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 1.5 L (1490 cc) 1500 SOHC engine, producing 70 hp (52 kW) and 87 ft·lbf (118 N·m). It sold poorly at 695,000 yen (US$1,930) and a stroked 1.8 L (1796 cc) 1800 engine was added for 1968. This new model, the Luce 1800, produced 89 hp (66 kW) and 112 ft·lbf (152 N·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 1.3 L 13B engine, which produced 126 hp (94 kW) and 127 ft·lbf (172 N·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 98 hp and 108 ft·lbf and cost 2,280. Performance was sluggish, with a 0-60 mph time of 17.5 sec and a 20.5 sec/65 mph 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.

Engines:
* 1973-1976 1.8 L (1769cc) 1800 I4, 2 barrel, 83 hp (61 kW)/101 ft·lbf (137 N·m)
* 1975-1976 2.0 L (1970cc) F/MA I4, 2 barrel, 103 hp (76 kW)/123 ft·lbf (167 N·m)
* 1972-1976 13B, 127 hp (93 kW)/138 ft·lbf (188 N·m)

See this link

1978

The 1978 Luce (introduced in October, 1977) was a large and luxurious sedan, still powered by Mazda's piston or rotary engines. It was also available as a four-door pillarless hardtop that looked like a huge, square coupe. This time, it was either the 12A or 13B engines. It was exported as the Mazda 929.

Engines:
* 1977-1980 1.8 L (1769cc) 1800 I4, 2 barrel, 83 hp (61 kW)/101 ft·lbf (137 N·m)
* 1977-1980 2.0 L F/MA (1970 cc) I4, 1 barrel, 90 hp (66 kW)
* 1980-1980 2.2 L Diesel, 66 hp (49 kW)/104 ft·lbf (142 N·m)
* 1977-1980 13B, 127 hp (93 kW)/138 ft·lbf (188 N·m)

See this link

1981

For 1981, Mazda brought back the Cosmo name for the HB platform Luce coupe. The sedan was also exported as the Mazda 929. Production of the Cosmo continued after the Luce was replaced in 1986.

Engines:
* 1981-1986 2.0 L (1970 cc) MA I4, 1 barrel, 90 hp (66 kW)/118 ft·lbf (160 N·m)
* 1981-1986 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, 2 barrel, 101 hp (74 kW)/115 ft·lbf (156 N·m)
* 1981-1986 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, FI, 118 hp (87 kW)/126 ft·lbf (171 N·m)

See this link

1986

The 1986 Luce was large and luxurious on the HC platform, now with the 13B turbo engine. It was still exported as the Mazda 929, and differed from the (continued) Cosmo.

1989 was the last year of the Luce nameplate. The Eunos Cosmo continued on a new platform (JC), and the HD platform spawned the Mazda Sentia (now exported as the 929), and the Efini MS-9, but there was no longer a rotary model of the large sedan.

Engines:
* 1986-1990 2.0 L (1998 cc) FE I4, FI, 116 hp (85 kW)/121 ft·lbf (164 N·m)
* 1986-1990 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2 I4, 1 barrel, 115 hp (85 kW)/129 ft·lbf (175 N·m)
* 1986-1990 2.2 L (2184 cc) F2 I4, FI, 127 hp (93 kW)/141 ft·lbf (192 N·m)
* 2.0 L JF V6
* 1986-1991 3.0 L (2954 cc) JE V6, FI, 165 hp (121 kW)/182 ft·lbf (247 N·m)
* 13B turbo

See this link