Mazda is now offering the Taruma treatment for the 2010 Mazda3 hatchback model as well. It is based on the TS trim level and comes with additional features inside and out, and is equipped with a 1.6 liter petrol unit developing 105 hp which is not very good, but in return it starts at only £11,995 when it goes on sale from 1 February 2010.

Mind you the £11,995 price is due to the ‘scrappage sales’ finance program, the on-the-road price for the car is £14,995 which is still reasonable considering the amount of kit you get.

On the outside you get a sporty body kit with sports front grille, side skirts and sports bumpers, 17-inch alloy wheels with low-profile 205/50 R17 tyres, front fog lamps, special badging and free metallic paint. A choice of four body colours for the Mazda3 Tamura is available – including one new metallic (Aluminium Silver Metallic) two regular Mica colours (Black Mica and Velocity Red Mica), and the unique-to-Tamura Gunmetal Blue Mica, offered on just 255 examples of the 850 Mazda3 Tamura models being manufactured for the UK market.

You also get a lot of equipments inside the cabin including remote central locking, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, welcome mode lighting, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, an MP3 compatible audio system with six speakers and auxiliary (AUX) jack input, as well as power folding mirrors and electric front and rear windows.

As mentioned the Mazda3 Tamura is powered by an efficient 1.6 liter petrol engine mated to a a five-speed manual gearbox, which enables the car to accelerate to 60 mph in 12.2 seconds while averaging 44.8mpg and emitting 149 g/km of Co2. It is also fitted with many safety features such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and a Traction Control System (TCS), six airbags and an Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS) System standard on all models.