Mazda RX-5
From Ford Wiki
| Automotive industry | Mazda |
|---|---|
| Production | 1975–1980 |
| Predecessor | Mazda Cosmo |
| Car classification | GT car |
| Car body style | Coupé |
| Automobile layout | FR layout |
| Internal combustion engine | Mazda Wankel engine |
| Related | Mazda Cosmo Mazda RX-4 |
The Mazda RX-5 was an Automobile model which was produced from 1975 through 1980. It was a small luxury sporty coupé intended to compete with the Ford Thunderbird and similar vehicles. It was called Rx-5 in Australia, and Mazda Cosmo in the Japanese and American market.
It shared much of its mechanicals with the Mazda RX-4, with the addition of rear 5 link coil suspension and rear disc brakes. JDM models were available with the Mazda Wankel engine engine but all overseas models used the Mazda Wankel engine engine, which had by that time been debugged from the problem of failed combustion chamber seals, but still had a high frequency of gasket failures between the aluminum and iron sections of the engine housing, due to differential thermal expansion of the dissimilar metals.
It was extremely popular in Japan, due to its American style and high performance and luxury, but sold only in limited numbers in rest of the world. The RX-5 was retired in the American Mazda lineup to make room for the new 1979 Mazda RX-7.
A related RX-6 model was offered in some markets with the same bodyshell and premise.
| Mazda Mazda Wankel engine timeline
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| Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Compact car | Familia/R100 | R100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size car | Capella/RX-2 | RX-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luce/RX-4 | R130 | RX-4 | Legato | HB | HC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size car | Roadpacer | RP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand tourer | Cosmo/RX-5 | L10A | L10B | CD | HB | JC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | Savanna/RX-3/RX-7/RX-8 | RX-3 | SA | FB | FC | FD | SE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | Proceed/REPU | REPU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mazda road car timeline, 1990s–2000s
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| Type | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Kei car | Carol | Carol | Carol | Carol | ||||||||||||||||
| AZ-Wagon | AZ-Wagon | AZ-Wagon | AZ-Wagon | |||||||||||||||||
| AZ-Offroad | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spiano | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Scrum | Scrum/Scrum Wagon | Scrum/Scrum Wagon | ||||||||||||||||||
| Subcompact car | Revue/121 | Demio/121 | Demio/Mazda2 | Demio/Mazda2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Verisa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact car | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Axela/Mazda3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Nissan AD | Nissan AD | Nissan AD | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size car | Capella/626 | Capella | Capella/626 | Atenza/Mazda6 | Atenza/Mazda6 | |||||||||||||||
| Cronos/626/Xedos 6/Eunos 500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Eunos 800/Mazda Xedos 9/Millenia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size car | Sentia/929/Efini MS-8 | Sentia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | MX-6/Mystère | MX-6/Mystère/Efini MS-6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roadster/MX-5/Miata | Roadster/MX-5/Miata | Roadster/MX-5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MX-3 Precidia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RX-7 | Efini RX-7/RX-7 | RX-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cosmo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mazda AZ-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup truck | B-Series | B-Series | B-Series | BT-50 | ||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Mazda Premacy | Mazda Premacy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Efini MPV/MPV | MPV | MPV/Mazda8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bongo Friendee | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Biante | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover SUV | CX-7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| CX-9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport utility vehicle | Navajo | Tribute | Tribute | |||||||||||||||||
| Van | Bongo | Bongo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Truck | Titan | Titan | Titan | Titan | ||||||||||||||||
