Mazda Millenia

Mazda Millenia
1998–2000 Mazda Millenia
Overview
Manufacturer	Mazda
Also called	Eunos 800 Mazda Xedos 9 Mazda Eunos 800 (Australia)
Production	1993–2002
Assembly	Japan: Hiroshima (Hiroshima Plant)
Designer	Yujiro Daikoku (1990)
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Mazda TA platform
Powertrain
Engine	2.0L KF-DE V6 2.3L KJ-ZEM Miller cycle V6 2.5L KL-DE V6
Power output	140 hp (104 kW) (2.0L) 210 hp (157 kW) (2.3L) 170 hp (127 kW) (2.5L)
Transmission	5-speed manual (European 2-liter and 2.5 liter only) 4-speed GF4A-EL automatic 4-speed LJ4A-EL (Jatco RE4F04A) automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,751 mm (108.3 in)
Length	4,821 mm (189.8 in) (1995-2000) 4,867 mm (191.6 in) (2001-02)
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height	1,394 mm (54.9 in)

The Mazda Millenia (officially written as millenia) was an automobile manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002. The Millenia was originally planned as the one of the first models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati.

At the time of its release, it was the first and only production car in the world to employ a Miller cycle engine, a design which Mazda would not use again for six more years until the second generation Mazda2.

Having been developed for a separate market from typical Mazda customers was engineered to far greater levels of perceived quality than existing Mazda cars, such as interior plastic quality, panel gap and thicker paint coating, with Mazda claiming this attention to detail was intended to set "standards for at least ten years".

Branding

As the company's finances dwindled due to the collapse of the "bubble economy", Mazda scrapped the launch of the Amati brand. Instead, the car was rebadged underMazda's various sub-bands along with differing model names depending on the market. There was no equivalent version offered by Mazda's Ẽfini or Autozam.

Europe

Mazda of Europe sold the Mazda Xedos 9 between 1993 and 2002. There was also a smaller Mazda Xedos 6 offered at the same time.

Japan & Australia

Marketed as the Eunos 800 in Japan and Australia from 1993 through 1998, while the Miller Cycle-equipped version was known as the Eunos 800M. 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.

Like in Europe, it was sold alongside the smaller Xedos 6, which itself was rebranded as the Eunos 500.

In July 1997, the Eunos 800 was renamed to Mazda Millenia when Mazda discontinued the Eunos brand.

Eunos 800M SP

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

North America

Launched in North America in 1994 (as a 1995 model year), the Mazda millenia replaced the Mazda 929 as the brand's flagship sedan offering in North America. While the 929 had been the last non-luxury rear-wheel drive Japanese import sedan in the US, the Millenia was front-wheel drive. Unlike the other markets, there was no equivalent version of the Mazda Xedos 6/Eunos 500 in the US or Canada.

The Millenia was available in three models: the base model, the mid-level millenia L with standard leather upholstery, power moonroof and remote keyless entry, and the top-of-the-line millenia S model which featured traction control, heated front seats, heavy duty wipers and the supercharged 2.3-liter V6 Miller cycle engine.

US Market Sales

	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000*	2001	2002	2003	2004
January	0	1,429	998	1,126	1,114	1,113	unknown	1,301	1,904	509	7
February	400	1,450	960	1,173	1,000	1,203	unknown	1,665	1,771	450	1
March	1,874	1,794	1,036	1,214	1,031	1,333	unknown	1,286	1,925	304	7
April	2,708	1,494	1,055	1,346	1,031	1,399	unknown	1,455	1,583	192	0
May	3,236	1,503	1,153	1,930	1,085	1,605	unknown	1,892	1,707	139	1
June	3,114	2,467	828	2,086	1,428	1,487	unknown	3,761	1,368	86	0
July	2,338	1,658	856	1,761	3,686	1,563	unknown	1,643	1,432	64	2
August	2,882	1,504	1,219	2,018	3,941	1,536	unknown	1,407	1,680	29	0
September	2,593	1,512	1,138	1,414	600	2,160	unknown	1,392	1,407	13	0
October	1,860	2,992	1,147	1,684	656	2,746	unknown	1,594	1,149	13	0
November	1,698	2,262	1,375	1,172	568	1,659	unknown	1,242	1,223	3	0
December	1,720	1,496	1,254	1,096	577	1,394	unknown	1,211	917	10	0
Total Millenia Sales	24,423	21,561	13,019	18,020	16,717	19,198	16,558	19,849	18,066	1,812	18
All Mazda Sales	375,416	283,745	238,285	221,840	240,547	243,708	255,526	269,602	258,213	258,865	263,882

(* Note: Monthly sales data could not be found for calendar year 2000, however the total sales for that year can be found in a year-over-year sales comparison table in the Automotive News Market Data Book for calendar year 2001)

Facelift

The vehicle received a minor facelift in 1997 primarily focused on cost-saving measures. For instance, the hood was downgraded from aluminum to steel. This first facelift was also accompanied by a name change from Eunos 800 to Mazda Millenia in the Japanese market.

The Millenia was more dramatically facelifted for the 2001 model year, with most modifications updating the front and rear bumpers and grille.

• 
  Mazda Xedos 9 (Europe)
• 
  Eunos 800 2.5 (pre-facelift)
• 
  1998-2000 Mazda Millenia (Japan)
• 
  1998-2000 Mazda Millenia (Japan)
• 
  2001-2002 Mazda Millenia (US)
• 
  1995-1998 Mazda Millenia base (US)

Discontinuation

While production ceased in September 2002 with the final 35 units, in the United States there were still reported new Millenia sales as late as July 2004.

The Millenia did not have a direct predecessor or replacement in the Mazda product line, the end of production coincided with the introduction of the Mazda6 in 2002, which also served as replacement for Mazda's other, contemporaneous mid-sized sedan, the Mazda 626.

Specifications and performance

Specifications	Millenia S	Millenia L (and Base)
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)

Notes

• 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.