Details of Cars

Mazda kei cars: Carol, Laputa, Spiano, Scrum and AZ-Wagon

MAZDA

1968 Mazda Carol 360
A 1968 Mazda Carol 360. Photo by TTTNIS, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Mazda has built and sold kei cars in two periods: the original Carol of 1962–1970, and the modern era from 1989, when the company re-entered the class with models supplied by Suzuki. This page covers the Carol, Laputa, Spiano, Scrum and AZ-Wagon.

Mazda kei cars at a glance

Mazda kei cars key facts
Carol 1962–1970, then from 1989 as a Suzuki-based model
Carol 600 1962–1964, 586 cc
First Carol engine 358 cc four, 18 PS
Autozam Carol from October 1989, Suzuki Alto-based, 547 cc and 40 PS
Laputa 1999–2006, Suzuki Kei-based crossover
Spiano 2002–2008, Suzuki Alto Lapin-based
Scrum since 1989, Suzuki Every and Carry-based
AZ-Wagon since 1994, Suzuki Wagon R-based

Five kei-car records are covered here as one topic page; each model has its own section.

History of the Mazda kei cars

The Mazda Carol arrived in February 1962 as the P360, a more grown-up two-door companion to the R360 and Mazda’s first four-passenger car. It was 2,980 mm long, the same as the R360, but its wheelbase was much longer at 1,930 mm, and it weighed 525 kg against the R360’s 380 kg. Its 358 cc water-cooled four-cylinder OHV engine, mounted at the rear, produced 18 PS and was one of the smallest four-cylinder car engines in history. The Carol was perhaps overengineered, with a very strong monocoque, a five-bearing crankshaft and four-wheel independent suspension by torsion bars, which made it costly and heavy but gave a comfortable ride at the expense of space. It still captured 67 percent of the kei market in its first year. A DeLuxe version followed in May 1962, power rose to 20 PS in September 1963 along with a four-door body, and facelifts came in 1966 and 1969. Production ended in August 1970 with 265,226 Carol 360s built. A larger Carol 600 with a 586 cc engine was sold from 1962 to 1964, about 8,800 being made.

Autozam Scrum Van Turbo
An Autozam Scrum van, the Suzuki-based model sold from 1989. Photo by Baku13, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Mazda revived the Carol name in October 1989 for the Autozam Carol, produced for Mazda by Suzuki on the Alto’s platform and mechanicals but with a largely unique interior and boldly curved exterior. It came as front- or all-wheel drive with a 547 cc three-cylinder Suzuki engine of 40 PS, a 2,335 mm wheelbase, 3,190 mm length and 1,295 mm width, disc brakes in front and drums at the rear, in e, f and g grades, the top g with a canvas top.

The Laputa of 1999 was a crossover SUV-style kei car supplied by Suzuki as the Kei, sharing its body and interior apart from badges. It had a higher roofline and large wheels than a normal kei car, a raised ride height, and three engines: naturally aspirated and turbocharged 658 cc DOHC units and a 658 cc SOHC turbo. It was sold as a three- or five-door with front or all-wheel drive until 2006, when the Spiano replaced it. The Spiano, sold from 2002 to 2008, was Suzuki’s Alto Lapin with Mazda’s five-point grille, the Lapland-style rounded body and interior unchanged; it came with three engines from 54 to 64 PS and only a column-shift four-speed automatic.

The Scrum has been sold since 1989 as the successor to the Porter Cab, based on Suzuki’s Every for the wagon and van and the Carry for the truck. It began with Mazda and Autozam branding together and moved to 660 cc engines in March 1990, and the brand went from Autozam back to Mazda in 1997. The AZ-Wagon arrived in September 1994 as a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R, differing at first only in badges and wheel caps; it was renamed the Mazda AZ-Wagon in 1997 and replaced by a second generation in October 1998.

Design and features

  • Two eras: the original 1962 Carol and the Suzuki-based cars from 1989.
  • Carol 360: 67 percent of the kei market in its first year, with 265,226 built.
  • Suzuki supply: the Laputa, Spiano, Scrum and AZ-Wagon were all Suzuki models with Mazda badges.
  • Kei crossovers: the Laputa mixed kei-car size with SUV styling.

Mazda kei cars versions

  • Carol 360 (1962–1970): 358 cc, 18 then 20 PS.
  • Carol 600 (1962–1964): 586 cc, about 8,800 built.
  • Autozam Carol (from 1989): Suzuki Alto-based with unique bodywork.
  • Laputa (1999–2006): Suzuki Kei-based kei crossover.
  • Spiano (2002–2008): Suzuki Alto Lapin-based hatchback.
  • Scrum and AZ-Wagon: Suzuki Every/Carry and Wagon R-based models.

The kei cars sit below the Mazda 2, and the Scrum replaced the Mazda Porter. More Mazdas are in the Mazda collection.

Sources

More from MAZDA