20 Years Xedos, The Short Trip To The Premium Segment ~ THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD BLOG

Ironically, the premium automobile class wanted the Japanese attack 20 years ago, but because class is sometimes better than just mass. After 10 years, however, was already closing for the Xedos. A review of a worthwhile effort.

Mazda Xedos 6, 1997 onwards

From initially announced sales target of 1,000 a month, the Xedos 6 Mazda dealer with a monthly average of 250 cars were always far away. The reasons for the modest success was quickly found: It lacked the newcomers still on brand prestige of established competitors and the base prices were clearly in relation to the German manufacturers too high. Nevertheless, the Xedos 6 almost 30 percent of the cars produced were registered in Germany. Given the disastrous global sales but 2003 Mazda pulled the ripcord for Xedos project.

After just ten years, the Mazda Xedos luxury sedans series disappeared as surprising as they were introduced in 1992. Mazda wanted them to position themselves against the established German brands. The swing of sympathy carrier Mazda MX5 and the successful middle class Mazda 626 series should be used in order to establish itself in higher price ranges. World's most important market for the 4.56 meters long and the Xedos 6 Xedos 9 was significantly greater Germany.

Mazda then set benchmark in the midsize class. The Japanese had already proved this with the Model 626, which in 1983 became the first Japanese in comparison test suggested the Mercedes 190 and in the sales immediately the head of the whole import segment conquered.
More promising start

The first was the new luxury series in June 1992, the Xedos 6th He has already brought with almost everything was vital for prestige sedans in the turf war against the German top dogs. About a novel 2.0-liter V6 petrol engine as the precursor for today's downsized engines. Its 106 kW/144 hp worked so quietly that the press in test reports noted a smoothness in the upper class. Moreover, the six-cylinder engine has been praised as a model for fuel-efficient gasoline engine. What the luxury Mazda in dealing with 190/C-Class Mercedes, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series but missing was a diesel engine.

Therefore, the Japanese laid in 1995 after having another milestone in engine design, this time in the second Xedos model, the larger Xedos 9th In the almost 4.83-meter flagship Mazda program debuted the world's first 2.3-liter V6 Miller-cycle engine with Comprex pressure wave supercharger. Its engine design was known until then, especially in shipbuilding.

The functioning of the Miller-cycle

From the conventional four-stroke principle, the Miller cycle differed mainly by a subsequent closing of the intake valve. Characterized the compression ratio has been reduced, and the temperature is kept low in front of the ignition and during combustion. So could more air injected and higher performance can be achieved and the tendency to knock remained lower. Practical advantages of the named after the inventor Ralph Miller engine were lower NOx emissions and up to 15 percent better fuel economy than conventional engines of the same power.

In fact, the 155 kW/210 hp payable contented Xedos 9 Miller cycle V6 with 6.3 liters of fuel consumption rate at 90th Despite spontaneous response was missing, however, about the Mazda compared to the new 2.3-liter turbo engine with Saab or the recently announced 2.3-liter supercharged engine from Mercedes to strong torque at low engine speeds. Ultimately Mazdas courage to exceptional-ism therefore was not rewarded.
Sales goals not achieved