Mazda Carol
Encyclopedia
The Mazda Carol is a name used by Mazda
for its kei cars from 1962 until 1970. It was revived again with Mazda's 1989 reentry into the Kei car
class.
was complemented by the more grown-up 2-door sedan Mazda P360 Carol in February 1962, the company's first 4-passenger car. It was more substantial than the R360: although its total length of 2980 mm (117.3 in) was the same, its 1930 mm (76 in) wheelbase was considerably longer. The Carol weighed in at 525 kg (1,157 lb), versus 380 kg (838 lb) for the diminutive R360. It used the DA, a 18 PS, rear-mounted water-cooled 358 cc 4-cylinder
OHV engine. This is one of the smallest 4-cylinder automobile engines in history, only Honda's
356 cc DOHC alloy 4-cylinder unit (used in the T360
truck) was smaller. The four-speed gearbox was synchronized on the top three gears.
The Carol was perhaps overengineered: it had a very strong monocoque body, a four-cylinder four-stroke engine with a five-bearing crankshaft and four-wheel independent suspension by torsion bars, but this led to high production costs, comparably high weight, and its very comfortable ride was offset by cramped accommodation. Nonetheless, the Carol was an incredible success in the marketplace, capturing 67% of the Kei market in its first year. A better equipped DeLuxe version was added in May 1962, along with a changed angle of the rear window to help it stay clean. In September 1963, shortly after a reshaped combustion head and upgrade to 20 PS, a four-door version appeared.
In October 1966 a minor facelift took place. The car was lightened somewhat, new bumpers were mounted, and the spare tire was moved from the front to the engine room, freeing up scarce luggage space. Also, the gearbox was now fully synchronized. The last modification took place in 1969, when in response to stricter safety standards a driver's side headrest and provisions for seatbelts were fitted. Production continued until August 1970, by which time 265,226 Carol 360s had been built. Mazda did not offer a Kei class passenger car for two years, until the 1972 introduction of the Chantez.
version. Around 8,800 Carol 600s were built.
, and while it used the Suzuki Alto
's platform and mechanicals, its interior and boldly curved exterior were largely unique. Its round headlights and cute appearance were very much a product of its time and followed upon the heels of similar designs such as Nissan's Be-1
and Pao
. It was either front (AA5PA) or all-wheel drive (AA5RA) and its SOHC 547 cc 3-cylinder Suzuki F5B engine produced 40 PS at 7,500 rpm. The Carol had a 2335 mm (92 in) wheelbase for a total length of 3190 mm (126 in) and was 1295 mm (51 in) wide. Brakes were discs up front and drums in rear.
Equipment levels were e, f (also 4WD), and the top g version. The g featured a Canvas Top. Four-wheel drives received a five-speed gearbox, while the front-wheel drive versions received a four- or five-speed manual or a three-speed auto. 550 cc Carols are rare, as production ended after only five months. New Kei car
regulations for 1990 allowed manufacturers a bigger engine and an extra 10 cm of body length, and Mazda quickly brought out an updated Carol.
. This Carol was available with either front or all-wheel drive and used the old 657 cc F6A engine or a new 658 cc DOHC unit. It was closely related to the AZ-Offroad
and AZ-Wagon
introduced at the same time.
engine) and safety were also improved.
, the rebadged Mazda Carol was also replaced.
Available with AWD and CVT
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
for its kei cars from 1962 until 1970. It was revived again with Mazda's 1989 reentry into the Kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
class.
Carol (1962-1970)
The Mazda R360Mazda R360
The R360 was Mazda's first real car - a two-door, four-seat coupé. Introduced in 1960, it featured a short 69 inch wheelbase and weighed just 838 lb . It was powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled 356 cc V-twin engine putting out about 16 hp and 16 ft·lbf of torque. The car...
was complemented by the more grown-up 2-door sedan Mazda P360 Carol in February 1962, the company's first 4-passenger car. It was more substantial than the R360: although its total length of 2980 mm (117.3 in) was the same, its 1930 mm (76 in) wheelbase was considerably longer. The Carol weighed in at 525 kg (1,157 lb), versus 380 kg (838 lb) for the diminutive R360. It used the DA, a 18 PS, rear-mounted water-cooled 358 cc 4-cylinder
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
OHV engine. This is one of the smallest 4-cylinder automobile engines in history, only Honda's
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
356 cc DOHC alloy 4-cylinder unit (used in the T360
Honda T360
The T360 was a pickup truck from Honda. Introduced in June 1963, it was Honda's first production automobile.The T360 used a 356 cc AK250E series DOHC straight-4 engine also found in the Honda S360 roadster prototype. The mid-mounted unit propelled the truck to a top speed of . The engine...
truck) was smaller. The four-speed gearbox was synchronized on the top three gears.
The Carol was perhaps overengineered: it had a very strong monocoque body, a four-cylinder four-stroke engine with a five-bearing crankshaft and four-wheel independent suspension by torsion bars, but this led to high production costs, comparably high weight, and its very comfortable ride was offset by cramped accommodation. Nonetheless, the Carol was an incredible success in the marketplace, capturing 67% of the Kei market in its first year. A better equipped DeLuxe version was added in May 1962, along with a changed angle of the rear window to help it stay clean. In September 1963, shortly after a reshaped combustion head and upgrade to 20 PS, a four-door version appeared.
