Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Impressions
Date: November 1971
Author: Shotaro Kobayashi

Road testing the Savanna GS II

Over the past three years, C/G has purchased two rotary-engine cars from Toyo Kogyo and has been using them continuously as transportation for our research and reporting. In July of 1969, we bought a Familia Rotary Coupe immediately upon its release, and drove it 47,000km over two years before replacing it with a Capella, which we have driven 43,000km in the past year and a half. Through a combined total of 90,000km of harsh, real-world testing with these two cars, our confidence in the company’s rotary engines has now become unshakable.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Impressions
Date: December 1972
Author: “C/G Test Group” (uncredited)

Road testing the Savanna GT

Mazda rotary cars are more highly regarded overseas than in Japan, especially in the United States, and their export numbers are growing dramatically (recently exceeding 10,000 units per month for all models). The Savanna is called the RX-3 in overseas markets, and the US market version differs from the domestic model in that it is equipped with the 12A, 573cc x 2 rotary engine used in the Capella instead of the 10A, 491cc x 2 engine that is standard here. The coupe released under the name Savanna GT as the range-topping model in the Savanna series is also equipped with the 12A engine, and can be considered the domestic version of the export RX-3. Or, racing fans may find it easier to understand it as a production version of the works Savanna (573cc x 2, naturally) that always puts up thrilling, closely-fought battles in domestic touring car races, finally shaking the legendary GT-R off its pedestal.