New Mazda3 to drive 9,300 miles from Hiroshima, Japan, to Frankfurt, Germany

To demonstrate how well bolted together the new Mazda3 is, Mazda are organising a test drive from Hiroshima, Japan, to Frankfurt, Germany.

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If you’re going to set a challenge for a new car, a drive from Hiroshima to Frankfurt – 9,300 miles – is probably one designed to show any flaws. And that’s exactly what Mazda are doing with the new Mazda3.

The ‘Mazda Route3 – Hiroshima to Frankfurt Challenger Tour 2013′ will see eight new Mazda3s setting off from the Mazda factory in Hiroshima, heading for Russia, through Belarus and Poland before ending up in Frankfurt, Germany.

The trek will take in nine time zones and five countries and end up Frankfurt three days before the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show starts in September.

The first part of the trip will be by Ferry across the Sea of Japan to Vladivostock where the real driving will start, with eight legs of the journey – each around 1,300 miles – taking between three and six days depending on terrain.

All the Mazda3s taking part – driven by journalists, Bloggers and Mazda dealers, including British media and Mazda dealers – will have the 120PS SKYACTIV-G petrol engine with Mazda’s six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual ‘box.

The event kicks off properly in Vladivostock on 3rd August, and if you want to keep up with the Tour you can by going to www.mazda.co.uk/mazdaroute3/ where Mazda will be uploading a trip diary with photos and video.

Quite the little adventure.