7 Reasons Why Mazda Is Not Just MX-5

22 February 2021 Redazione News, Stories, Vintage

1920-2020: 100 YEARS OF MAZDA

Words by Carlo Brema / Photos by Mazda Press

It is fine when you think about Mazda, that the first thing coming to mind is the small, lovable and fun two-seater convertible. It is fine because since 1989 and through its four generations, the MX-5 has come to sell well over 1 million units, something you can imagine as every single inhabitant of Naples owning one. Try to figure out how its streets would look like, it is something impressive. Reaching in 2020 an equally important milestone as its centenary, we decided to take a quick look at 7 models that are worth supporting and taking into serious consideration when it comes to the Japanese brand, some equally representative, others less known but not waiting other than being dusted off and reminding that Mazda wrote indelible pages in the wonderful automobile book.

1967 – MAZDA COSMO I

A masterpiece of aesthetics and mechanics. In 1967 the Cosmo introduced the rotary engine into the world of production series, focusing the world’s attention on the brand thanks to an operation that, by means of a three-lobe rotor, rotates eccentrically around the crankshaft, making sure that its movement gives useful energy for intake, compression, combustion and then exhaust. It was an interesting invention for many aspects, including better performance and a reduced number of moving parts which would therefore have reduced emissions, vibrations and noise.

The Cosmo Sport is not only avant-garde engineering, but it is also a coupe with sleek lines and an almost European taste, with small dimensions and respectable performance guaranteed by 110 or 128 horsepower and a weight that remains under 1 ton, thus pushing up to 200 kph. Only 1,176 units were produced and to date, if you ask me to list 3 of the most beautiful Japanese cars of all time, this is undoubtedly the first that comes to mind.

1969 – MAZDA LUCE R130

That’s the Luce R130 the one guaranteeing Mazda to enter the luxury car segment. Also available as a four-door sedan and wagon, the Luce Coupe retained the rotary engine with two 655cc pots, delivering 126 hp and reaching 200 per hour of top speed. Also in this case, albeit with a decidedly more suitable attitude for everyday coexistence, the Luce R130 showed a personal and classy line, which in the Coupe enhanced the soft shapes and an innate ability to accentuate its own charm as well as its dynamic qualities thanks to a low weight and an engine always ready to ground its power.

1973 – MAZDA RX-3

Produced in two generations from 1971 to 1978, the RX-3 was exported all over the world under different names and engines. The one we are interested in – the RX-3 Series I – was offered with the rotary engine or with an almost analogous in-line 4-cylinder, depending on the Country of destination. In any case and regardless of the bodywork available between coupe, four-door sedan or wagon, the RX-3 was a model designed for the family, for everyday commute and which, thanks to its small size but good on board comfort, responded positively to the needs of its customers. A series called Savanna GT was also produced and exclusively intended for the Japanese market, with an aesthetic kit and sportier trim coming along with 125 hp managed through a 5-speed gearbox.

1979 – MAZDA RX-7 I

10 years before the arrival of the legendary MX-5, Mazda gave birth to the first great myth of its legacy: the RX-7. Produced across 3 generations, we are facing a real sports car, equipped with the characteristic Wankel rotary engine that with this model made itself appreciated and distinguished on the international market. The RX-7 Savanna immediately became a beloved icon in Europe and America, thanks to angular lines and all the stylistic features of the 80s, such as pop-up headlights, its characteristic rear glass and a bodywork that left no room for doubts: this Mazda was for driving enthusiasts and coming with rear-wheel drive was an exclamation point.

In terms of performance, the first generation RX-7 featured the now well-known Wankel twin-engine, with a maximum power of 105 hp and 147 Nm of torque. With the subsequent updates, power increased (115 and 146 hp), the aesthetics improved and the lines softened until its production end in 1985, with 450,000 units sold.

1989 – MAZDA RX-7 II

The second series was introduced in mid-1989, bringing with it a stylistic update that rounded off the overall shapes, without distorting the look that had made the RX-7 an authentic icon. A cabriolet variant was introduced as well, but despite its success did not have continuity with the following series. The second generation RX-7 featured a naturally aspirated 150hp, or a 180 or 200hp turbocharged engine. The gearbox could be a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, still with noteworthy performance. Today this can be seen as a transition series between the first and the third, but for all intents and purposes it rode the 80s keeping pace with the European and American competition, with lower costs and a pretty well aged image.

1991 – MAZDA RX-7 III

Celebrating the amazing victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the third generation RX-7 arrives in 1991. The coupe is a manifesto of harmonious beauty and engineering success, paying homage to the unforgettable Cosmo and projecting itself towards the future with a line that still today turns heads as it typically happens with Ferraris. Performance-wise we’re talking about an authentic supercar, with an evolution of the Wankel rotary, 2×654 capable of delivering 240 and 280 horsepower thanks to a sequential double turbocharger. The RX-7 hit 250 per hour, but to mark it as the best Mazda ever – sorry MX-5, you know I love you – you get a drivability that put into troubles a random supercar with double the price. An absolute masterpiece of which we will talk about in more detail in the months to come.

1991 – MAZDA MX-3

The MX-3 is a modern object, but definitely far from a contemporaneity based on downsizing and hybridization, especially taking into account it really is a hatchback. Produced between 1991 and 1998, the MX-3 was marketed with 3 different engines: a 1.5cc 4-cylinder, another 1.6cc 4-cylinder and a 1.8cc V6. Despite this last and unusual variant, the car kept traction on the front axle, offering liveliness but not the drivability of a pure sports car, an aspect that however did not penalize a great usability, making it an excellent product, especially for young customers.