In October 1966 a minor facelift took place. The car was lightened somewhat, new bumpers were mounted, and the spare tire was moved from the front to the engine room, freeing up scarce luggage space. Also, the gearbox was now fully synchronized. The last modification took place in 1969, when in response to stricter safety standards a driver's side headrest and provisions for seatbelts were fitted. Production continued until August 1970, by which time 265,226 Carol 360s had been built. Mazda did not offer a Kei class passenger car for two years, until the 1972 introduction of the Chantez.
Carol 600 (1962-1964)
The Carol 600 appeared in the fall of 1962 with a larger 586 cc RA OHV engine and longer at 3,200 mm. The extra length was due to more prominent bumpers, passenger space was as restricted as in the 360. Weight ranged from 560 to 585 kg (1,234.6 to 1,289.7 lb). It was also available as a 4-door sedan, ahead of the lesser Carol 360. The car was called the "600" or "P600" in export markets. At home, there was a Standard 2-door, and DeLuxe 2-dr/4-dr versions. Production ended in November 1964, after the introduction of the Mazda Familia 800 sedanMazda Familia
Mazda's automotive plans for the early sixties consisted of growing alongside the Japanese economy. To achieve this goal, they began by building an extremely cheap Kei car, the R360 in 1960, planning on introducing gradually larger and pricier cars as the Japanese customers became able to afford them...
version. Around 8,800 Carol 600s were built.
Autozam Mk I (1989-1990)
With the revival of the Kei class in the late eighties, Mazda revived the Carol name for its 1989 Autozam Carol. The recently introduced Autozam was to be Mazda's youthful brand and was used on Mazda's kei cars for some time. The Carol was produced for Mazda by SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
, and while it used the Suzuki Alto
Suzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a small car designed by Suzuki. Its selling points include low price and good fuel economy. The model was introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide.-1st generation :...
's platform and mechanicals, its interior and boldly curved exterior were largely unique. Its round headlights and cute appearance were very much a product of its time and followed upon the heels of similar designs such as Nissan's Be-1
Nissan Be-1
The Nissan Be-1 is a retro-styled automobile from Nissan Motors. The Be-1 was the first of four such retro spinoffs of the K10 Micra — the S-Cargo, Figaro and Pao being the other three. Like the Figaro, the Be-1 was sold without the Nissan name...
and Pao
Nissan Pao
The Nissan Pao, first announced at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1987, is a retro-styled automobile from Nissan Motors. It was available as a three-door hatchback with or without a textile sun roof , the canvas top being the most collectible. The Pao was one of three fashionable spinoffs of the...
. It was either front (AA5PA) or all-wheel drive (AA5RA) and its SOHC 547 cc 3-cylinder Suzuki F5B engine produced 40 PS at 7,500 rpm. The Carol had a 2335 mm (92 in) wheelbase for a total length of 3190 mm (126 in) and was 1295 mm (51 in) wide. Brakes were discs up front and drums in rear.
Equipment levels were e, f (also 4WD), and the top g version. The g featured a Canvas Top. Four-wheel drives received a five-speed gearbox, while the front-wheel drive versions received a four- or five-speed manual or a three-speed auto. 550 cc Carols are rare, as production ended after only five months. New Kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
regulations for 1990 allowed manufacturers a bigger engine and an extra 10 cm of body length, and Mazda quickly brought out an updated Carol.
Autozam Mk II (1990-1994)
New regulations brought about the replacement of the 1989 Carol within 4 months. The new car was 6 cm longer and used a larger 657 cc Suzuki F6A engine with 52 PS. The car is easy to tell from its predecessor by its clear headlight covers. In 1991, Mazda offered a 61 PS turbocharged engine, and the car was lengthened to 329 cm in 1992.Carol Mk III
An updated Autozam Carol came out in October 1995 as a 1996 model. Again, it was front or all-wheel drive and still riding on the same platform.1999
An entirely new Carol appeared in October 1998 as a 1999 model, this time with the Mazda brand name. Unlike previous Carols, this model was similar to the Suzuki AltoSuzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a small car designed by Suzuki. Its selling points include low price and good fuel economy. The model was introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide.-1st generation :...
. This Carol was available with either front or all-wheel drive and used the old 657 cc F6A engine or a new 658 cc DOHC unit. It was closely related to the AZ-Offroad
Mazda AZ-Offroad
The Mazda AZ-Offroad is a mini SUV, a rebadged Suzuki Jimny. The AZ in the name refers to Autozam, Mazda's ill-fated small car marque. The AZ-Offroad was introduced in October, 1998 as a 1999 model. The engine is a turbocharged 660 cc DOHC Suzuki K6A. All wheel drive is standard and an...
and AZ-Wagon
Mazda AZ-Wagon
The Mazda AZ-Wagon was a tiny station wagon based on the Suzuki Wagon R. The AZ is a reference to Mazda's Autozam minicar marque. There are in total four generations up to 2008...
introduced at the same time.
2001
The Carol was updated with a new look for 2001. Emissions (with a new VVTVariable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
engine) and safety were also improved.
2004
As Suzuki released a replacement for the Suzuki AltoSuzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a small car designed by Suzuki. Its selling points include low price and good fuel economy. The model was introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide.-1st generation :...
, the rebadged Mazda Carol was also replaced.
2010
For 2010, Mazda has launched a new Carol, which was first revealed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Carol has been updated alongside its sister, the Suzuki AltoSuzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a small car designed by Suzuki. Its selling points include low price and good fuel economy. The model was introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide.-1st generation :...
Available with AWD and CVT