Mazda Xedos 6

Last updated
Mazda Xedos 6
Mazda Xedos6 front 20071115.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Mazda
Model code CA
Also called Eunos 500
Mazda Eunos 500 (Australia)
Production1992–1999
AssemblyJapan: Hofu, Yamaguchi (Hofu Plant)
Designer Takeshi Arakawa (1989) [1]
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size luxury car
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FF layout
Related Mazda Capella
Mazda MX-6
Powertrain
Engine 1.6 L B6-9/B6-E I4
1.8 L FP-DE I4
1.8 L K8-ZE V6
2.0 L KF-1/KF-ZE V6
Transmission 5-speed manual [2]
4-speed automatic [3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,610 mm (102.8 in) [2]
Length4,560 mm (179.5 in) [4]
Width1,700 mm (66.9 in) [4]
Height1,345–1,355 mm (53.0–53.3 in) [5]
Curb weight 1,140–1,296 kg (2,513–2,857 lb) [5]

The Mazda Xedos 6 and Eunos 500 are compact executive cars that were produced between 1992 and 1999, with the Xedos 6 being sold in Europe by Mazda, and the Eunos 500 being sold in Japan and Australia by Eunos. The cars were not sold in North America, with the larger Xedos 9/Millenia model offered there instead. In total, 72,101 Xedos 6 and Eunos 500 automobiles were produced. [6]

Contents

History

The rear of a Eunos 500. Eunos 500 rear.jpg
The rear of a Eunos 500.
1992-1996 Eunos 500 (Australia) 1992-1996 Eunos 500 sedan 01.jpg
1992-1996 Eunos 500 (Australia)

The Eunos 500 was initially presented at the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show, and was based on the Mazda CA platform, [5] also used by the Mazda Capella. [6] The car entered full production in January 1992, with Japanese and Australian market models using the Eunos 500 name (as they were sold under the Eunos brand, and not the Mazda brand) and British models utilizing the Mazda Xedos 6 name. [6] Left-hand drive versions of the Xedos 6, destined for mainland Europe, were first produced in 1993. [6] The car's exterior styling was often praised by reviewers, [7] [8] with Honest John stating that it "could have been the prototype for a new small Jaguar - with Mazda reliability," [9] however, the interior was also criticized for being too dull. [10] There were also plans to market the car under the Amati 300 name, but they did not come to fruition. [11]

The Xedos 6 was available with two different engines: a 1.6-litre straight-four (available in Europe from the beginning of production, in the UK from 1993 onwards [7] [12] ) and a 2-litre V6 (available everywhere from the car's launch) The 1.6-litre engine produced 114 hp (85 kW; 116 PS), and was criticized for being underpowered, [5] [13] whilst the 2-litre engine produced 144 hp (107 kW; 146 PS), [5] and was praised for its smooth, free-revving nature. [9] The V6 models were capable of up to 133 mph (214 km/h) with a manual transmission, and 125 mph (201 km/h) with an automatic transmission, [14] and were claimed to be able to do 30-31 miles per gallon (imperial). [15] In comparison, the 1.6-litre models had a top speed of 184 km/h (114 mph) with a manual transmission, or 175 km/h (109 mph) with an automatic. [5] The engines were updated in 1994 to meet the new Euro 1 emissions standards (reducing the power outputs by 7 hp (5 kW; 7 PS) for the 1.6 and 4 hp (3 kW; 4 PS) for the 2-litre, [5] ) and again in 1996 to meet the new Euro 2 standards. [6] The 1.6-litre versions, as well as the 2.0 Sport model, were withdrawn from production in 1998, a year before the remaining versions were withdrawn. [7]

The Eunos 500 used different engines to the European models. The 1.6-litre engine was not offered in Japan, with the base model instead being a 1.8-litre K8-ZE V6, [16] producing 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp) and having a top speed of 195 km/h (121 mph). [17] The 2-litre V6 was offered in Japan, but in a higher state of tune; Japanese models produced 160 PS (118 kW; 158 hp) from their KF-ZE engines, [16] and had a top speed of 205 km/h (127 mph). [18] For 1994, a 1.8-litre straight-four was introduced as the new base model, with a power output of 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp), [19] whilst the 1.8-litre V6 was discontinued. [20] In 1996, following Mazda's decision to axe the Eunos brand, [21] the Eunos 500 was rebranded as the Mazda Eunos 500, and remained in production under that name until 1999. [22]

