"...Mazda North American Operations today treated guests and media to the world debut of the world's first factory- installed in-dash MP3-capable audio system at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. The system capitalizes on the rapid growth of MP3 music files for personal use and makes it possible for consumers to play up to 10 hours of MP3 recordings on a single disc.

The system, a joint effort between Mazda and Kenwood, includes a powered sub-woofer, premium speakers and Kenwood's new eXcelon Z919 MP3/CD/AM/FM in- dash receiver/player. Kenwood becomes the first mobile electronics manufacturer to have an in-dash MP3 player installed as an original equipment audio system.

The Kenwood Z919 plays conventional music CDs as well CD-R discs with MP3 music files. MP3 compression allows music to be downloaded quickly over the Internet and stored in small, manageable files. This allows up to 10 hours of music to be recorded onto a CD-R disc that would only contain about an hour of music recorded in a standard CD format.

In addition to the Kenwood Z919, the Protege MPS will include two 6x9 three-way speakers (KFCX-696) for the car's rear deck, a 5x7 two-way speaker (KFCX-576C) for each of the front doors, and a 100-watt, trunk-mounted 10-inch powered subwoofer (KSC-WA100)..." NULL