The Efini MS-8 was a luxury car produced and sold by Mazda’s Efini channel in Japan from March 1992 through 1997. It replaced the Mazda Persona and the Eunos 300, and like the Persona it was based on a mainstream Mazda sedan — in this case the 1991–1997 Cronos, the Capella sedan.
Efini MS-8 at a glance
| Maker | Efini (Mazda), Japan |
|---|---|
| Production | March 1992–1997 |
| Class | luxury hardtop sedan |
| Based on | Mazda Cronos (Capella sedan), 1991–1997 |
| Replaced | Mazda Persona and Eunos 300 |
| Engine | 2.5-litre V6 |
| Gearbox | four-speed automatic only |
| Front seats | split bench, no floor console |
| Gear shifter | mounted on the dashboard |
| Audio option | Bose Acoustic Wave Guide system |
| Option | four-wheel steering |
| Dimensions | same as the Cronos and the Efini MS-6 |
based on one source (English Wikipedia)
History of the Efini MS-8
A Cronos in luxury clothes
The MS-8 arrived in March 1992 as part of Mazda’s multi-brand strategy in Japan, under which the Efini network sold upmarket versions of familiar models. It took the place of the Mazda Persona and the Eunos 300. Just as the Persona had been based on the 1987–1991 Capella, the MS-8 used the platform of the 1991–1997 Cronos, the Capella sedan. It shared its dimensions with the Cronos and with the Efini MS-6, and it used the same 2.5-litre V6. Width, length and engine displacement mattered in Japan because of dimension regulations: larger cars carried an additional annual tax and a higher road tax, so the package had to stay within the familiar boundaries.
Body and interior
The MS-8 was a hardtop-style sedan in the mould of the Toyota Cresta, Nissan Laurel, Honda Vigor and Mitsubishi Emeraude. Its body had an unusual B-pillar that was much thicker below the beltline than above it. That gave the shell more rigidity while keeping the cabin airy, but it also meant the front seatbelts had to be installed below the beltline. The front passenger’s belt tensioner, where the belt recoiled when not in use, sat inside the rear passenger doors, and the belt latch was fixed to the front headrest support arm so that the belt stayed correctly positioned as the headrest was raised or lowered.
Inside, the car was fitted only with a four-speed automatic gearbox, and the shifter was mounted on the dashboard next to the air-conditioning controls. That removed the floor console between the front seats and allowed a split front bench. The climate-control and audio display sat on top of the dashboard in a thin slit just ahead of the windshield defroster. The sunroof was very large for its day, extending all the way over the rear seat footwell.
Equipment
Following the 1991 Efini RX-7, the MS-8 could be ordered with the Bose Acoustic Wave Guide audio system, a compact subwoofer design. The stereo and CD player were hidden behind a retractable cover in the centre of the dashboard below the air-conditioning controls, while simple functions such as volume, source selection and track choice were repeated on the steering wheel. Four-wheel steering was offered as an extra-cost option; like the system on the Mazda Sentia, it reduced the turning radius at town speeds and improved stability on the highway.
End of production
Production of the MS-8 ended in 1997, when Mazda’s multi-brand strategy failed in Japan and the company ran into financial difficulties. The Efini channel itself was wound down, and later Mazda models were sold through a single dealer network.
Design and features
- Asymmetric B-pillar: thick below the beltline, thin above, for rigidity with an airy cabin.
- Dashboard shifter: the automatic selector sat beside the air-conditioning controls, freeing the floor for a split bench.
- Huge sunroof: it reached back over the rear seat footwell.
- Bose Acoustic Wave Guide: an optional compact subwoofer system, as offered on the Efini RX-7.
- Four-wheel steering: an extra-cost option that cut the turning circle at low speed.
Efini MS-8 versions
- MS-8 (1992–1997): the standard car with the 2.5-litre V6 and four-speed automatic.
- Early cars: the original specification sold from March 1992.
- Later cars: the facelifted version offered towards the end of production.
- Four-wheel-steer cars: examples ordered with the optional rear-steer system.
- Bose-equipped cars: cars with the Acoustic Wave Guide audio package.
The MS-8 sat alongside the larger Efini MS-9 in Mazda’s luxury channel. More cars from the brand are in the Efini collection.
Video: Mazda MS-8
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Ɛ̃fini MS-8, English Wikipedia: production, body, interior, equipment
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