Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Test Drive Report
Date: November 1971
Author: Kyoichi Yamaguchi

For Those Who Appreciate “Unpretentious Comfort”

The chassis has finally caught up with the outstanding performance. An economical coupe fully capable of holding its own on the international stage.

From Domestic Car to International Car

The remarkable success of Mazda’s rotary-powered cars in export markets has prompted Toyo Kogyo’s management to accomplish something of a revolution against an established class system. Somewhere along the way, the Japanese automobile industry had quietly developed a curious hierarchy involving the “compact car” and the “popular car.” Perhaps out of deference to the fact that the larger 2-liter class—the elder brother among Japan’s mass-market passenger cars—was constrained by regulations limiting overall width to 1.7m, compact and popular cars traditionally seemed obliged to make themselves another 10cm or so narrower than their respective bigger brothers.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Test Drive Report
Date: November 1971
Author: Hiroshi Okazaki

The Quiet Rotary Fighter

A car into which Toyo Kogyo has poured the full extent of its technical capabilities. One cannot help but admire the company’s determined and forward-looking commitment to safety as well. As a product, its overall appeal is undeniably high.

No Functional Shortcomings

The Savanna Coupe—its styling has a substantial, eye-catching presence. Even during this test drive, it drew considerable attention, and we were repeatedly approached with questions.

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 of Toyo Kogyo’s rotary-engined models and used them continuously as staff cars. In July 1969, we purchased a Familia Rotary Coupe as soon as it went on sale, drove it for 47,000km over the course of two years, and then replaced it with a Capella. During the one year and two months since, the Capella has covered a further 43,000km. After a combined total of 90,000km of demanding everyday use with these two cars, our confidence in Toyo Kogyo’s rotary engine has become absolute.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: “Bubble Index” Road Test
Date: March 1972
Authors: Osamu Mochizuki, Katsuzo Kageyama, Shigeki Asaoka, Yasuhei Oguchi, Reiko Ikuuchi, Kensuke Ishizu

Laying the Groundwork for the Rotary Era

The lively rotary engine and smooth torque converter automatic make for thoroughly enjoyable everyday driving. Under certain conditions, however, the panel also found a few points open to criticism.

The Second Rotary/Automatic Combination

The first manufacturer to pair a rotary engine with an automatic transmission (hereafter abbreviated as AT) in a production car was Toyo Kogyo, with the introduction of the Capella RE-Matic. That was in October of last year.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Impressions
Date: December 1972
Author: Shotaro Kobayashi

Road testing the Savanna GT

Mazda’s rotary-powered cars are more highly regarded overseas than they are at home, particularly in the United States, where exports have grown dramatically. (Combined exports of all rotary models recently exceeded 10,000 units per month.) Overseas, the Savanna is known as the RX-3, but unlike the domestic model, the American version replaces the 491cc × 2 engine with the Capella’s 573cc × 2 12A unit.