When did the Mazda 323 SP20 come out?
The SP20 arrived in February when the rest of the 323 family got a mild tweak to include the corporate-look Mazda grille and new bonnet. The hidden changes have added some suspension stiffness and sharper steering, a little more sound proofing and more supportive seats.
What kind of engine does a Mazda 323 have?
The 2-litre engine isn’t over-powerful with 98kW, but it cracks much harder than the smaller-engined 323s and is surprisingly eager to push to the red line. It has solid mid-range squirt and encourages gear changes in the slick five-speed manual box.
Who is the owner of the Mazda SP20?
But it’s worth more to Mazda than that, which is why it has picked up the SP label, a tag previously used only on the special-build cars produced by race team boss Alan Horsley. Horsley and his team had nothing to do with the SP20, but he’s still happy to have it in the range at Mazda Australia.
When did the Mazda 323 Astina SP20 come out?
My previous daily driver was a car also built in 2003 (without mentioning names, it was an Australian-built car that went out of production not long after), and it was equipped with more technology… in the base model.
What kind of engine does a Mazda 323 SP20 have?
The little 2.0L 4 cylinder engine under the bonnet of the SP20 model produces a whopping (claimed) 98kW at 6000rpm and 174Nm at 4500rpm which doesn’t sound like a lot and when you consider the car weighs 1200kg, it isn’t. Low rev range speed is sluggish (anything less than 3000rpm), as is take off speed even with a flat foot.
What kind of storage does a Mazda 323 Astina have?
In the front the storage is adequate for a car of its age. The centre console is admittedly small and will really only hold a pair of sunglasses, some perfume/deodorant, maybe a small packet of tissues… and not much else. The driver and passenger door pockets make up for it somewhat but they still aren’t excessive.
How big are the rims on a Mazda 323?
The inoffensive shape and intelligent design of the SP20 body kit help differentiate it from the standard models while giving it a luxurious yet sporty vibe. The larger 16-inch rims fit perfectly in the wheel arches like a glove and complement the overall design. As is common with most post-2000 Mazdas, the 323 SP20 retains its value quite well.