2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé
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 ****, 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.



One of Japan's best performance wheel manufacturers, Racing Hart, developed a set of exclusive alloy wheels for the MP3 in 2001. For the 2003 MazdaSpeed Protegé, Racing Hart developed an exclusive 17 x 7-inch five-spoke design in alloy with Aluminum Super Silver finish.

Standard tires are Bridgestone Potenza RE040 215/45ZR17 uni-directional high-performance tires.

The interior of the car was developed in collaboration with Sparco, a racing accessory manufacturer. It features racing-inspired components such as drilled aluminum foot pedals with rubber inserts for better heel-and-toe control and an aluminum Sparco shift **** to make shifting the close-ratio five-speed gearbox with its shortened throws even more fun. Other changes to the interior include silver-faced analogue gauges, suede-like seat bolsters and leather-wrapped Nardi steering wheel with colour-keyed stitching.

For the stereo, Mazda again turned to Kenwood Car Audio, the company responsible for the first-ever OEM MP3 system in last year's Mazda MP3. The MazdaSpeed Protegé features a new in-dash CD/MP3 receiver - the Kenwood Excelon KDC-MP919. This powerful 450-watt, four-channel (50-watts per channel) system features six speakers, an eight-inch subwoofer and a 250-watt amplifier. Both the subwoofer and amplifier are mounted under the package shelf in the trunk. The Excelon KDC-MP919 allows customers to listen to standard AM/FM radio stations or play conventional CDs and MP3-encoded CD-R/RWs.

The Kenwood KDC-MP919 has a motorized self-hiding faceplate that doesn't appear until the ignition is turned on. Before leaving the vehicle, the driver has the option of either removing the faceplate entirely for added security, or letting it automatically disappear from view by simply switching off the ignition.

The KDC-MP919's MegaMotion Display readout provides high-resolution visuals and moving images. Plus, the unit is pre-wired to accept Sirius Satellite Radio, which includes 100 digital channels of music, talk and news beamed down by three satellites for national coverage. Built-in high- and low-pass electronic crossovers allow the driver to control the range of signals sent to the speakers. System Q Sound Control provides five pre-set EQ curves (e.g., rock, jazz, etc.) and three speaker-matching EQ curves for tone tailoring.

Each of the four 50-watt amplifiers supply the muscle, and the 4.5V pre-outs provide superior signal-to-noise performance. With an optional adapter, Dual-Zone Source Control provides separate source and volume control for front and rear. For even easier operation, the Kenwood system uses a round volume control ****.

In addition to the MazdaSpeed Protegé, Mazda North America plans to expand the MazdaSpeed line of competition parts already available to racers and will add a complete line of performance-enhancing parts and accessories for street use that will include some of the hardware used on the Mazda MP3 and MazdaSpeed Protegé. MazdaSpeed dealers will also offer a selection of special MazdaSpeed clothing.

"The MazdaSpeed Protegé will drive the Mazda attributes - performance, handling and styling - to an even higher level," said Charlie Hughes, president and CEO of MNAO. "Most important, MazdaSpeed will bring a tremendous smile to every Mazda enthusiast in America."

 

Thanks but I have already seen those specs. I want the 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile times. I find it odd that we haven't even heard any guesses from mazda on the performance of this car. Makes me wonder if it isn't as fast as it should be.

 

I'm guessing it will be faster than most people think. It's been said before, but I think mazda is low-balling the HP rating. I mean come on, the 1.8l BPT was 180hp, this is a 2.0l. I'm at least hoping they are out to suprise everyone. Even if it is 'only' 170hp, it's still going to be an amazing car. In fact, it will probably be the best bang for buck sedan out there.

I'd guess 0-60 times mid or low 7s, and 1/4 mile time in the mid-low 15s, give or take. Just a guess, though.

 

Come on guys, I had high hopes for this car, I mean its even orange, has a limited slip, and weighs in at less than 3000 lbs. But for god sakes, there is no reason a turbo charged car should make less than 200 HP. What gets me even more, is that it only makes 170hp compared to the 95-99 eclipses 210hp. Why should I use that comparison? Glad you asked. Both are 2L motors, both are powered by the EXACT SAME TURBO. There is no damn reason why the Mazdaspeed Protege can't and shouldn't crest 200hp.

