at new MS Edition – on display at 1U till April 13 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
Mazda distributor Bermaz is making full use of its prime location at 1 Utama’s Oval this week. The mall’s centrestage was used for yesterday’s 2025 Mazda MX-5 launch, and although the iconic roadster – both the regular production car and the 35th Anniversary Edition – will continue to be there till Sunday, the limelight will be shared with this, the Mazda 3 Concept.
UPDATE: Live gallery added
Created by Bermaz’s MazdaSports Division, the Mazda 3 Concept is a prototype that strongly hints at an upcoming sporty variant of the Mazda 3 Hatchback (also known as the Liftback). The company says that this car “reimagines the essence of the original Mazda 3 MS Edition launched in 2016, enhancing it with a striking design evolution and advanced, driver-centric innovations.
“The Mazda 3 Concept prototype embodies Bermaz’s vision for a more personalised Jinba-Ittai experience. Though a prototype unit, it highlights Bermaz’s commitment to innovation and Mazda enthusiasts, with a bolder take on the Kodo design for greater driver engagement,” it said in a statement.
It certainly looks significantly racier than the standard hatch, but what’s new? Those wheels are Enkei Tuning SC22 alloys in matte gunmetal, and they go well with a bespoke piano black bodykit that includes an elaborate rear spoiler. Enlarged exhaust tips (with MS logos) round up the exterior package. Nice decals with flashes of red and a huge ‘3’ too.
MazdaSports has also added in Endless Super Street S-Sports brake pads for improved braking performance and better fade resistance. There’s no extra power, but pop the hood and you’ll find a strut bar, again with the MS logo. Bermaz says that there’s “enhanced chassis and suspension tuning for a more engaging, comfortable ride”.
The MS emblem is also found on the front seats, which gain suede panels and a red centre stripe. Suede and red are also found on the steering wheel.
That’s all for the racy (but not overly so) Mazda 3 Concept, which builds on the already-evocative five-door hatchback. Bermaz has been toying with the idea of a sporty Mazda 3 for some time now – we saw a kitted sedan by MS in 2022 – and today’s mention of the 2006 MS Edition is more than a strong hint of what’s to come.
By the way, the most recent update for the current Mazda 3 was in late 2023, when the entry 1.5-litre engine was dropped for the IPM range, leaving the 162 hp/213 Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine as the sole option. That, plus more kit, raised the entry price to RM156k. Could we see a return of the 1.5L with the MS Edition for a more affordable entry to the zoom-zoom life? One can hope.
Anyway, what do you think of the Mazda 3 Concept? If you want to check it out, the car is on display at 1 Utama’s Oval from now till Sunday before heading north to Penang’s Queensbay Mall from April 16-20.
GALLERY: Mazda 3 Concept by Bermaz’s MazdaSports Division
GALLERY: Mazda 3 Concept by MazdaSports official images
The post Mazda 3 Concept by Bermaz’s MazdaSports division hints at new MS Edition – on display at 1U till April 13 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
