Mazda3 hatchbacks compete marathon drive

After their epic 9,300 mile journey from Hiroshima to Frankfurt, the eight new Mazda3 hatchbacks have reached their finish line at Mazda's European R&D Centre in Oberursel, just outside Frankfurt, right on schedule, writes Trish Whelan.

Some of the cars will go on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show which opens on Tuesday, 10 September.

The overland portion of their tour began on 3 August after the cars had been shipped from Japan to Vladivostok. Starting out from Russia's Far East, they covered two continents, five countries, nine time zones and some 30 cities. The cars were crewqed by journalists, media and Mazda dealers.

The Mazda3 hatchback test cars were powered by a 120hp SKYACTIV-G petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. "They took everything Eurasia could throw at them," remarked Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda UK who joined their Mazda dealers in the firsh three legs of the tour.

Four of the cars will go on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show.