(Richmond Hill, ON) - Mazda Canada is offering consumers more choice when it comes to its popular Mazda3 line-up by announcing some mid-year  enhancements and the availability of a new 2.0-litre engine Mazda3 Sport GX model for the 2008 model year.

Unique to Canada in the North America market, the new 2008.5 Mazda3 Sport  GX is powered by the same 148-horsepower, 2.0-litre engine found in the  current Mazda3 GX and GS sedans. The new trim sports 15” steel wheels,  body coloured grille, GFX front and rear bumpers, and sporty fog lamps.  ABS with EBFD, 4 wheel disc brakes, side air bag and air curtains, and an AM/FM CD player with MP3 capability are also standard features.

The Mazda3 Sport GX is offered with an available Comfort Package that  includes power locks/windows, power heated mirrors, keyless entry, illuminated entry, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, rear spoiler, and 15” alloy wheels. Automatic transmission and air conditioning are also available as options.

Mazda3 Sport GX leads the way for other mid-year Mazda3 line-up enhancements. For 2008.5, the Mazda3 Sport GS receives minor cosmetic changes including a new rear bumper facia and piano black interior trim. Air conditioning, a rear spoiler, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and two additional speakers (6 vs. 4 speakers) are all now standard features on the GS trim.

The Mazda3 Sport GT also receives a new rear bumper facia and piano black interior trim, and adds Xenon headlamps as standard equipment. The GT Luxury Package, which currently includes leather seating, in-dash 6 CD changer and automatic climate control, now adds a rear roof spoiler, power driver’s seat, Bose® audio sound system with an additional speaker, and
Sirius satellite radio.

The Mazda3 sedan also receives refreshened equipment content for 2008.5.

The GX model gains a CD player with MP3 capability, an additional two speakers (4 vs. 2 speakers), and body coloured mirrors. Similar to the Sport model, the GX sedan also has an available Comfort Package. The new package includes power locks/windows, power heated mirrors, keyless entry, illuminated entry, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and 15” alloy wheels.

Equally improved for 2008.5, the GS sedan receives a body coloured grille and standard 16” alloy wheels. To accommodate this change, the current GS Sport Package (moonroof and 16” alloy wheels) will no longer be available. Instead, GS models will have stand-alone moonroof available as an option.

Similar to the Mazda3 Sport GT, the 2008.5 Mazda3 sedan GT receives Xenon headlamps and a new piano black interior trim. The sedan’s GT Luxury Package (leather seating, 6-disc in-dash CD changer and automatic climate control) adds equipment such as power driver’s seat, Bose audio sound system with an additional speaker, and Sirius satellite radio.

For 2008.5, the MAZDASPEED3 also receive new equipment. New standard features include bright finish wheels, Sirius satellite radio, CD player with MP3 capability, illuminated driver and passenger vanity mirrors, piano black interior trim, and black on black cloth seating.

About Mazda - Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese automobile maker based in Hiroshima, Japan. As of 2005, the company produces roughly 800,000 automobiles per year with sales evenly divided between Japan, Europe, and North America ... read more

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