New Models - Mazda 323

Mazda sedan gets sporty

Let's go surfing: The rear wing on the Mazda Protege Sports Edition is big, real big.

Wings and things give 323 Protege a sporting edge

10 April 2002

HMMM. Giant rear spoiler, deep blue paint scheme. It's got to be a Subaru, doesn't it? No, it's Mazda's take on a sports sedan version of its 323 small car.

Called the Protege Sports Edition, this is a limited edition run of just 250 cars which shares some parts with the 323 SP20 hot hatch, as well as some new bits and pieces not seen here before.

Foremost among them is that big rear wing, which is accompanied by a deep rear spoiler, side skirts and 16-inch alloy wheels to give the car the appropriately meaty look.

The rally look is completed by headlight bezels, large round foglamps and a choice of just one exterior paint scheme - blue mica metallic paint

Under the body, the Protege uses the 98kW, 2.0-litre, 16-valve engine from the SP20, becoming the first 323 sedan sold in Australia to use an engine this big. Maintaining the sports theme, it is mated exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission.

The SP20 also donates the sportier set-up of its independent suspension to the sedan, including heavy-duty stabilisers. The body is also strengthened around the suspension cross members and suspension towers, while a strut bar is mounted between the front suspension towers.

Pricing is also close to the SP20, clocking in at $28,990, the manual version of the hatch just $190 more expensive.

The sports theme continues inside where there are alloy and carbon fibre-look highlights on the dash, silver-faced instrument dials, sports seats, Nardi leather sports steering wheel and leather-trimmed gear knob, while the door scuff plates feature a chrome insert.

The specs list is completed by an ABS anti-lock braking system, dual airbags, six-stack CD player, air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, and remote central locking.

The Protege Sports Edition is launched as Mazda goes into run-out mode on the current 323, with a facelifted range due in June.