Mazda Savanna
The Mazda Savanna is a rotary-powered automobile sold by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda between 1971 and 1978. Between 1978 and 1991, spanning two generations, Mazda sold the Savanna replacement as the Mazda Savanna RX-7. Mazda exclusively used the Savanna nameplate in Japan. It was exported as the Mazda RX-3 in its first generation from 1971 to 1978, and as the Mazda RX-7 in its subsequent generations.
For the original 1971 version of Savanna, Mazda fitted its 10A rotary engine to the Mazda Grand Familia to create a separately marketed product sold in coupé, sedan, and station wagon guises. The engine was upgraded to the larger 12A rotary in the GT model introduced in September 1972, and eventually this became the standard engine across the entire range. Coupé sales accounted for over half of total sales, influencing the design and marketing of the second generation of Savanna. The subsequent two generations, released in 1978 and 1985 respectively, fitted the rotary engines to a unique coupe body that sold internationally as the Mazda RX-7.
The rotary engine had financial advantages to Japanese consumers in that the engine displacement remained below 1.5 litres, a significant determination when paying the Japanese annual road tax which kept the obligation affordable to most buyers, while having more power than the traditional inline engines.
- First generation (S102A/S124A; 1971–1978)Second generation (SA22C; 1978–1985)Third generation (FC; 1985–1991)Index of articles associated with the same nameThis article includes a list of related items that share the same name (or similar names).
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Mazda road car timeline, 1960–1989 — next »Type 1960s 1970s 1980s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kei car R360 Coupé Carol Chantez Carol Kei truck/Microvan B360/B600 Porter Porter Cab Porter Cab Scrum Subcompact Carol 600 121/Festiva Compact Familia Familia, Presto Familia Presto Familia/323 Familia/323 Familia/323 Familia Familia Van Familia Van/1000,1200,1300 Pickup Familia Van/323 Wagon Familia Van/Wagon Grand Familia / RX-3/Savanna Étude Mid-size Capella/616 / RX-2 Capella / 626 Capella / 626 Capella / 626 Luce/1500/1800 Luce/RX-4 / 929 Persona Executive Luce/RX-9 / 929L Luce / 929 Luce / 929 Luce Van / 929 Wagon Luce R130 Cosmo/121/RX-5 Cosmo / 929 Coupé Full-size Roadpacer Sports car Familia Rotary/R100 Eunos Roadster/MX-5/Miata Cosmo Sport RX-7/Savanna RX-7/Savanna Minivan MPV Pickup B1500 Proceed/B-series Proceed/B-series Proceed/B-series Van/Minibus Bongo F800/F1000/Parkway Bongo/E-series/Parkway Bongo/E-series/Parkway