Description and history of the Mazda 626 (Capella)

Mazda Capella was a small family car in the C-segment until 1987, after which it moved to the D-segment or mid-size car. Production has been carried out since 1970 by the Japanese automaker Mazda Motor, and in 2002 it was replaced by the model Mazda 6. In the Japanese domestic market it is called Capella, and in other major markets it is known as Mazda 626. Ford, in partnership with Mazda, used the Capella platform to create the Ford Telstar and Ford Probe.

During its life, the car went through six generations. The first two generations had a longitudinally mounted engine in the front with rear wheel drive, starting with the third generation (since 1982) produced front-wheel drive cars with a front transverse engine, and from the fourth generation (since 1987) all-wheel drive transmission options also appeared. The body came in the form of a sedan, hatchback, station wagon and coupe. The main competitors were the following models of cars: Citroën Xantia, Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mitsubishi Sigma, Nissan Bluebird, Opel Vectra, Peugeot 406, Renault Laguna, Subaru Legacy and Toyota Corona.

The car was named after Capella, the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest in the entire night sky and the third brightest in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega.

First generation (SNA, 1970−1978)

The first car appeared in May 1970 as something between a small car Mazda Familia (323) and the Mazda Luce (929), a business class car. It was also called "Mazda 616/618" and "Mazda RX-2" in different markets. The internal coding, depending on the installed engine, was as follows: SNA, SU2A, CB1V, S122A, and CB12. The body style was a 4-door sedan and a 2-door coupe. The car's length was 4150 mm until 1974 and 4260 mm later, the width was 1580 mm, and the height was 1375-1430 mm. The engine was mounted longitudinally at the front, with rear-wheel drive. Production took place in Japan (hiroshima) and South Africa (Durban).

The range of petrol piston engines included the following models: 1.5 litre "UB" (1490 cm³, SOHC I4 SU2A, 92 hp), 1.6 liters "NA" (1586 cm³, SOHC I4 SNA, 100 hp), 1.8 liter "VC" (1769 cm³, SOHC I4 CB1V, 84 hp), 1.8 liter "VB" (1796 cm³, SOHC I4, 99 hp). The car was also equipped with two rotary engines with a capacity of 1146 cm³ (Wankel 12A rotary, S122A, 110 or 130 hp) and (Wankel 12B rotary, CB12). The gearboxes were 3-speed automatic and 4- or 5-speed manual.

In February 1974, the car underwent a rather serious restyling. The body length has increased by 110 mm, the design of the front of the car has been significantly changed, and the instrument panel has been redesigned. In Japan, a rotary engine is much more beneficial for a car owner when paying transport taxes, so after the restyling, rotary engines began to be installed on this model, which was called "Capella Rotary" in Japan or "Mazda RX-2" for export. This is the only generation of Capella with rotary engines, which later branched off into a separate model, the "Mazda RX-".

Second generation (CB, 1978−1982)

The third generation of the Capella was available from October 1978. In most markets, the car was called the "Mazda 626," and in the UK, the "Montrose." It was available as a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe. The chassis of the coupe and sedan are mechanically identical. The body length was 4260-4300 mm, width 1580-1660 mm, height 1395-1420 mm. The curb weight was 975-1080 kg. The car's aerodynamics were seriously improved, achieving a drag coefficient of C_x=0.38. The engine is located in the front longitudinally with drive to the rear wheels. Production took place in Japan (hiroshima) and New Zealand (Auckland).

The car was equipped with 4-cylinder in-line petrol engines with the following characteristics: for Japan - 1.6 liters "NA" (1586 cm³, 74 hp), 1.8 liter "VC" (1769 cm³, 98 hp) and 2.0 liters "MA" (1970 cm³, 108 hp); for export - 1.6 liters "NA" (1586 cm³, 74 hp) and 2.0 liters "MA" (1970 cm³, 89 hp); for North America - 2.0 liters "MA" (1970 cm³, 74 or 80 hp). The gearboxes were as follows: 4- and 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic "Jatco".

Third generation (GC, 1982−1987)

The third generation of the Capella was released in September 1982 on the new Mazda GC platform. The most significant differences from the previous model were the switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, as well as the transverse engine placement in the front. The international version of the car was also called the "Mazda 626." It was produced as a 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, and 5-door hatchback. The car is 4520 mm long, 1690 mm wide and 1410 mm high. Curb weight was 1050 kg. The car was assembled in Japan (Hofu), Colombia (Bogota) and New Zealand (Auckland).

During its production period, this generation received several "Car of the Year" awards from magazines and various organizations. It immediately gained popularity in Europe and its sales increased significantly.

The petrol engine range consisted of the following models: 1.6 litre "F6" (I4; 80 l. s.), 1.8 liters "F8" (I4, 91 hp), 2.0 liter "FE" (I4; 89, 91, 94 and 101 hp) and 2.0 liter "FE" (I4; eGi injection; 91, 109 and 118 hp). There was also one diesel engine with a volume of 2.0 liters "RF" (I4; 63 hp). Gearboxes: 3- or 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual.

