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Autozam Clef
Overview
Manufacturer	Autozam (Mazda)
Production	May 1992 – December 1994
Assembly	Japan: Hiroshima, Hofu
Designer	Yasuo Aoyagi (1989)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive Transverse front-engine, four-wheel drive
Platform	Mazda GE platform
Related	Mazda 626/Cronos ɛ̃fini MS-6 Ford Telstar
Powertrain
Engine	gasoline: 2.0 L FS-DE I4 2.0 L KF-ZE V6 2.5 L KL-ZE V6
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,610 mm (102.8 in)
Length	4,670 mm (183.9 in)
Width	1,750 mm (68.9 in)
Height	1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Curb weight	1,310 kg (2,888 lb)

The Autozam Clef is a mid-size sedan that was built Mazda for their Autozam sales channel from May 1992 until December 1994.

Description

It shared Mazda's GE platform with cars like the ɛ̃fini MS-6 and Mazda MX-6 coupé. The word "clef" is a musical notation, and Mazda chose it to signify that the Clef was meant to serve as a reference point by which other Autozam products would become to be known or regarded as. The Clef was mechanically related to the Mazda Cronos (626 in global markets), but featured different bodywork, and rear side window designs. The front end in particular was designed to have the Autozam corporate "face", reminiscent of the Carol and Revue.

The Clef had the same width dimensions as the Mazda Cronos which shared the engine lineup. Engine size and exterior dimensions have particular significance in Japan, due to dimension regulations, where Japanese consumers pay an additional annual tax for larger vehicles as well as higher road tax obligations. Available with either front- or four-wheel drive, the Clef was only offered with a four-speed automatic transmission.

In the market

As the Clef was the top level sedan at Autozam, which was introduced as a retailer of entry level products to Japanese consumers, the width dimension presented an issue in that buyers in Japan were liable for yearly taxes, and because the Clef was largely identical to other Mazda GE platform cars, Japanese buyers who were willing to pay extra taxes for a wide car from Mazda had many choices and the Clef wasn't usually the first choice. Additionally, Autozam mostly targeted young, female customers, who were unlikely to trade up from the subcompact Revue and Carol to the expensive Clef. The car's grilleless fascia was more cute than prestigious or sporty, further harming sales. Late in the production run, a version with a redesigned front bumper incorporating a grille was introduced. Called the Clef Limited-X, it was only offered for a short while and was built in very small numbers.

Of all Autozam products sold at the time, only the Clef exceeded the width dimension stipulation; other Autozam products were either kei class vehicles or supermini products.

References

1. ^ "カタログ: マツダ　オートザムクレフ" [Catalog: Mazda Autozam Clef]. Gazoo. Toyota Motor Corporation. Archived from the original on 2024-12-16.
2. ^ Hyōdō, Tadahiko (2021-03-03). "悲劇のマツダ クロノスシリーズでも超ド級のレア車！オートザム クレフ" [A super rare car in the tragic Mazda Cronos series: Autozam Clef!]. Motorz (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-07-12.

• Autozam vehicles
• Front-wheel-drive vehicles
• All-wheel-drive vehicles
• Vehicles with four-wheel steering
• Cars introduced in 1992