Mazda Luce

Mazda used the Luce name on its largest sedans in Japan from 1969 until 1989. 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.

1965

The 1965 Luce 1500 show car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italy (then at Bertone) and was a beautiful sedan. 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 1.5L (1490cc) 1500 SOHC engine, producing 70hp (52kW) and 87ft·lbf (118N·m). It sold poorly at 695,000 yen (US$1,930) and a stroked 1.8L (1796cc) 1800 engine was added for 1968. This new model, the Luce 1800, produced 89hp (66kW) and 112ft·lbf (152N·m). An estate station wagon was also added.

R130

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

See also A-Spec's '69 Luce page

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 98hp and 108ft·lbf and cost US$2,280. Performance was sluggish, with a 0-60mph time of 17.5sec and a 20.5sec/65mph 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.

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-emmissions AP 13B.