Mazda 121

Japanese designers have lone since ceased to be copiers: indeed, they have become leading innovators. Mazda's new small car, the 121, reflects the philosophical change. Although the main concept of a small car with transverse engine and front-wheel drive is conventional enough in modern terms, a detailed look reveals fresh slants on old problems. Unusual is the combination of electric action with a sliding framed-canvas type of sunroof, which is offered as an extra at £ 700. This pro­vides a huge opening almost Citroen 2CV style, yet by using modern aerodynamics it has been possible to provide a car that can be driven fully open without wind buffeting.

German material is used for the folding roof, which is laminated with a p.v.c. layer for elasticity, and has a triple sealing joint between the frame and the sun-top material. The sliding action stops at any point when the operating switch is released.

If the sun top is ordered, the radio/cassette unit fitted as standard will automatically be of lift-out type so that it can be stored away from the car and not be an inducement for thieves to slash the roof open.

The power unit is the Mazda B-Series four-cylinder with single over­head camshaft and small combustion chambers that are said to give better thermal efficiency. Tournament-type intake manifold tracts achieve a more even mixture distribution.

To reduce internal friction, the engine has thinner piston rings, slim valve stems, small rocker shafts, a lightened flywheel, and a trochoidal-geared oil pump driven directly off the crankshaft.

Many designers fit a warning light to remind the driver that the choke has been left open after a cold start. Mazda goes one better than this, and fits a magnetic choke, which cancels automatically as soon as it is no lon­ger needed.

To make the rear suspension com­pact, Mazda has used a torsion-beam axle with trailing arms - a cheap means of providing lateral rigidity and combining anti-roll properties (an arrangement first made popular by Volkswagen).

To afford more flexibility in interior accommodation, the backseat is mounted on runners like the front ones. If only children are being car­ried in the back, a lever is raised to allow the seat to slide forward about four inches, making extra space avail­able for luggage.

In addition, there is the usual pro­vision for the backrest to drop on the squab for extra load space. It is divided centrally, although the cushion is in one piece. When the rear compartment is unoccupied, the seat can be folded together scissors fashion, and tipped forward to the vertical giv­ing huge extra luggage space.

Many cars can match that, but few have the Mazda's clever facility for both front and rear backrests to fold flat, with headrests removed, making a passable emergency bed.

Poor features of the new small Mazda are the rather thin upholstery used for the seats, tending to become uncomfortable on quite short jour­neys, and the rather obscure instrument marking, in orange on black, which does not show up as well as might be expected.

With this original new baby car, Mazda hopes to capture many new, younger customers, whom they will try to retain as they graduate to bigger and more expensive cars. It will cost £ 6.149 in the form as tried, with 1.3-litre engine, or £ 5.499 as a 1.1.

Also, although it may seem extrava­gant use of valuable Japanese import quota to introduce a small car, Mazda has its eye on a not too distant time when the 121 will be firmly estab­lished on the market and will then become sourced from South Korea, when it will by-pass the quota restric­tions - well, as constituted at present, anyhow.