Autozam AZ-1
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Autozam AZ-1 (PG6SA) | ||
---|---|---|
Gullwing | ||
Related | Mazda Carol
Curb weight | 720 kg (1,587 lb) |
The Autozam AZ-1, known by the framecode PG6SA, is a
Manufactured from October 1992 to October 1994, the AZ-1 was noted for its
Suzuki later produced its own
History
Pre-production
Suzuki prototypes
The proposal for the AZ-1 goes as far back as 1985 when Suzuki created the Suzuki RS/1 as a mid-engine sports car project for volume production.[1] Suzuki's design for the Tokyo Motor Show was a fully functional car with a front/rear weight distribution of 45:55,[3] powered by a modified 1.3-liter G13B engine borrowed from the Cultus GTi.[1]
This was followed up by the Tatsumi Fukunaga-designed RS/3, unveiled for the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show. This version of the car retained many of its design features of the predecessor, but many of its design features were modified to meet Japanese safety regulations as well as for practicality. However, the project was abandoned in favor of the roadster project they had been working on, named later the Cappuccino.[4]
Mazda's design team, led by Toshihiko Hirai, who was also responsible for the MX-5,[5] took over the design project, despite having a limited budget and capacity.
Mazda prototypes
The redesigned cars, constructed in tube frame with floors and bulkheads constructed from aluminium honeycomb, clad in three different body styles constructed in fiberglass. The cars were constructed around the Kei car regulations of the time (maximum length 126 inches (3,200 mm), maximum engine capacity 550 cc), until this was changed for the following March, hence its model name, AZ-550 Sports.[6]
First introduced at the 1989
The Type A is a red sports car with
The Type B, themed as "High-tuned pure sports",
The Type C, has a more distinctive body design as it was inspired by Mazda's
Pre-production
As the cars were well received by the visiting public and the motoring press, Mazda executives decided on production of the car. Although Type C was the better received of the three, Type A was given the green light by executives as they believed that it would be the one most commercially accepted by the buying public.[8] The Type A would only receive a minor design alteration prior to production, as the pop-up headlights were dropped in favour of fixed units, purely for structural rigidity reasons.[8] The front air vent was the other design alteration made to the car prior to production.
Nonetheless, the car took three years to get into production as the engineering team changed the car's internal skeleton frame to steel to allow for further rigidity.[5] The dashboard design was also changed, to a less futuristic but still sporting look.[11]
Much of the development work was carried out in the United Kingdom, undergoing extensive testing at Lotus' Millbrook Proving Ground, despite the fact that the car was never intended for sale outside Japan.[11][12]
Production
The car was made available to the buying public in January 1992, with two color options, Siberia blue and classic red. Both colors came with Venetian gray lower panels. Each car was sold through the Autozam dealer network in Japan.[13]
Unfortunately by the time car came into production, the recession in Japan had just come into force. Selling for 1,498 million ¥ (the equivalent of $12,400), it was slightly less than a Eunos Roadster, but marginally higher than its competitor, the Honda Beat, selling at 1,388 million ¥[14] and the Suzuki Cappuccino at ¥1,458 million, [15] the AZ-1 was considered to be both too expensive and too cramped for a kei car. The car failed to sell within its target of 800 per month, in the midst of an economic recession. Production of the car ended after the following year, but Mazda had plenty of stock to sell off.[16]
With a total production of 4,392 over a year, plus 531 Suzuki Cara, compared to 28,010 Cappuccinos[17] and 33,600 Beats[18] (both with production reaching into the latter half of the 1990s).
Alternative versions
In a bid to shift unsold stock, Mazda made an effort to produce special versions. First to come was the Type L option, featuring an enhanced audio system including a
Mazdaspeed
Mazda also introduced the
M2 1015
For 1994, There was also the M2 1015 by
Originally, only fifty units were to be produced by M2, then sold through Autozam dealers. They were so popular, production continued and estimates of between 300-350 were ultimately sold.[16] A genuine "M2 1015" can be identified by the rear emblem stating the version name. More details can be found in “M2 Voice” (linked below)
Suzuki Cara
- See Suzuki Cara in Japanese Wikipedia
The AZ-1 was also sold by Suzuki as the Cara, with only minor detail changes including the addition of fog lamps.
References
- ^ a b c Spoelstra, Marcel. "RS Prototype". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "マツダAZ-1のカタログ" [Catalog: Mazda AZ-1]. CarSensor.net (in Japanese). Recruit Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 2020-08-20.
- ^ Spoelstra, Marcel. "RS-1". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Spoelstra, Marcel. "AZ Prototype". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ a b Spoelstra, Marcel. "Production". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Spoelstra, Marcel. "AZ-1". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "History of AZ-1". asahi-net.or.jp. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "AZ-1 at the time of the motor show". asahi-net.or.jp. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Spoelstra, Marcel. "Model B". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Spoelstra, Marcel. "Model C". suzuki-collection.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ a b Spoelstra, Marcel. "Development". suzuki-collection.com. The Suzuki Cara Enthusiast Website. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ^ Johansson, Claes, ed. (1991-05-02). "Trecylindrig trevnad i Mazdas mini" [Three-cylinder snugness in Mazda's mini]. Teknikens Värld (in Swedish). Vol. 43, no. 9. Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB. pp. 12–13.
- ^ "Mazda Micro-Mini Media Information" (Press Kit). Mazda Motor Corporation. 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 29 October 2018 – via suzuki-collection.com.
- ^ "Honda Beat 1993 (used, imported, new): pics, specs, performance". auto.vl.ru. Archived from the original on 2010-07-15.
- ^ "Suzuki Cappuccino 1991 (used, imported, new): pics, specs, performance". auto.vl.ru. Archived from the original on 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b c d "AZ-1 after mass-production". asahi-net.or.jp. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "The Cappuccino Story". suzuki-cappuccino.com. Suzuki Cappuccino Owners Register for Enthusiasts (SCORE).
- ^ "Honda Beat". hondabeat.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "The Trail - the history of MAZDASPEED:AZ-1 (PG) A-spec". Retrieved 29 October 2018.
External links
- The Suzuki Cara Enthusiast Website
- M2 Voice
- AZ-1,the exciting micro coupé
- 世界最小のスーパーカー(笑)AZ-1のページ (in Japanese)
- マイスター鈴木のページ (in Japanese)
- AZ-1を楽しもう にっしゃのガレージ (in Japanese)