Motorsport

The Xedos 6 was used in the British Touring Car Championship in 1993 and 1994. Roger Dowson Engineering ran the works Mazda team in 1993 (under the Mazda Racing Team name, [23] ) with the Xedos 6 replacing the 323F that had been used in the previous season. [24] Patrick Watts drove the Xedos 6 during the season, taking his first pole at Snetterton, [25] and three fourth-place finishes. [26] [27] [28] He finished 15th in the championship, two points behind former champion Tim Harvey in the works Renault 19. [23] Mazda were classified eighth, and last, in the manufacturer's championship. [23] For 1994, Roger Dowson Engineering and Team Dynamics ran the works Mazdas, with David Leslie and Matt Neal being entered in a two-car team, [29] but the season would prove to be less successful. Neal was forced to withdraw from the series after suffering injuries from a big crash in the sixth round at Silverstone, [30] whilst Leslie withdrew halfway through the season due to budgetary problems. [31] Leslie's best finishes were a pair of eighth positions at the first two rounds, [32] [33] whilst Neal's was a tenth at Snetterton. [34] Neal finished 23rd in the championship, level with privateers James Thompson and Nigel Smith, whilst Leslie finished 20th. [35] Mazda were classified tenth, and last, in the manufacturer's championship. [35] The Xedos 6's running gear was later used in a 323F built for the 1994 FIA Touring Car World Cup and driven by Neal. [36]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Sierra</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Sierra is a mid-size car or large family car manufactured and marketed by Ford Europe from 1982–1993, designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément — and noted for its aerodynamic styling producing a drag coefficient of 0.34, a significant improvement over its predecessors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Vectra</span> Compact executive car manufactured by Opel

The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Cavalier from 1988 to 1995 and then as the Vauxhall Vectra from 1995 to 2008, and it was also sold by Holden in Australia as the Holden Vectra, by Chevrolet in Latin America as the Chevrolet Vectra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda MX-3</span> Four-seat coupé by Mazda

The Mazda MX-3 is a 2+2-seat, front-wheel drive coupé of a kammback design, manufactured and marketed by Mazda. It was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1991 and marketed until 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Millenia</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Cosmo</span> Sports coupé manufactured by Mazda

The Mazda Cosmo is an automobile which was produced by Mazda from 1967 until 1996. Throughout its history, the Cosmo served as a "halo" vehicle for Mazda, with the first Cosmo successfully launching the Mazda Wankel engine. The final generation of Cosmo served as Mazda's flagship vehicle in Japan, being sold as the Eunos Cosmo through its luxury Eunos division in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Luce</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Luce is an executive car that was produced by Mazda in Japan from 1966 until 1991. It was widely exported as the Mazda 929 from 1973 to 1991 as Mazda's largest sedan. Later generations were installed with luxury items and interiors as the Luce became the flagship offering. The Luce was replaced by the Sentia in 1991 which was also exported under the 929 nameplate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Familia</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Familia, also marketed prominently as the Mazda 323, Mazda Protegé and Mazda Allegro, is a small family car that was manufactured by Mazda between 1963 and 2003. The Familia line was replaced by the Mazda3/Axela for 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 156</span> Compact executive car

The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It was introduced at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155. The 156 received a positive reception and in the following year went on to win the 1998 European Car of the Year award. The 156 saloon was discontinued in Europe late in 2005, while the Q4 Crosswagon continued in production until the end of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda F engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The F engine family from Mazda is a mid-sized inline-four piston engine with iron block, alloy head and belt-driven SOHC and DOHC configurations. Introduced in 1983 as the 1.6-litre F6, this engine was found in the Mazda B-Series truck and Mazda G platform models such as Mazda 626/Capella as well as many other models internationally including Mazda Bongo and Ford Freda clone, Mazda B-series based Ford Courier, Mazda 929 HC and the GD platform-based Ford Probe

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda K engine</span> Japanese V6 car engine design

The Mazda K-series automobile engine is a short stroke 60° 24-valve V6 with belt-driven DOHC and all-aluminium construction. Displacements range from 1.8 L to 2.5 L. They all use a 27-degree DOHC valvetrain with directly actuated hydraulic bucket lifters. The K-series also features a highly rigid aluminum split-crankcase engine block design with 4-bolt mains with additional bolts securing the lower block, an internally balanced forged steel crankshaft with lightweight powder forged carbon steel connecting rods. They were designed with the intent of being as compact as possible for short-hood front-wheel drive applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 155</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1992 and 1998. It was unveiled in January 1992 at Barcelona, with the first public launch in March 1992, at the Geneva Motor Show. A total of 195,526 units were made before it was replaced by the 156.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Lantis</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Lantis is a series of two cars sold in Japan from 1993 to 1998. In the rest of the world it was also known as 323F, Astina, 323 Astina, Allegro Hatchback or Artis Hatchback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Persona</span> Motor vehicle

The Mazda Persona is a mid-sized, front-wheel drive, four-door hardtop sedan produced by Mazda in Japan from November 1988 to December 1991, and sold both within its main range and under its upscale Eunos brand, as the Eunos 300. It is a rebodied Capella/626 with more luxurious equipment. The Persona was Mazda's answer to the Toyota Carina ED, Nissan Presea, and Mitsubishi Emeraude — Japanese sedans that attempted to capture the pillarless hardtop look and proportion of large American sedans. Transposed onto a smaller Japanese sedan, this proportion often led to a small, low cabin in context of longer front and rear ends. It was replaced by the ɛ̃fini MS-8 in March 1992, after Persona stocks had run out. The car was only offered new in the domestic Japanese market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda3</span> Automobile manufactured by the Mazda Motor Corporation

