![]() Harnessing a power boost of this magnitude required upgrades to the drivetrain and suspension. The net gain of all the foregoing: 170 horsepower (versus 140 for the MP3, 130 for the base version of the 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four) and 155 pound-feet of torque (versus the MP3's 142, 135 base). By limiting boost to a maximum of 6.9 psi, Callaway and Mazda were able to avoid making changes to the engine's internals, although a new catalytic converter was required. A revised Visteon engine-management program increases fuel flow. To keep costs down, Callaway sorted through the Mazda parts bin and borrowed an air-to-air intercooler employed in a European turbo-diesel Protegé, as well as a higher-capacity radiator. Callaway Cars, making its debut deal with an Asian manufacturer, was tapped to add turbocharging to the Protegé's powertrain.Ĭallaway adapted a Garrett T25 ball-bearing turbo with an integral waste gate for the project, developing a unique turbine housing for this application. Although the cast of characters is essentially the same - Mazda, Racing Beat, RacingHart, and Kenwood - there's one new player on the team this time around. So here's the sequel, and this time the kid packs knockout power. We compared it to "an aspiring welterweight fighter with all the moves but no punch." And it prevailed despite a serious shortage of horsepower. The result was the MP3, a brilliant blend of supple ride and athletic handling that emerged as the winner of a five-car hot-compact free-for-all ( "Budget Banditos," November 2001). A little over a year ago, Mazda took its first cut at this project, enlisting the services of Racing Beat, the longtime Mazda tuning shop, to handle suspension development. However, the truth is we've seen this hot-rod-Protegé movie before, albeit at slower speed. In our most recent econobox comparison test ( "Little Cars 6.1," June 2000), a Protegé ES took home the Oscar and has since been updated: more refinement, better handling, more power. Given the foregoing, Mazda could have no more logical starting point than the Protegé, an entry-level compact sedan that also happens to be among the best in its class. It's called Mazdaspeed, and if it turns out to be a profit center, à la Toyota Racing Development, well, so much the better. It's conceived to demonstrate Mazda's commitment to fun-to-drive, and also to help establish a new performance subsidiary that will sell stuff to young owners who want their cars to stand out from the herd. If zoom-zoom is going to have credibility, some of the other Mazdas gotta get some zoom, too. It's equally clear the Miata can't sustain this image building all by itself. That's what the zoom-zoom ad campaign is all about. Be on the look out for an update on this build! Thanks to Austin for letting us share this and shooting his own car himself.It's no secret that Mazda wants to be perceived as a purveyor of vehicles that stimulate the driver gratification glands a little more than competing products. Custom 2.5″ Exhaust with a Cherry Bomb and Magnaflow TipĪustin has a good amount of future modifications like we said that he plans to unveil once it all comes together.BC BR Extreme Drop Coilovers (Custom 135mm 10k Front Springs).Custom Black Suede Door Cards / Dash Piece / A-Pillars / B-Pillars.Carbon Fiber Autoexe Duckbill Replica Spoiler.Painted Rear Bumper to match 08.5+ / MS3’s.Sport interior with a Sparco non-reclineable bucket seat, Blox 24k gold 490g weighted shift knob, and custom Black Suede interior. You know you are low when your front lower control arm is this low to the ground. Shaved clean, painted with a rear MS3 valence, duckbill spoiler, and UK spec rear fog light. Rolling on 17 x 9 et+24 Mustang FR500 on a 205/40/17 Federal 595 in the front and 17 x 9 et-1 (25mm spacer) on a 205/45/17 Falken Ziex 912 in the rear.īooty shot. So, before he undergoes his next plans for the car, here is Austin in his current state. There is a full overhaul on how the car will sit and what it will sit on in the very near future. More surprisingly to us is that Austin is not done yet. We have been following Austin’s progress since last year and happy to say we like the way his car has turned out since then. From Florida with love comes this 2007 Aurora Blue Mica Mazda 3 Hatch owned by Austin Yero in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ![]()
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