Autozam Revue

Autozam Revue

Manufacturer	Mazda
Also called	Mazda 121 Mazda Revue
Production	1988–1999
Predecessor	Ford Festiva/Mazda 121
Successor	Mazda2/Mazda Demio/121
Class	Subcompact/Supermini
Body style	4-door saloon 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback[1]
Platform	DB
Wheelbase	2,390 mm (94.1 in)
Length	3,800 mm (149.6 in)
Width	1,655 mm (65.2 in)
Height	1,470 mm (57.9 in)

See also Mazda 121 for other cars using this name

The Autozam Revue/mazda 121 was a subcompact car from Mazda's Autozam marque, introduced in 1988. The demise of that marque led to the cars being renamed the Mazda Revue in some markets. The car was also sold in Europe, Australia, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, the UK and some other export markets as the Mazda 121, where it replaced the previous 121 based on the first-generation Ford Festiva.

The Revue was available in most markets as a small four-door saloon with an optional canvas sunroof added in February 1991. 1.1-, 1.3- and 1.5-litre engines were offered, with either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. In the UK and some European countries the Mazda 121 was available only as a 3 or 5-door hatchback.

In 1996, the 121 name was shifted to export versions of the Mazda Demio, a tall, five-door hatchback, which became exported as the Mazda2 in its second generation. A Ford Fiesta, assembled at Ford's Valencia plant barely modified, but rebadged as the Mazda 121, was also sold in some markets after 1996 (where the Demio was sold at the same time with its original name). Sales of the Revue ended in Japan in June 1998.

Rear view of European market Mazda 121

Australia

The Mazda 121 was often referred to as the "bubble car" or "jellybean"^[2] with the car's colour often added to the latter, for example: The little green jellybean. It was slated in Australia for scoring only 22 points from 100 in the NRMA (National Roads & Motorists Association of NSW) car security assessment exercise.^[3]

UK

Sold as the Mazda 121, the unconventional hatchback experienced 2 facelifts before being replaced with the Demio 5-door estate, and then later the Mazda2 5-door MPV:

• 1988-1991
• 1991-1995
• 1995-1999
• 1999-2003 Mazda Demio
• 2003-2007 Mazda2^[4]

It was often likened to the Austin A35, but whatever qualities it had to offer were inadequate for attracting sales, and it became a rare sight on British roads from start to finish.

1994–1997 Mazda 121 sedan

Engines

• 1991-1994 : 1.1 L (1,138 cc) B1, SOHC 8V, carburetor, 54 PS (40 kW; 53 hp) at 5,600 rpm, 8.8 kg·m (86 N·m; 64 ft·lbf) at 3,600 rpm (Europe only)^[5]
• 1990-1998 : 1.3 L (1,324 cc) B3, SOHC 16V, EGI-S, 73 PS (54 kW; 72 hp) at 5,600 rpm, 10.5 kg·m (103 N·m; 76 ft·lbf) at 3,600 rpm
• 1991-1998 : 1.5 L (1,498cc) B5, SOHC 16V, EGI-S, 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp) at 6,500 rpm, 12.0 kg·m (118 N·m; 87 ft·lbf) at 4,000 rpm^[6]

References

1. ^ http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/for-sale/search/used/nissan/sunny/_/age/over10/sort/lowest/rpp/10/page/1/
2. ^ http://www.evalbum.com/2688
3. ^ http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/reviews/car-reviews/mazda/121-metro-1997.htm
4. ^ http://www.247spares.co.uk/products/body-panels/mazda#2
5. ^ (in Italian) Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1992. Milano: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. 1992. p. 469. 
6. ^ Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1992, p. 472