The Mazda3 is a compact car manufactured by Mazda. It was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model, replacing the Familia/323/Protegé in the C-segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda Xedos</span>

The Mazda Xedos is a range of executive cars that were launched by Japanese manufacturer Mazda in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider</span> Italian sports car series

The Alfa Romeo Brera and the Alfa Romeo Spider are mid-size sports cars using the GM/Fiat Premium platform, manufactured by Pininfarina and marketed by Alfa Romeo as a 2+2 coupé and roadster respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 75</span> Compact executive car

The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in North America as the Milano, is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992. The Alfa 75 was commercially quite successful: in only three years, 236,907 cars were produced, and by the end of production in 1992, around 386,767 had been built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaguar F-Type</span> Sports car

The Jaguar F-Type (X152) is a series of two-door, two-seater grand tourers manufactured by British car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover under their Jaguar Cars marque since 2013. The car's JLR D6a platform is based on a shortened version of the XK's platform. It is the so-called "spiritual successor" to the famous E-Type.

Roger Dowson Engineering, also known as RD Motorsport, is an automotive engineering company, and an auto racing team run by Roger Dowson. The company was founded in 1982, and was most notable for running the works MG Metros in the British Saloon Car Championship in 1983 and the works Mazda teams in the British Touring Car Championship from 1992 until 1994.

References

  1. ↑ "Automobile".
  2. 1 2 "Mazda Xedos 6 (92-00) 2.0i V6 Sport 4d - MPG, Dimensions & Performance". Parkers. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Mazda Xedos 6 (92-00) 2.0i V6 SE 4d Auto - MPG, Dimensions & Performance". Parkers. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Mazda Xedos 6 (92-00) Dimensions - Facts and Figures". Parkers. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Xedos 6". Xedos community. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Хронология модели Mazda Xedos 6 | Mazda Xedos 6 FAQ : Mazda Xedos Клуб". Xedos6.su. 2011-05-26. Archived from the original on 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  7. 1 2 3 "Car Reviews - Mazda Xedos 6 (1992-1999)". RAC. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Ruppert, James (10 January 2013). "Mazda Xedos 6 - Top 10 used Mazdas". MSN Cars UK. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Mazda Xedos 6 1992 - Car Review - What's Good". Honest John. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Crouch, Jonathan (10 October 2005). "Mazda Xedos 6 (1992 - 1999): Mazda's Image-Maker". Yahoo! Cars. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Hughes, Chris (30 August 2010). "Mazda Cars - Find Out The Car Maker's Origins and More". Daily News Dig. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Mazda Xedos 6: Model Identification". Mazda Electronic Parts Catalogue. Mazda Motor Corporation. AECA01.
  13. ↑ "Mazda Xedos 6 1992 - Car Review - What's Bad". Honest John. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Mazda Xedos 6 (92-00) Performance - Facts and Figures". Parkers. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mazda Xedos 6 (92-00) Running Costs - Facts and Figures". Parkers. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  16. 1 2 Knowling, Michael. "The Mazda V6 Guide". AutoSpeed. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Eunos-500 1.8 i V6 24V 140 HP. Car Technical Data". Automobilio.INFO. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Eunos-500 2.0 i V6 24V 160 HP. Car Technical Data". Automobilio.INFO. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "MAZDA EUNOS 500 1.8 18J (03.1994 - 12.1995)". CARS-DIRECTORY.NET. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Mazda Eunos 500: Information about model, images gallery and complete modifications list". Cars-Database.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "History" (PDF). Mazda Cars Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "1996-1999 Mazda Eunos 500 VIN Car History - Check your VIN number history". VIN Car History. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 "Results - BTCC - 1993 - Final Championship Standings". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  24. ↑ Watkins, Gary (8 February 2012). "Long-time BTCC team owner Roger Dowson dies aged 67 - BTCC news". AUTOSPORT.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Snetterton: out with the old". British Touring Car Championship. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1993 - Donington Park GP Round 4 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1993 - Knockhill Round 10 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1993 - Knockhill Round 11 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  29. ↑ Blackmore, Andy (23 January 2009). "RETROSPECTIVE>> MAZDA AND EUROPEAN TIN-TOPS". Speedhunters. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "BTCC Drivers - Matt Neal". British Touring Car Championship. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "BTCC: Team Petronas signs David Leslie for 2002 campaign". Motorsport.com. 13 December 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1994 - Thruxton Round 1 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  33. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1994 - Brands Hatch Indy Round 2 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "Results - BTCC - 1994 - Snetterton Round 4 Results". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  35. 1 2 "Results - BTCC - 1994 - Final Championship Standings". TouringCars.net. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  36. ↑ Blackmore, Andy (23 January 2009). "Retrospective - Mazda and European Tin-Tops". Speedhunters. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.