![]() ![]() Give the car wider, lower tires and a lower ride height, but make sure not to go too far-Mazda is about fun first, and too many mods might result in a four-door that only testosterone-poisoned boys will want. Alter the character of the suspension a bit, too. That is, take what started as a good thing with the MP3 version of the car, and add 30 horsepower (from 140 hp to 170 hp). MazdaSpeed's first mission: Add about $5,000 worth of fangs to the fun little Protegé. Which brings us full circle, to the $19,980 MazdaSpeed Protegé and the resurrection of the MazdaSpeed brand, an essentially stillborn skunk works that has knocked off a few special-edition cars in the past but is now charged to be the company's speed-freak fixer, akin to what BMW does with its M Division, albeit for a decidedly rubber- rather than leather-soled audience. Subaru learned just how effective such guerilla tactics can be when sales of its WRX utterly changed the average Subaru aspirant from tweedy college professor types to their 25-year-old recently graduated male students. Also, if you're smart about it, as Mazda is, you don't make too many of your one-off hot cars-say, 2,500 a year per iteration. Interestingly, the latter may be the cheapest approach of all, at least in the case of Mazda, which already had endemic engineering know-how. Still, getting the buzz among young buyers these days requires either cute design (read VW), expensive marketing or excellent street cred. Golf and Mitsubishi Lancer, neither of which, in base trim, have much going for them once you get past the glam ad campaigns.Īnd the logic of a Mazda that starts by selling small, inexpensive cars to young buyers who can afford them-and eventually sells larger, plusher sedans like the excellent new 6i and 6s-makes eminent sense. , Dodge and Chevy, as well as expertly youth-aimed products, the And that competition includes the likes of Honda, Stack up the newest Protegé versus the competition in the same, $15,000 ballpark, and Mazda spanks all comers for handling and a high fun factor. And Mazda truly has the chops in this arena. We actually think a niche player like Mazda might grow fatter by doing what it seems to do best, which is to sell spirited, small cars that appeal to younger buyers who are generally on a tight budget. Torque-steer, wing on the back, inscrutable audio controls.īut Mazda cannot live by sporty cars alone, right? Well, maybe wrong. Superbly balanced handling, quick motor, ironed-out interior. (The new RX-8 may well live to be as influential, and there will be a reborn RX-7 down the line as well.) The cute Miata convertible is the best-selling sports car of all time, and the RX-7 was one of the best-loved sports cars in recent history. In the 1970s and 1980s, and BMW of late, being small doesn't mean you can't make a big impact. , by comparison, sold nearly 1.8 million cars (including Lexus) to American buyers in 2002.īut as we've learned from other, once small carmakers, like With Garrett technology on board, the vehicle gains increased acceleration without sacrificing overall efficiency.Last year the Japanese firm that's controlled by Ford Motor-Ford owns 33% of Mazda-sold only 258,213 cars in the U.S. The Turbocharger incorporates the latest in aerodynamic and ball-bearing technology. Pumping up the Mazdaspeed Protege's heart rate is a Garrett T25 Turbocharger system. to assist its engineers in taking the Mazda 2.0-liter DOHC I-4 engine to a much higher performance level. and Canada, the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege boasts an aggressive appearance and enhanced performance package, including an inter-cooled Turbocharger, limited-slip differential, ultra low-profile tires, larger wheels, more powerful European-specification four-wheel disc brakes, and a 450-watt MP3 audio system by Kenwood. Available in the fourth quarter of 2002, and limited to only 2,000 units for the U.S. Working in partnership with world-class automotive racecar engineers on chassis, drivetrain and Turbo development, Mazda has produced its highest performing, most responsive Protege to date. Based on the limited-production 2002 model year Mazda MP3, the 2003 model year Mazdaspeed Protege is a substantial step forward in the performance arena. The Mazdaspeed Protege made its debut amid New York City fanfare and excitement. ![]()
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