Mazda Millenia

The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002.

Mazda Millenia
1998-2000 Mazda Millenia
Overview
ManufacturerMazda
Also called
Production1993–2002
AssemblyJapan: Hiroshima (Hiroshima Plant)
DesignerYujiro Daikoku (1990)[1]
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
PlatformMazda T platform
Powertrain
Engine
Power output
  • 140 hp (104 kW) (2.0L)
  • 210 hp (157 kW) (2.3L)
  • 170 hp (127 kW) (2.5L)
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,751 mm (108.3 in)
Length
  • 4,821 mm (189.8 in) (1995-2000)
  • 4,867 mm (191.6 in) (2001-02)
Width1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height1,394 mm (54.9 in)

The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances caused by the onslaught of the "bubble economy" prevented the launch of the Amati brand, the Millenia was released in the autumn of 1993 in Europe as the Mazda Xedos 9 and in Japan and Australia as the Eunos 800. The car was launched in North America in 1995 as the Mazda Millenia and in July 1997 the Japanese market Eunos 800 was also renamed to Mazda Millenia as Mazda discontinued the Eunos brand. There was no model link to the other Mazda marque, Ẽfini.

Having been developed for a separate market from typical Mazda customers, the Millenia boasted myriad finer details. It was engineered to far greater levels of perceived quality than existing Mazda cars, such as interior plastic quality, panel gap and thicker paint coating. The Millenia/Eunos 800/Xedos 9 was assembled along with the smaller Eunos 500/Mazda Xedos 6 in a new production line, presumably set up for Amati cars.

The Millenia does not have a direct predecessor or replacement in the Mazda product line, and production ceased with the introduction of the Mazda6 in 2002, itself a replacement for the 626. It appears to have received a brand-new platform, although the multi-link suspension at both ends strongly resembled that of the 1991 Mazda Sentia, with minor changes such as replacing the lower I-arm with an A-arm for front wheel drive. It was the only production car in the world to employ a Miller cycle engine (The current Demio/Mazda2 features Miller Cycle on one of its engines). Yaw-sensitive four-wheel steering was available as an option in Japan; Mazda claimed that with this feature, the Millenia was capable of passing the elk test at speeds comparable to the BMW 850i and Nissan 300ZX.

The 1997 Japanese market name change from Eunos 800 to Mazda Millenia was accompanied by a significant facelift that included some cost-saving measures. For instance, the hood was downgraded from aluminum to steel. The Millenia was again facelifted for the 2000 model year.

European designation

The Mazda Xedos 9 was a luxury car for Mazda of Europe. Sold between 1993 and 2002, the Xedos 9 was the export version of Mazda's upscale Eunos 800 on the Mazda T platform.

Engines:

Japanese designation

The Eunos 800 was sold in Japan from 1993 through 1998. It was exported as the Xedos 9 and used the Mazda T platform. The Eunos 800 was also sold as a Eunos 800 in Australia, as both the 800M, with the Miller Cycle engine and the base 800, with the 2.5 litre engine. Both engines are slightly detuned compared to the Japanese spec engines, most likely because 95 octane fuel was the maximum octane rated fuel available in Australia at that time.

Engines:

North American market

The car was launched in North America in 1994 (as a 1995 model year) as the Mazda Millenia, and would eventually replace the 929 as Mazda's flagship sedan offering in North America. The 929 had been the last non-luxury marque rear-wheel drive Japanese import sedan since the discontinuation of the Toyota Cressida in 1992, whereas the Millenia was front-wheel drive, and thus only capable of giving rivalry to the Nissan Maxima at the time. The Millenia was available in the U.S. with (The "Millenia S" spec) or without the Miller Cycle engine. Three models were offered; the base model, the mid-level Millenia with standard leather upholstery, power moonroof and remote keyless entry and the top of the line S model which featured traction control, heated front seats, heavy duty wipers and the 2.3 liter V6 Miller-cycle engine. The Miller cycle engine has a shorter compression stroke and a belt driven air compressor (essentially a supercharger)

Engines:

  • 2.5 L KL-DE V6
  • 2.3 L KJ-ZEM V6 (Miller cycle) (slightly modify version of the 2.25 L version sold in other markets but has same engine code)

Eunos 800M SP

Mazda Motorsport Australia released a limited edition Eunos 800M SP with improved suspension and larger alloy wheel and tyre combination, but with no modifications to the engine.

  • Mazda Xedos 9 (Europe)
  • Eunos 800 2.5 (pre-facelift)
  • 1998-2000 Mazda Millenia (Japan)
  • 2001-2002 Mazda Millenia (US)
  • 1999-2000 Mazda Eunos 800 M (Australia)
  • 2001-2002 Mazda Millenia (US imported to Europe)

Amati

The first mention of the Amati luxury brand was in Motor Trend magazine February 1992 page 118, the article written by Maryann N. Keller. In the June 1992 issue, the Amati logo was displayed in green, and they mentioned that the advertising campaign was to be handled by Los Angeles based Lord, Dentsu & Partners who had an advertising campaign budget of $75 million, with a launch to be slated at the end of 1993. The November 1993 issue on page 18 stated that after Amati had been cancelled due to recession, the Millenia was originally to be sold as an Amati.

Production for the Millenia ended in 2002, without replacement.

Engines:

Specifications and performance
Specifications Millenia S Millenia L (and Base) [2]
MSRP $35,595 $31,995 (Millenia L)
Engine Type 2.3 Liter V6 2.5 Liter V6
Engine Size 2255 cc/2.3 L 2497 cc/2.5 L
Horsepower 210 hp (157 kW) @ 5300 rpm 170 hp (127 kW; 172 PS) @5600 RPM
Torque 210 lb⋅ft (285 N⋅m) @ 3500 rpm 160 ft⋅lbf (220 N⋅m) @ 4000 RPM
Wheelbase/Width/Length 108.3 in (2,751 mm)/69.7 in (1,770 mm)/189.8 in (4,821 mm) 108.3 in (2,751 mm)/69.7 in (1,770 mm)/189.8 in (4,821 mm)
Transmission Four-speed automatic Four-speed automatic
Curb Weight 3,410 lb (1,550 kg) 3,232 lb (1,466 kg)
Fuel Type Premium Unleaded Premium Unleaded
Fuel Capacity 18.0 US gal (68 L; 15 imp gal) 18.0 US gal (68 L; 15 imp gal)
Tires P215/50R17 P215/65R15 (Millenia L)
Brakes (F/R) Disc (ABS)/Disc (ABS) Disc (ABS)/Disc (ABS)
Drivetrain Front-engine/front-wheel-drive Front-engine/front-wheel-drive
Vehicle Type Five-passenger/four-door Five-passenger/four-door
Domestic Content 4% unknown
Coefficient of Drag (Cd.) 0.29 0.29
Performance
EPA Economy, miles per gallon
city/highway/average		 20 mpg‑US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg‑imp)/28 mpg‑US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg‑imp)/23 mpg‑US (10 L/100 km; 28 mpg‑imp) 20 mpg‑US (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg‑imp)/27 mpg‑US (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg‑imp)/22 mpg‑US (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg‑imp)
0-60 mph 7.5 seconds 9.9 seconds
1/4 Mile (E.T.) 15.8 seconds @ 93.8 mph (151.0 km/h) 17.3 seconds
Top Speed (Est.) 142 mph (229 km/h) 135 mph (217 km/h)

References
  1. Daikoku, Yujiro. "USD353792S". Google Patents. Mazda. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  2. https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1996/1653485/mazda_millenia.html
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