Mach 1

lol..it does to me.

other than the hood line and the new front end look, what is different? Nothing, its probably the same car beyond that?

macdaddyslomo

new engine and tranny too,but probably the same suspension design.

Mach 1

I was referring to the looks department, but thanks for the info. anyway.

boricua

it just looks like a smaller 6, which of course would be the next in line (323) or 3. on the real though, it looks hot. you guys should have seen it coming. the 323's/ proteges always have similar designs to its bigger brother, the 626. it was only natural that with this new 6 design, the Pro would soon follow in its footsteps. C'mon, you guys don't notice the Mazda patern by now?
________
Web shows

MarkSpark

I like the protege5 better than that!

Sir Nuke

I hate to say it...but if that is what the new P-5 ends up looking like in NA...you won't catch me driving one...that is ugly as sin...I hate the hood/grill.....that grill is UGLY! and what the hell happened to the front air dam...the rear apron...the whole body kits is gone! of course that is NOT a NA version of the car...so things MAY change....lots of other markets didn't get the body kit with the P-5....so maybe our version will be different...but I bet not so diferent to get rid of that god awful ugly nose! geeeeeeez what were those guys thinking!!!

turbonium959

I do agree with you, the grille looks HUGE, like on Mazda 6, but even bigger. Bigger airdam will definately make it look better, like the MSP 6. That car looks so much more aggressive then stock 6, because it has a bigger airdam. But you are also right about NA market - the car will change and in unknown ways too. Hopefully for the better.

nate0123

One would suspect/hope that an american version would have a blacked out, or atleast partially -- like the 6 -- front grille.

kc5zom

I like it. Looks like a Passat, very German. I could frankly care less for all the body kit junk people put on their cars. I prefer clean lines to big round fog lights and side sills.

I hope they upgrade the suspension to a system similar to the 6's with the double wishbone front. But they definitely need to maintain the fun factor the current Protege has. And would it hurt them to maybe increase the QC on this version. I'm getting pissed at all the problems I have had with mine.

leungwingkei

I think it will look very good if it had a revised front bumper and side skirts like the P5.

nate0123

I think a good design does not need side skirts or body kits to look finished.
Some people may still want to add them on to give their cars the look they're after.

YellowMP5

true, but it needs them to look GOOD

kc5zom

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Make all the added crap part of an appearance package so that those of us who appreciate good lines can have a wagon we want too.

Gene

Compare it to the current silver P5. The new nose is the same height as the old one with the airdam. Compare the heights of the bottom of the nose on the blue car to the silver car. I think the "3" will be offered with a sport package like the one on the "6" that includes a flaired front bumper cover and the rolls below the doors and different rear bumber cover in the US.

The entire car is more "edgy" than the current car. If I read the article correctly the new car will have multi-link suspension. Kind of like the Mini.

I suspect the US cars will get a 2.0L in the 3i and 2.3L in the 3s.

I think the new Mazdaspeed 3 will get the new 225 bhp Turbo 2.0L (Mazda-built) Focus SVT motor coming next year.

BTW I like the new look. But I suspect the US cars will have a diffferent grill.

I'm old enough to know styling trends change and some of us have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the new era.

I predict the new car will be very successful, a Pontiac Aztec it isn't.

You only have to look how well the "6" has been received to know they are headed in the right direction.

boricua

Exactly!!!!
________
How to roll a joint