Mazda Luce

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Mazda Luce
Manufacturer Mazda
Production 1966–1990
Successor Mazda Sentia
Class luxury car
Mark 1
Also called Luce 1500/1800/R130
Production 1966–1972 (1500)
1968–1973 (1800)
1969–1972 (R130)
R130: <1,000 built [1]
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
5-door station-wagon
Layout FR
Engine(s) 1.5 L 1500 I4 (1500)
1.8 L 1800 I4 (1800)
1.3 L 13A (R130)
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual
Mark 2
Production 1972 – 1977
Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
5-door station-wagon
Layout FR
Engine(s) 1.8 L 1800 I4
2.0 L F/MA I4
1.2 L 12A
1.3 L 13A
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Related Mazda RX-4
Mark 3
Also called Luce Legato
Production 1977 – 1981
Body style(s) 4-door hardtop
4-door sedan
5-door station-wagon
Layout FR
Engine(s) 1.8 L 1800 I4
2.0 L F/MA I4
1.2 L 12A
1.3 L 13A
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Related Mazda 929
Mark 4
Production 1981 – 1986
Body style(s) 2-door hardtop
4-door hardtop
4-door sedan
Layout FR
Engine(s) 2.0 L F/MA I4
2.0 L FE I4
1.2 L 12A
1.3 L 13B
Transmission(s) 5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Related Mazda Cosmo
Mazda 929
Mark 5
Production 1986 – 1990
Body style(s)
4-door hardtop
4-door sedan
Layout FR
Engine(s) 2.0 L FE I4
2.2 L F2 I4
2.0 L JF V6
3.0 L JE V6
1.3 L 13B turbo
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
Related Mazda 929

Mazda used the Luce name on its largest sedans in Japan from 1969 until 1990. These vehicles were exported under a variety of names, including RX-4, 929, and Cosmo. The Luce nameplate was replaced by the Mazda Sentia name in 1991.

Contents

[edit] 1965

Following an agreement signed with Bertone in April, 1962, the 1965 Luce 1500 show car was a beautiful sedan designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italy. It was low and sharp, looking more like a contemporary BMW Bavaria than any of its smaller Mazda brothers.

The production version had a higher roofline but retained the BMW look. It was a front-engine, rear wheel drive coupe, and featured a square 1.5 L (1490 cc) 1500 SOHC engine, producing 78 hp (58,1kW)5500rpm and 84,5lb ft. It sold poorly at 695,000 yen (US$1,930) and a stroked 1.8 L (1796 cc) 1800 engine was added for 1968. This new model, the Luce 1800, produced 104hp(74,5kw) 5500rpm and 112 lb ft 2500rpm. An estate station wagon was also added.

[edit] R130

A rotary-powered Luce appeared the following year. The Luce R130 was produced from October, 1969 to 1972. It used a 1.3 L 13A engine, which produced 126 hp (94 kW) and 127 ft·lbf (172 N·m). Quarter-mile (400 m) performance was 16.9 seconds. Interestingly, this model was front wheel drive.

[edit] 1800 (USA)

The Mazda brand entered the United States market in 1970 with just the small R100, but expanded to a full line in 1971. This included all three of the company's piston-powered models, the compact 616, mid-size 1200, and full-size 1800.

The US-market 1800 produced 98 hp (73 kW) and 108 lb·ft (146 N·m) and cost US$2,280. Performance was sluggish, with a 0-60 mph time of 17.5 sec and a 20.5 sec/65 mph quarter mile.

Unlike the rotary cars, the 1800 was a flop. Road & Track magazine said it was solid to the point of being overly-heavy, with pleasant handling but poor performance. They went so far as to call it the "Dullest Car of the Year"! It was gone from the market for 1972.

[edit] 1972

The 1972 rotary Luce was also known as the Mazda RX-4 in export markets. It was available as a coupe, sedan, and "custom" (station wagon). Two rotary engines were offered, the regular 12A and low-emissions AP 13B.

Engines:

  • 1973-1976 1.8 L (1769cc) 1800 I4, 2 barrel, 83 hp (61 kW)/101 ft·lbf (137 N·m)
  • 1975-1976 2.0 L (1970cc) F/MA I4, 2 barrel, 103 hp (76 kW)/123 ft·lbf (167 N·m)
  • 1972-1976 13B, 127 hp (93 kW)/138 ft·lbf (188 N·m)

[edit] 1978

The 1978 Luce Legato (introduced in October, 1977) was a large and luxurious sedan, still powered by Mazda's piston or rotary engines. It was also available as a four-door pillarless hardtop that looked like a huge, square coupe, and a wagon, which had more of a utilitarian role than the sedans.

Aside from the regular piston engine variants, the 12A or 13B rotary engines were on offer. The piston engined variants were exported as the Mazda 929.

A facelift was given to the range in 1980, giving the car a more 'European' styled front. When the range was replaced in 1981, the wagon models continued, due to there being no wagon models in the new range.

Engines:

  • 1977-1980 1.8 L (1769cc) 1800 I4, 2 barrel, 83 hp (61 kW)/101 ft·lbf (137 N·m)
  • 1977-1980 2.0 L F/MA (1970 cc) I4, 1 barrel, 90 hp (66 kW)
  • 1980-1980 2.2 L Diesel, 66 hp (49 kW)/104 ft·lbf (142 N·m)
  • 1977-1980 13B, 127 hp (93 kW)/138 ft·lbf (188 N·m)

[edit] 1981

For 1981, Mazda brought back the Cosmo name for the HB platform Luce coupe. The sedan was also exported as the Mazda 929. Production of the Cosmo continued after the Luce was replaced in 1986.

Engines:

  • 1981-1986 2.0 L (1970 cc) MA I4, 1 barrel, 90 hp (66 kW)/118 ft·lbf (160 N·m)
  • 1981-1986 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, 2 barrel, 101 hp (74 kW)/115 ft·lbf (156 N·m)
  • 1981-1986 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, FI, 118 hp (87 kW)/126 ft·lbf (171 N·m)

Behind a GenteelX

Inside GenteelX

[edit] 1986

The 1986 Luce was large and luxurious on the HC platform, now with the 13B turbo engine. It was still exported as the Mazda 929, and differed from the (continued) Cosmo.

1990 was the last year of the Luce nameplate. The Eunos Cosmo continued on a new platform (JC), and the HD platform spawned the Mazda Sentia (now exported as the 929), and the Efini MS-9, but there was no longer a rotary model of the large sedan.

Engines:

  • 1986-1990 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, FI, 116 hp (85 kW)/121 ft·lbf (164 N·m)
  • 1986-1990 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2 I4, 1 barrel, 115 hp (85 kW)/129 ft·lbf (175 N·m)
  • 1986-1990 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2 I4, FI, 127 hp (93 kW)/141 ft·lbf (192 N·m)
  • 2.0 L JF V6
  • 2.0 L JFT V6 JFT, 150 hp (112 kW)
  • 1986-1991 3.0 L (2954 cc) JE V6, FI, 165 hp (121 kW)/182 ft·lbf (247 N·m)
  • 13B turbo

[edit] References

  1. ^ Long, Brian (2004). RX-7. Dorchester: Veloce Publishing, 20. ISBN 1-904788-03-3. 


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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
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Pickup Proceed/REPU REPU
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