12/20/2023 0 Comments 2003 mazdaspeed protege turbo upgrade![]() ![]() ![]() Subtle Mazdaspeed badges hinted that the car was something special next to ordinary Miatas. It wasn’t the first car to be so named, though, as the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protegé held that honor in the U.S. The turbo Miata was dubbed the Mazdaspeed after the company’s in-house tuning arm. Unique 17-inch Racing Hart wheels are the easiest way to identify a Mazdaspeed MX-5, but the special badges and little intercooler in the grille will also tip you off. A smallish IHI turbo with a ball-bearing center section provides the necessary 8.5 psi of boost–enough to raise horsepower from 142 to 178. Parts were chosen with an eye to compact size and good street performance. The ducting, for example, fits perfectly. And, of course, thousands of enthusiasts had already shown that the Miata could reliably handle boost.Īt first glance, the Mazdaspeed Miata’s engine bay looks as if it were designed to accommodate a turbocharger from the get-go. The car’s iron-block four-cylinder hails from the brand’s B-series engine family, and factory-turbocharged versions had already been used in the Mazda 323 GTX and Mercury Capri XR2. The result was the 2004-’05 Mazdaspeed Miata, a limited-production, high-output version of Mazda’s roadster.Īdding a hair dryer to the Miata wasn’t as much of a stretch as it sounds. They added a small IHI turbo, lowered the compression ratio and fitted a small, front-mounted intercooler. Since the next Miata–with its all-new, more powerful MZR engine–was a few years away, Mazda chose the time-honored path of employing turbocharging to squeeze a bit more power from the current car. Some of the novelty had worn off, and buyers had more choices–including Honda’s stellar, 240-horsepower S2000. However, even after a 2001 facelift, by 2003 sales were more or less flat. Despite its slightly higher weight and size, Mazda’s follow-up model was just as loved. Sure, other cars have more power, more style or more luxury, but few can tame a twisty back road and put a smile on the driver’s face more efficiently than the early Miata. The original Mazda Miata is one of the most perfect driving tools ever created. ![]()
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