Maybe Next Year. For Now, Mazda's Hot-Rod Protg Proves Itself As A Competent Corner Carver
The first step in Mazda's efforts to revitalize its performance image is here. It's called MP3. And it's fun to drive. It's also loud-in more than one way. Obviously, one can't ignore the glowing yellow paint, and inside hides the industry's first MP3/CD-R capable sound system. A Kenwood 280-watt, four channel system powers four speakers and a 10-inch trunk-mounted subwoofer to fulfill the other half of the loud equation. However, the MP3 doesn't exist solely to cause fellow roadgoers to roll up their windows. In fact, it's the beginning of a line of cars from Mazda designed to make "zoom-zoom" a reality.
Mazda PR knows what's coming down the pipe in the sport compact segment and it doesn't like the heat. The fact that there will be no less than three new hot rods (Acura RS-X, Ford Focus SVT and Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V) in the small car market within the next six months has got Mazda burning the midnight oil to make horsepower with its latest entry, the Protg MP3. More on that in a minute, let's talk about what's been going on in the last few years.
Mazda's reputation as a company which can and will build uncompromised performance cars has been dwindling the last few years as the Miata has continued to gain weight and hopes of a new RX-7 have been watered down by the four-door RX-8. In the mean time, Mazda has been dealing with the fact that the 15 hp boost it gave the Miata in 2001 doesn't seem to exist at all (see the May '01 issue for dyno results). The MP3 is designed to change all that with in-your-face styling and performance, which will eventually be on par with offerings from the other Japanese manufacturers. Right now, the MP3 is no doubt a step in the right direction.
That step began with a chassis and engine development program headed up by the race-oriented minds at Racing Beat in Anaheim, Calif. Suspension refinements were made using varying anti-roll bar sizes as a tuning tool before altering spring or damper rates. Careful attention was paid to corner cross-weights and road testing before final calibrations were set. Along the way, spring rates went up both front and rear (16 and 19 percent, respectively). Anti-roll bar sizes increased at both ends as well to 25mm front and 21mm rear-a considerable increase from the Protg's stock 20mm front and 16mm rear bars. Tokico shocks were also calibrated specifically for the MP3's damping requirements.
And it works. Our testing showed the MP3 to be faster than our previous front-drive benchmark car, the Acura Integra Type R, through our 700-ft slalom-certainly a product of the large effort spent on making the MP3 a serious handler.
Under the hood, the modifications aren't as significant or as effective. Perhaps most serious are calibration changes to the ECU's fuel and ignition maps. According to Mazda, engineers bumped ignition timing enough to provide a slight increase in throttle response. The 2.0-liter mill's intake manifold was also slightly modified to offer better high-rpm performance, but our backsides couldn't really tell a difference. Neither could our radar gun as the MP3 clicked through the traps in 16.5 seconds at 83 mph. Mazda lists output at 140 hp and 142 lb-ft of torque-10 hp and 7 lbs-ft better than the standard 2.0-liter Protg.
Mazda PR is quick to point out that the power deficiency will be a short-lived issue. Apparently, engine development takes about a year longer than suspension development. Doing the math puts Mazda in the prime of small car hot rod central only a few months after the competition plans to have cars on dealer lots. And, depending on which route Mazda takes for that additional horsepower, it might have potential for lots more oomph. Without giving too much away, one source inside Mazda says that the extra power will come from something that whistles. We suspect that something will also end with the word "charger."
The real story with the MP3 as it sits today is its styling. Mazda R&D in Irvine, Calif., the same studio that gave the world the third-generation RX-7 and Miata, is responsible for the looks of the MP3. Stylists wanted a look that would appeal to compact car enthusiasts and took input from many young people as the project came together. The end result, in our opinion, is right on target. The MP3 looks aggressive without looking cheap or overdone. The wing on the rear decklid went through several revisions before stylists settled on its final shape. Another subtle addition, the front lip spoiler, shows terrific attention to detail and adds much definition to the front of the car.