Weak.

 

Now perhaps I'm reading this roo literally, but the original wording on the Mazda webpage was "...putting 170hp to the ground". If this were a hp rating at the wheels, it would make a LOT more sense. Final specs aren't available till July, so if everybody makes a stink, I'm sure Mazda will do their best to get that number as high as they can before everything is finalized.

 

1) the 170 figure isn't final
2)VW/Audi have been using 150hp-180hp 1.8L turbo engines for a while.
3)an eclipse gs-t goes 0-60 in about 7sec and the MS Pro is projected to do about the same.

 

I just hope it doesn't suffer from serious turbo lag. I like torque-y motors off the line. Every car I have driven so far with a turbo or v tec has left me wanting off the line. However I have not driven alot so I could just be throwing the baby out with the bath water. If I didn't like mazda so darn much I am afraid I would have to side with the nissan spec V but I am waiting till I drive a mazdaspeed pro and then I will make a decision.

 

damn it all to hell people!!! its people like y'all that ruin cars!! peak HP numbers are not always the holy grail. id rather have a car that has an engine that is FUN TO DRIVE, rahter than all peak HP and straight line speed. i know that some of you are just obsessed with straight line performance but, that aint the only good point to a car.

 

I fully understand what you are saying but come on even you should be able to admit that the current crop of pros is a little underpowered. Every review I have ever read says that. I concur. Imagine having the wicked handling of a protege with the speed of a spec v. Now that would be a "fun to drive" car!!!

 

I have also read that it would put 170 hp ''on the ground''
that sound pretty clear to me.
And that is more than enough to get you from 0-60 in less than 6.5 seconds,I am absolutely sure of that.1/4 mile times will also be in the very low 15's ,but that my guess.I cant wait to get the specs from mazdaspeed!!
Anyway I would kill to get that car in my driveway.
And I would choose orange over black,hands down.

 

HubbMP5
170 to to the ground would be much better.

eeterp
Thank god.
They suck too. Why would you want to suffer through turbo lag for 150hp?! They also make twin turbo V-6s, you dont' see those squeezing out a scant 200hp.
Exactly my point. You are already starting out ahead of the game with a limited slip. Why stop at 7sec, when it could easily, and I stress EASILY be 5-6 sec 0-60? Why would I want a car that can perform on the level of an eclipse, when I could have one that performs better?

sonik
Small turbos don't generally suffer from turbo lag. My eclipse with the factory turbo had about as little lag as possible that you would still notice. It came on like a heart attack.

Sil_Pro5
For god sakes man. Im not saying that the twisties aren't fun. In fact I prefer them. I race autocross much more than I do the dragstrip. But you can't tell me that a Protege wouldn't be more fun at 210 than it would be at 170. I mean, is a Ferrari Modena 360 no fun in the twisties because it can run a blistering 1/4 mile? I'm thinking no.


All in all, I guess it just does't make sense to me to turbo charge a car to only make 40 more hp, seems like a wasted effort to me. Mazda obviously has the right idea, I'd just hate to see them do it half assed. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

 

It does not make any sence to buy car like that with old and already outdated 2.0 when new and much much better 2.3 is already on it's way.
2.3 Duratec with similiar mild turbo could get as much as 200-220 hp, why even bother with crappy 2.0?!

 

Because a 2L can make 200-220 just as easily!! And that's the point I have been trying to make!!

 

if old outdated 2.0L can make 200-220hp than new and much better 2.3 should make 240-260hp proportinaly.
2.3 is so much smoother, more economical, easier to service, just two steps above current 2.0l, why not use it.
I would much rather buy Mazda3 with base 150hp/ 2.3, better suspension at couple thousands $$$ less that old 2.0L based turbo pro giving only 20hp more.

 

I mean new Mazda3 will have more modern suspension with more potential than very good but already maxed-out "older" suspension in 2002/2003Mazdaspeed Pro.