Back To School With A Stylish Set Of Wheels (NAPSA)—Back to school has just taken a turn for the better as a growing number of high school and college students are arriving on campus with a new set of wheels that rates high in both style and 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-disc 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 you're 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 purestyle. None of this beauty comes at the expenseof safety. The Proteg stresses its commitment to safety by using front seatbelt pre-tension- ers 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 impactor 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 2008 Proteg, go to www.mazdausa.com.
