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by Greg Wilson
With its tuned suspension, sticky 17 inch tires, unique interior, built-in MP3 player and limited availability, the 2001 Mazda Protegé MP3 had everything going for it – except horsepower. Its 140 horsepower 2.0 litre four was just not good enough to challenge stock Jetta 1.8T's, Sentra SE-R's, or Neon R/T's.
Not surprising then that Mazda has pumped up the horsepower rating for 2003. The 2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé, developed by Mazda's performance parts division, is the turbocharged successor to the MP3. Available in the fourth quarter of 2002, and limited to only 2,000 vehicles for the U.S. and Canada, the 2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé will offer an intercooled, turbocharged 2.0 litre four cylinder engine with an estimated 170 horsepower, and a performance package including limited-slip differential, ultra low-profile tires, larger wheels, and more powerful European-specification four-wheel disc brakes.
The car features a deep front spoiler with large round foglights, Racing Hart five-spoke alloys, aero side sills and rear skirts and will be available in two exterior colours: Black Mica and MazdaSpeed's unique Spicy Orange.
Inside, there are unique features like silver-faced analog gauges, aluminum Sparco foot pedals and shift knob, and a seven-speaker 450-watt Kenwood MP3 audio system with a large subwoofer mounted under the package shelf in the trunk.
"The MazdaSpeed Protegé was initiated by a group of Mazda engineers in the United States who are hard-core enthusiasts," said Charlie Hughes, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations at the New York auto show. "They've taken everything that made the MP3 an automotive-press superstar and engineered it to the next highest level."
Mazda selected Callaway Cars to assist its engineers in turbocharging the Mazda 2.0 litre DOHC 16 valve inline 4 cylinder engine. A Garrett T25 turbocharger system incorporates the latest in aerodynamic and ball-bearing technology. As well, the MazdaSpeed Protegé has a Tochigi Fuji Sangyo KK Super Limited-Slip Differential, assisted by larger 24 mm driveshafts (versus 22mm for the standard Protegé). There's also a heavy-duty clutch disc and pressure plate to handle the increased horsepower from the turbocharging system.
Racing Beat, a well-known tuner of Mazda vehicles for more than 30 years, was asked to lend its expertise in chassis refinement, suspension upgrades and a high-performance rear muffler. The MazdaSpeed Protegé comes with specially engineered front MacPherson struts, a strut tower brace, higher rate coil springs, re-valved Tokico dampers, and larger diameter stabilizer bar bracket and bushings.
The rear suspension features Racing Beat-tuned independent struts with Twin Trapezoidal Links (TTL), coil springs and larger stabilizer bar. The special Tokico shocks have been designed to improve steering feedback and response, control excess chassis motion and keep the tires planted firmly on the road surface.
With its tuned suspension, sticky 17 inch tires, unique interior, built-in MP3 player and limited availability, the 2001 Mazda Protegé MP3 had everything going for it – except horsepower. Its 140 horsepower 2.0 litre four was just not good enough to challenge stock Jetta 1.8T's, Sentra SE-R's, or Neon R/T's.
Not surprising then that Mazda has pumped up the horsepower rating for 2003. The 2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé, developed by Mazda's performance parts division, is the turbocharged successor to the MP3. Available in the fourth quarter of 2002, and limited to only 2,000 vehicles for the U.S. and Canada, the 2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé will offer an intercooled, turbocharged 2.0 litre four cylinder engine with an estimated 170 horsepower, and a performance package including limited-slip differential, ultra low-profile tires, larger wheels, and more powerful European-specification four-wheel disc brakes.
The car features a deep front spoiler with large round foglights, Racing Hart five-spoke alloys, aero side sills and rear skirts and will be available in two exterior colours: Black Mica and MazdaSpeed's unique Spicy Orange.
Inside, there are unique features like silver-faced analog gauges, aluminum Sparco foot pedals and shift knob, and a seven-speaker 450-watt Kenwood MP3 audio system with a large subwoofer mounted under the package shelf in the trunk.
"The MazdaSpeed Protegé was initiated by a group of Mazda engineers in the United States who are hard-core enthusiasts," said Charlie Hughes, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations at the New York auto show. "They've taken everything that made the MP3 an automotive-press superstar and engineered it to the next highest level."
Mazda selected Callaway Cars to assist its engineers in turbocharging the Mazda 2.0 litre DOHC 16 valve inline 4 cylinder engine. A Garrett T25 turbocharger system incorporates the latest in aerodynamic and ball-bearing technology. As well, the MazdaSpeed Protegé has a Tochigi Fuji Sangyo KK Super Limited-Slip Differential, assisted by larger 24 mm driveshafts (versus 22mm for the standard Protegé). There's also a heavy-duty clutch disc and pressure plate to handle the increased horsepower from the turbocharging system.
Racing Beat, a well-known tuner of Mazda vehicles for more than 30 years, was asked to lend its expertise in chassis refinement, suspension upgrades and a high-performance rear muffler. The MazdaSpeed Protegé comes with specially engineered front MacPherson struts, a strut tower brace, higher rate coil springs, re-valved Tokico dampers, and larger diameter stabilizer bar bracket and bushings.
The rear suspension features Racing Beat-tuned independent struts with Twin Trapezoidal Links (TTL), coil springs and larger stabilizer bar. The special Tokico shocks have been designed to improve steering feedback and response, control excess chassis motion and keep the tires planted firmly on the road surface.
