1992 Autozam AZ-1 'Turbo' Micro Car

Description

The AZ-1 is a mid-engined Kei-class sports car designed and manufactured by Mazda under its Autozam brand, using a Suzuki engine. Suzuki later produced its own badge-engineered version called the Cara. Built from October 1992 to October 1994, the Autozam AZ-1 was particularly noted for its gullwing doors and the same Suzuki-sourced 657cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine (47kW/85Nm) used by the Mazda Carol. Sold through Mazda’s domestic market only Autozam dealer network, the Autozam AZ-1 was available in only two colour combinations, Siberia Blue, and Classic Red, over Venetian Grey lower panels. The interior had period ‘futuristic’ design touches to add to the gullwing doors, though equipment levels were fundamentally in line with other contemporary Kei cars. Considered to be both too expensive and too cramped for a Kei car, the AZ-1 failed to sell its target of 800 per month in the midst of an economic recession, with just 4392 built (plus 531 Suzuki Caras), making it the rarest of the Kei sports cars. Mazda still had plenty of stock to sell off when production finished in October 1994.