MAZDA XEDOS 6 (1993)

“That sounds like a cross between ‘Zephyr’ and ‘Velox’! I remarked to my contact at the (French) Mazda importers back in 1992. Even the suffix ‘6’, denoting, I assumed, the number of cylinders, had a retro-British feel to it. Yet none of this was true. The name (pronounced ‘Kseh-dos’) was dreamt up by a management consultancy, while the ‘6’ merely denoted its place in the range.


It so happens that it does have six cylinders, which was a lot considering the displacement is only two litres, even by the standards of the day. The advantage here is not in terms of power, but in terms of refinement. Punt it around keeping the revs low, and you can’t really hear it, and there is precious little vibration either. When you do hear it, it does sound nice…all of which means that any other creaks and rattles can be heard all the more! It was a very modern engine for its day, featuring four valves per cylinder and DOHC per bank. These are reliable engines, which is just as well because any dismantling would be very time-consuming.


This interior looks dated now; there are no shiny bits, no cup holders and no tablet-like screens. In fact, there are no screens anywhere! You can get into one of these and familiarise yourself with it in five minutes, then down the road you go!


It has held up well for a car now in its thirtieth year. The leather gets treated, though, and I don't think this car (which I have had for 23 years) was ever used as family transport.


I had to repaint the wheels years ago , while the brakes have also been overhauled recently. It stops better than ever!


The badge is said to denote ‘the Rising Sun in a flame’. This badge preceded the current ‘bird’ emblem which has been around for about 25 years.


The instruments are pretty standard but well laid out, as are the other controls


Almost extinct now...of the 7 000 cars imported in the Nineties, only a fraction remain. I ask myself sometimes: Do I have some kind of historical responsibility...?

Technical Summary

Cylinders: V6 (78.0*69.6mm, displacement 1,995cc)
Power BHP EEC: 144 @ 6 000 rpm
Torque Nm: 172 @ 5 000 rpm
Maximum speed (1992-94 6cyl. Manual): 216 km/h (134 mph)
0-100 km/h: (1992-94 6cyl. Manual):9.3 sec.
Fuel consumption overall: 9.74 l/100km (29 miles per imperial gallon, 25 miles per US gallon)