Kei Cars in Depth - Vol. Two : Mazda and Subaru #blogpost

I’m back with another Kei Cars in Depth. This time, let’s discuss about Mazda ( and Autozam ) and Subaru. They have nothing in common, and they’re not both very well known on making kei cars, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make some which are not worth mentioning for. Each manufacturers have their own uniqueness, both in design and engineering. So let’s get on with the cars. First up it’s Subaru’s hot twins.

1. Subaru R2 Type-S and R1 Type-S

With it’s big hawkeye STI front grille it’s easy to spot the Subaru R1 and R2, and with a bonnet scoop you’ll know that it’s not an ordinary one. Both for the 3 door R1 and the more sensible R2, the Type-S option adds a supercharged, STI tuned 660cc DOHC 4 cylinder engine, pumping 63hp and about 93 Nm of Torque. Like most cars in Japan, the R1 and R2 Type-S also gets 4WD as an option which helps on wet and snow. These cars are not just here to compete with the hottest of kei cars, but they also serve as a people-carrier. Both the R1 and R2 comes with a second row, and luggage isn’t a struggle. The car is still tall like most hatchback kei cars which means getting in and out will be easy, and it will sit 4 no problem. And these cars are packed with a curb weight of 870kg and 880kg for the R1 and the R2 respectively, and you’ll save 40 kilos by not adding the 4WD systems.
But that’s when the good stuff ends, because there are bad news too. The Type-S doesn’t come with sticks, just CVT, even though there’s a manual mode. Manual transmission only comes in the standard R1 and R2, and that’s is quite disappointing with the fact that the Type-S is more performance orientated. But overall, the R1 and R2 Type-S is still a great car nipping around city traffic with a bit of grunt.

2. Autozam AZ-1

This car needs no introduction. It’s well known worldwide with its gullwing and tiny dimensions. And the best part, it comes at a bargain of a price. The thing is, this car isn’t actually a Mazda, it’s actually a Suzuki.
Here’s the Story. The origin of the AZ-1 started back in the mid 80s when suzuki build the RS/1 Concept. Few years went by and a few concepts was made, Suzuki left the project, and started another one, resulting the FR Suzuki Cappuccino. Meanwhile, Mazda took over, reconstructed the car, and made a few AZ-550 concepts ( 550 stands for 550cc, back then the limit was 550cc ). Back in 1989, one of the prototypes which look a lot like the production car, had pop up headlights which made the car look really, really sad. But when the lights are closed it just looks like a mini MR RX-7 FC.

So in 1992, the AZ-1 was built by Suzuki with a Suzuki engine, but sold with an Autozam badge. Suzuki made their own but it was better know with the AZ-1 name. The F6A Suzuki engine suits the car well, packing 63hp and 85 Nm of torque. Despite having a turbo, the engine revs to a sky-high 9000rpm, much like the Cappuccino and Beat. And with the engine mounted behind the seats and with the car weighing 820kg, the AZ-1 surely is a driver’s car, and probably a match to the NA miata at that time.
The AZ-1 only came with 2 colours, red and blue with grey lower-part of the body. They have steelies as standard and it fits the car quite nicely. The AZ-1 is a lot like modern supercars. The AZ-1 doesn’t come with a hard heavy steel body panels, just a shell to keep the driver alive and FRP panels to make aerodynamics and keeping the weight down.
There were only about 2 other models of the AZ-1, M2 1015 and the Mazdaspeed. The M2 1015 is actually just a collaboration between Mazda and M2 Incorporated. It gets fog lights, single body colours, a spoiler, and 3 different colours; silver, white, and black. The Mazdaspeed is the hottest of the AZ-1, because it features actual performance mods. Like the M2, the Mazdaspeed has spoilers and a single body colour, but only red and blue. It also has a new set of bodykits, a new suspension setup, an LSD, and stainless steel exhaust.

3. Subaru 360 Young SS

Next is the Subaru 360, Subaru’s first RWD car and second to last ever made. The 1958 years old kei car has a unique design at its time, with curvy styling rather than just boxy shapes, and it remained one of the most iconic kei cars. The original 360 had only 16hp from a 356cc 2-stroke 2 cylinder engine, which takes the car to 60 mph in 37 seconds. The Young SS version features a 4-speed manual transmission, rather than the stock’s 3. It has new careburators and the result, the car makes 36hp. Doesn’t sound much, but thanks to its 410kg body weight, it has about 100hp/ ton power to weight ratio. That takes the 360 to 60 in 20,6 seconds and a top speed of 120 km/h. That isn’t much but it was good enough for something with an N/A 360cc. The 360 Young SS battles straight with Honda’s FF N360, with identical power and dimensions.
Despite being utterly small, like other kei cars, the 360 actually sits 4, even though there’s barely any luggage space. The suicide doors made the 360 not only cool, but also a bit easier for the front passengers to come into the car. Once in, you’ll get a very simple interior. There’s literally nothing in it. Even tachometers are only for the Young SS. But what can you expect, it was 1958 and kei cars were still the alternative for people who can afford motorbikes, but can’t afford cars.
Today, the 360 is a car that had been looked back by Subaru. Remember the R1? Let me remind the design. 2 doors, curvy back shape, round headlights, kei car category, 4 seats, and a simple interior, tell me that looks back to the 360, even though it doesn’t have the RR layout anymore.

Mazda Chantez Coupe

When you guys hear rotary engines, you guys will think of the RX-series + the cosmo, but have you guys even known that there was a kei car rotary that didn’t make to production? Well it’s the Chantez, a coupe that looks like a roadster. FR layout, lightweight body, and a rotary engine. The idea was that rather than making a 2 cylinder 360cc engine, mazda planned on a 360cc, single rotor, N/A rotary, but due to regulations, mazda decided to remove the 3A rotary. Power output remained unknown, and in trade of the kei car classification, mazda fitted a straight 2, air cooled, 360cc engine, which made 35hp. It still drives the rear wheels, but no rotary this time.

But it never stopped anyone from making a rotary Chantez. Mazda tuner, RE Amemiya, stuck a 12A RX-7 engine, turbocharged it, and fit some wide fenders. It weighed nearly 800kilos, but it was worth the weight. Power had been increased to 190hp, a quarter mile done in 13.5 seconds, and it tops at 240.5 km/h, from a car that was once smaller than a MINI Cooper. There was another rotary Chantez, with a 13B N/A on board, but it was quite a new car, while the 12A was a long, long time ago.

Mazda was never known for making kei cars since the Chantez, they focused on regular sized cars and rotary engines, until the AZ-1 at least.

These 2 manufacturers are not very well known for making kei cars, but they surely did make some unique models. I hope this post gives you a better view to the kei car world. Coming up next, either Daihatsu or Suzuki, whatever I feel like posting first. See you next time

Just in case if you missed, here’s the link to the Part one of the Kei Cars in Depth series.