the turbocharged version of 2023 Mazda 3 compact car is no closer to local showrooms – but it remains on Mazda Australia’s wish list.

The Mazda 3 Turbo has been off the cards since its unveiling for local showrooms – despite Australia being a key market for Mazda globally – as it’s only made in left-hand drive.

Alastair Doak, head of marketing for Mazda Australia, said drive there have been no developments on plans for a right-hand drive version, but the car remains on the company’s wish list if it is made available to our market.

“It’s still left-hand drive only… bottom line, no [it remains unavailable to Australia]’ said Mr Doak.

The chances of a local launch of the Mazda 3 Turbo – and its CX-30 Turbo sibling – could be further reduced if Australia introduces tough vehicle emissions standards, as discussed last year, that would require automakers to meet an average achieve fuel economy. Efficiency index across their model range.

While automakers say similar emissions standards to Europe would help secure more electric cars for local showrooms, they would make it harder to sell — and offset — thirsty high-performance petrol-powered cars.

“The question is… will the Australian government come out with stronger CO₂ [emissions] Goals and a timetable for them, then do it [the Mazda 3 Turbo] even less likely? Maybe,” said Mr. Doak drive.

“But it’s on our wish list at the moment and we’re still asking for it.”

As well as the lack of a right-hand drive version, one roadblock for the Mazda 3 Turbo and CX-30 Turbo is that they are only built at Mazda’s plant in Mexico for North America – not the Japanese plant, which produces non-turbo Australian versions of each car to be made to be made.

Both cars are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine shared with the CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs and the Mazda 6 sedan, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The engine, which was originally designed to replace a V6 petrol engine in the seven-seater CX-9, remains unchanged and delivers 170 kW and 420 Nm with unleaded regular petrol or 186 kW and 434 Nm with premium petrol.

While the Mazda 3 Turbo could be turbocharged like the MPS hot-hatch variant of the 2000s – and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a similar 6.0 to 6.5 seconds based on independent testing in the US – are it’s suspension, brakes and styling are all but unchanged compared to the standard Mazda 3.

In the US, the Mazda 3 Turbo ranges in price from US$32,450 (AU$45,950) to US$35,300 (AU$50,000) plus the road cost in hatchback form – similar to a midsize car. Range Volkswagen Golf GTI or a Hyundai i30 Sedan N DCT.

These cars cost about $50,000-$55,000 in Australia plus road costs.