Ok, so it's got tuner car styling, but does it perform? Oh yes! The first thing that hinted at its racing spec mods came as soon as I sat in the driver's seat, the clutch. It's heavy duty all the way. The heavy-weight pedal is great when cruising on the open road, and minimal shifting hardly requires its use, but not ideal when stuck in rush-hour traffic. My leg started to get sore after a while. In conjunction with the clutch, I the gear shift throws were quite short, another key element in a racing/tuner car. It shifted precisely, notching from one gear to the next easily.

With a Garrett T25 ball-bearing turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler assisting the 2.0-L DOHC 4-cylinder engine, it puts out a ripping 170-hp and 160 lb-ft of torque down to the front wheels. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

The updated MazdaSpeed Protegé also has all the goods under the hood. With a Garrett T25 ball-bearing turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler assisting the 2.0-L DOHC 4-banger, only quick results are expected. This engine puts out a ripping 170 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 160 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. The turbocharger definitely adds a lot of zest to its acceleration, but it wasn't as apparent as other turbocharged cars I have tested. This could be a good or bad thing depending on personal preference. The Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, which was previously in my possession, made a noticeable difference when the turbo kicked in. One moment nothing, and the next there it was. Don't get me wrong, the MazdaSpeed turbocharger can be felt, but its delivery is more subtle. But hey, no two turbocharged engines are built alike.

You can't have a modified car without a set of snazzy rims, and the Speed comes equipped with 17" Racing Hart Dark Hyper Silver finished 5-spoke alloys. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

A tuner car is not a tuner car without some pretty snazzy rims and tires, as is the case with the Speed's 215/45ZR17 88W tires wrapped over 17" Racing Hart Dark Hyper Silver finished 5-spoke alloys - very stylish. And connected to those rims must come a sport-tuned suspension. Mazda incorporates a tight Racing Beat tuned suspension into the Speed making the rock hard tuner car experience even more authentic. I found it rigid, but not uncomfortable. Most bumps and jumps immediately transferred past the suspension, through the car's body and into my seat, but that's the handling/ride tradeoff the MazdaSpeed's owner is willing to make; it really shouldn't be any other way. The 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS also clamp down quickly, getting an overenthusiastic driver out of trouble in a flash.