Mazda to sell Turbocharged MP3
 

Turbocharged Mazda MP3 at NYIAS...

Source:
New York Times
February 17, 2002

quote: But those willing to wait will soon get another chance to buy this car, or one much like it, in a Mazda showroom. Impressed by customers' enthusiasm ? and by reviewers' disappointment in the lack of power ? Mazda has decided to produce a new version that it will unveil this spring, perhaps at the New York auto show next month. The car will get a new name and, praise the engineers, a turbocharger to give the engine enough juice to match the suspension.

No word yet on how much more the MP3's successor will cost than the $18,500 Mazda charged for the 2002 model. But in light of the traffic jam among under-$20,000 performance cars ? think of the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Honda Civic Si, Ford SVT Focus, Dodge Neon R/T, Toyota Matrix XRS and Pontiac Vibe GT ? a big price increase probably isn't in the tea leaves.

Finally a definite source on this.

What do you think guys, can we trust the New York Times on this?

i'd give my left nut for a turbo for my car!

And that would cause my pants to spontaneously wet.

is it really gonna be shown at NYIAS? I'll haul my sorry ass up there just to see it! :blue:

I'm thinking about taking my lasy ass down there real late and dressed in black and pulling the greatest heist of all time. I want that turbo and will deny everything.

170 bhp kinda sucks though. It is only 30 hp more than stock MP3. An average turbo adds about 10 HP per psi. So either they are running 3 psi or it is a crappy turbo hehe. Think they should shoot for the 210-220 range.

You have to let me know when you get this. I order you too! :D

omg .. if that happens... *slits throat* ... hehe. dammit i will be pissed! maybe i'll be able to trade up.

otherwise, bring on the mazdaspeed and bolt-on turbos!

Rumours
 

Much of the info is rumours but I have heard quite consistently that there will be a Turbo Protege. About the power, I don' think they even know at this point. I think the 170HP number is the least they are shooting for. Remember the MP3? It was supposed to have 150HP originally. Anyways, we'll have to wait and see what the word is at the New York Autoshow.

I don't see why they wouldn't release this? You know that the Toyota Matrix XSR(I think it's called) comes with a Celica STS motor(180hp) and it has AWD, well they say up to 50% or power goes to the rear wheels, BUT it comes WITH a SIX Speed Tranny!!! :eek: :eek: :crying:
So why wouldn't they try and compete? Right? This would be VERY COOL if this happens! VERY COOL!

As for MazdaSpeed coming over, all I have to say is "Lets get our can openers out because here comes the case of WHOOP ASS that we have been waiting for!!" :bt: :doh:

no, the AWD version of the Matrix has crap power.
the Celica engine model is only FWD.
(at least in canada)
http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehi...rix_specs.html

Looks like it comes with the AWD to me. What are you looking at?

Quoted from the Toyota website:

"Front engine, front or full-time 4-wheel drive (full-time 4WD available on Matrix and Matrix XR only)"

XRS is FWD only... 99.9% certain about that...

Whoever posted those charts was just really lazy/sloppy about it and didn't bother editing the relavent parts for each column.