Fourth generation (GD, GV, 1987−1992)

In May 1987, the fourth-generation Capella was introduced on the Mazda GD platform (station wagon on the GV platform). The name "Mazda 626" remained the most common. Body styles included a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe, a five-door hatchback, and, for the first time, a five-door station wagon. The car's length was 4515-4610 mm, width 1690 mm, and height 1370 mm (hatchback) and 1410 mm (sedan). The engine was transversely mounted at the front, with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive models were also available for the first time. The car was assembled in Japan (Hofu City), USA (flat Rock), Colombia (Bogota) and Zimbabwe (Harare).

The range of petrol engines was significantly expanded, the characteristics of which were as follows: 1.6 liters "F6" (1587 cm³, I4, 8 valves; 80 hp), 1.6 liter "B6" (1597 cm³, I4, 8 valves; 72 hp), 1.8 liter "F8" (1789 cm³, I4, 8 valves; 89 hp), 1.8 liter "F8" (1789 cm³, I4, 12 valves; 81, 83 and 96 hp), 1.8 liter "F8" (1789 cm³, I4 DOHC, 16 valves; 113 hp), 2.0 liter "FE" (1998 cm³, I4, 8 valves; 89 and 100 hp), 2.0 liter "FE" (1998 cm³, I4, 12 valves; 107 hp), 2.0 liter "FE-DOHC" (1998 cm³, I4 DOHC, 16 valves, EGi injection; 138, 143, 145 and 148 hp), 2.2 liter "F2" (2184 cm³, I4, 12 valves, EGi injection; 108 and 113 hp) and 2.2 liters "F2T" (2184 cm³, I4, 12 valves, EGi injection, turbo; 145 hp).

There were also two diesel engine models, both with a capacity of 2.0 liters (1998 cm³) - "RF" (I4, 60 hp) and "RF-CX" (I4, Comprex, turbo; 81 and 87 hp). There were three transmission models - 4- and 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.

In February 1988, some models were equipped with a four-wheel active steering system. In 1990, this generation was modernized. Although main production in Japan ended in 1991, Ford continued to produce the "GD" series sedans under the name "Telstar Classic", and the station wagon was available in some markets until 1997.

Fifth generation (GE, 1991−1997)

The fifth generation was released in November 1991. The name "Capella" was discontinued, and only the "Mazda 626" remained in international markets, while in Japan the car became known as the "Cronos" (sedan) and "ɛ̃fini MS-6" (hatchback). The station wagon and coupe body styles were discontinued, leaving only the 4-door sedan (length 4670 mm) and a 5-door hatchback (length 4695 mm). The remaining dimensions were identical: 1,750 mm wide and 1,400 mm high. The curb weight was 1,180 kg for the sedan and 1,340 kg for the hatchback. Japanese models are slightly narrower due to Japanese taxation, which takes into account the width of the car. The drive was carried out on the front wheels or all-wheel drive could be selected, the engine was located transversely at the front. Production was located in Japan (Hofu), Colombia (Bogota) and the USA (flat Rock).

The following modifications of gasoline engines were installed: 1.8 liters "FP" (1840 cm³, I4; 104 hp), 2.0 liter "FS" (1991 cm³, I4; 113 and 118 hp), and for the first time in this car, six-cylinder 2.0 liter "KF-ZE" engines (1995 cm³, V6; 160 hp) and 2.5 liters "KL" (2497 cm³, V6; 163 and 164 hp). One 2.0-liter "RFT" diesel engine was installed (1998 hp, I4, Comprex, turbo; 80 hp). The transmission was installed in two versions - a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic Ford CD4E.

In 1992, the 626 was named "Car of the Year" by Wheels magazine.

Sixth generation (GF, GW, 1997−2005)

In 1997, the sixth and final generation of the Mazda 626, based on the GF platform, was released. The Cronos name was discontinued. The body style was available in three variants: a 4-door sedan, a 5-door hatchback, and a 5-door station wagon (GW platform). The length of the car was 4575 mm, 4660 mm (station wagon), and 4750 mm (US); width 1760 mm or 1695 mm (Japan); the height is 1400 mm. The engine is traditionally mounted transversely in the front, with front-wheel drive; in Japan, all-wheel drive is also available. The car was assembled in Japan (Hofu), Colombia (Bogota), and the USA (flat Rock) and Zimbabwe.

There were four models of petrol engines with the following characteristics: 1.8 litre "FP-DE" (1839 cm³, I4, 90 hp), 2.0 liter "FS-DE" (1991 cm³, I4, 115 hp), 2.0 liter "FS-ZE" (1991 cm³, I4, 136 hp) and six-cylinder 2.5 liter "KL-ZE" (2496 cm³, V6, 167 hp). There was also one 2.0-liter "RF-T" diesel engine (1998 cm³), a 4-cylinder in-line turbocharged engine with a power of 101 hp. The transmission was a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.

Models for the North American market differed from cars for the rest of the world in design, more powerful engines, and body length. In 1999, there was a minor update to this generation.

Mazda 626 GF, hatchback

Mazda 626 GW, wagon

Mazda 626 GF, interior