Where a traditional CD can store up to 74 minutes of music, a person at home can easily burn a CD-R filled with up to 10 hours of compressed MP3 music files. Since the files are compressed, less storage space is required. MP3 is a file compression method primarily used for quick downloads and transfers of music from the Internet (think "Napster"). While it's certainly more than a rolling jukebox, the car gets its name from the Kenwood Excelon Z919 in-dash CD/MP3 receiver fitted as standard equipment-an industry first, says Mazda. Even though it offered only 122 horsepower, the '99 Protegé was driven to an SCCA Showroom Stock C national win by Paul Bonaccorsi in 2000.įor 2001, Mazda finally has a sport-tuned Protegé with the MP3 model designation. A 1.8-liter, twin-cam engine was still the top-of-the-line powerplant, but the new car featured an aggressive, chiseled look.
The wheels for the new MP3 were put in motion in 1999, when Mazda released an all-new Protegé. The suspension was generally a little soft for performance driving, however, which didn't help raise the public's perception of the Protegé. Racers and enthusiasts had to make do with the LX and ES models, which at least featured Mazda's twin-cam, 1.8-liter engine. In other words, no Protegé ever wore a decklid badge along the lines of the GT-S, Si or SE-R. The car has enjoyed moderate success in SCCA Club Racing, but Mazda never released a sport model for the U.S. When Mazda discontinued the 323 in 1994, the Protegé continued as Mazda's compact sedan. A staple of the Mazda lineup since 1990, the Protegé was originally the deluxe, sedan version of the old 323 hatchback. The MP3 is the new, sport-tuned model of the Mazda Protegé front-wheel-drive, four-door sedan. While this idea is not entirely new, Mazda is setting a precedent by releasing a car fitted with so many designer labels: Racing Beat, Nardi, Tokico, Mazdaspeed, Racing Hart, Dunlop and Kenwood.
#2001 MAZDA PROTEGE MP3 HOOD SCOOP FULL#
It comes from the factory will a spec sheet full of parts from various aftermarket tuner companies. The release of the 2001 Mazda Protegé MP3 should change that fact.
Mazda just couldn't transform those racing wins into any kind of following, as small cars like the Civic, Integra, Focus, Eclipse and Celica seemed to grab most of the attention-and sales to younger, performance-minded enthusiasts.
Despite winning a pair of national titles in SCCA Showroom Stock road racing, the Mazda Protegé has never become a player in the explosive compact performance scene.
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