2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé - Zoom Zoom Goes Boom Boom
The Protegé sedan has always been at the head of its class for road holding performance. Last year's limited edition MP3 added dynamic Kenwood MP3 audio and a sport suspension boasting a 17-inch alloy wheel and low-profile tire package. Both features boosted its image and drivability, while an additional 10-hp of kick added to the previously top-line 130-hp engine improved acceleration, but only slightly. While wonderfully nimble it was left gasping in the distant rearview mirrors of its hopped up competition, including the new Subaru WRX, Sentra SE-R, Golf GTI 1.8T and Neon R/T. With the new Mini Cooper S, Ford Focus SVT and Honda SiR now available, and the wickedly quick Neon SRT-4 waiting in the wings, it's time Mazda got serious.
Serious times call for serious speed, MazdaSpeed in particular. What is MazdaSpeed? It's a bunch of gearheads who dedicate themselves to engineering, producing and selling Mazda specific performance parts to other gearheads. All Mazda dealers have equal opportunity to be MazdaSpeed distributors. Once initiated they support motorsport activities (that include a dedicated open-wheel spec series featured on Speed Channel) with competition hardware and regular enthusiasts with street performance parts as well as turnkey products like the MazdaSpeed Protegé in question.
Again, like last year's MP3 model, an MP3 audio system pounds out stellar audio while 17-inch rubber offers gobs of traction, but that's about where the similarity ends. Now Bridgestone Potenza RE040 215/45ZR17 uni-directional high-performance tires wrap around exclusive five-spoke aluminum 'Super Silver' finish rims designed by Japan's top performance wheel manufacturer Racing Hart. They look sensational. The removable motorized face-plate equipped interface allows AM/FM radio, CDs and MP3-encoded CD-R/RWs to pound out via a 450-watt 4-channel Kenwood Excelon KDC-MP919 system with a separate 250-watt amp, 6-speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer. It displays a stunning lightshow of readouts with high-resolution full-motion visuals. The system is also wired for Sirius satellite radio.