‘Automotive Answers: 99D2299922229992 2979299999299 99999992999 999999999999 999999999 A Great Gift For A Grad (NAPSA)—As graduation season rolls around, you can reward your kids for their years of hard work with their own set of wheels to roll around in, without breaking the bank and without having to trade hipness for safety. The 2003 Proteg from Mazda has been called “one of the finest small cars available on the planet” and “a practical, well-built and affordable car that’s also a kick to drive.” The car was rated one of the best-performing small sedans in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. The new design keeps some of drivers’ favorite features from 2002, such as the 130-horsepower dual overhead cam, 16-valve, two- liter, four-cylinder engine giving 138 pound-feet of torque. It then adds to that new sidemarker lamps, five-spoke 16-inch wheels, smoked-lens headlamp housings, a six-dise CD changer and, the biggest advance of all, the optional electronically controlled Sport AT four-speed transmission, which lets you switch from automatic to manual and back while youre on the road. The car is also impressive on the inside. The center console has covered storage, dual cupholders and dual map lights, while a 60/40-split fold-down rear seatback gives you more storage than The 2003 Proteg offers safety and style in one compact package. you might expect from a compact car. The grey or beige two-tone interior trim and white-on-black gauge faces surround the driver with pure style. None of this beauty comes at the expenseof safety. The Proteg stresses its commitment to safety by using front seatbelt pre-ten- sioners with force limiters, a rear lower ISOFIX-type child seat anchor and optional airbags on both the driver and passenger sides. The sturdy Triple-H structure helps protect occupants from the effects of a side impact or rollover. The 2003 Proteg is considered a great compact car with a range of amenities, solid levels of power and performance, and a range of trim levels that let you find one reflecting your needs and desires. To learn more about the 2003 Proteg, go to www.mazdausa.com.
