The Eunos 800 is an executive class, four-door sedan produced by Mazda from 1992 to 2002 in a single generation. The Japanese carmaker originally intended it to be a part of the luxury brand Amati. Due to the economic crisis happening in Japan at the time, however, Mazda marketed it as Mazda Xedos 9 in Europe, Mazda Millenia in North America, and Eunos 800 in Japan and Australia.
Yujiro Daikoku penned its design, with assembly taking place in Mazda's plant in Hiroshima, Japan. Mazda built the upmarket Eunos lineup to a standard and quality higher than that of a regular Mazda. However, when Mazda discontinued the Eunos brand in July 1997, it renamed Eunos 800 to Mazda Millenia, releasing the rebadged version with a facelift that included some cost-saving measures. In Australia, the rebranding happened in 2000, which also came with another facelift but still powered by the same engines.
Eunos 800 had no predecessor in the Mazda lineup, and later as the Mazda Millenia, did not have a direct successor either. While its production ceased with the release of Mazda6, the latter was not its successor but that of Mazda 626.
Based on the Mazda T platform, 800 had a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. This platform seems to have been made for the 800, despite the multi-link suspension similar to the Mazda Sentia. In Japan, Mazda offered an option for yaw-sensitive four-wheel steering, a system that could improve handling and speeds at which the Eunos 800 could pass an elk test.
It would be the first, and only production car to use a Miller cycle engine to its full extent, This system is where the intake valve is left open for longer than on the classic Otto-cycle engine, making the compression stroke into two discrete cycles – the initial part when the intake valve is open and the final part when the intake valve is closed. This two-stage intake stroke creates the 'fifth' stroke, characteristic of the Miller cycle.
Some of the features fitted to the Eunos 800 include ABS, air conditioning, alarm, alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, CD multi-changer, climate control, cruise control, driver's airbag, electric driver's seat, electric mirrors, electric passenger's seat, electric sunroof, front electric windows, front fog lights, heated mirrors, height-adjustable driver's seat, leather seat trim, PAS, passenger's airbag, remote locking, steering wheel reach adjustment, traction control, and metallic paint. The interior was made from high-quality plastic, with a panel gap and thicker paint coating.
Technical specification: Wheelbase of 2751mm, Length of 4821mm, Width of 1770mm, Height of 1394mm, and a Curb weight of 1490kg. It has solid rear disc brakes and ventilated front, independent double-wishbone multi-link system, and anti-roll bar suspension on all four wheels. Due to lower octane fuel, Australian-spec engines have lower power output than models released in Japan.
- 2.3L KJ-ZEM Miller cycle V6 petrol engine producing 148kW and 282Nm of torque, with fuel consumption of 8.55L/100km combined, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
- 2.5L KL-DE V6 petrol engine producing 125kW and 215Nm of torque, with fuel consumption of 9.1L/100km combined, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
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Author: Luka Kusic