1992 Autozam AZ-1 is a cool kei car you've never heard of (18 pics + 1 video)
The Autozam AZ-1 is a kei car that few people have heard of, and it because kei cars are made for a niche market in Japan. Few from foreigners are familiar with what these cars look like, unless they avid car enthusiasts. 
Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world in terms of GDP ranks third after the US and China. From stupidity can develop the impression that they are all extremely rich there and do not count money, but this not this way. Or not really. Japan has a huge number of citizens, wishing to save money on car ownership: the country is expensive and payment taxes, parking and maintenance turns the car from a vehicle travel to luxury. For such "greedy" Japanese since 1949 there is a class K-cars, it is also a "keijidosha" - a light car. On the kei cars, which are extremely compact cars with motors with a capacity not exceeding 660 cubes, tax benefits and other preferences, such as the absence of entry fees to the center cities and a symbolic amount of insurance - owning them is quite profitable. Unfortunately, the bulk of key cars are terrible "boxes", but there are and there are real diamonds in this pile of rubbish! One of the brightest rear-engined sports car with gull-wing doors (almost Porsche 911) Autozam AZ-1. 
What is Autozam anyway? Sounds like the name of a provincial spare parts store for domestic equipment. It's actually a Mazda, but Initially, Suzuki engineers were involved in the project. Late 1980s full-featured prototypes showcased at Tokyo Motor Show Suzuki RS / 1 and RS / 3, but in the end from further development of the model refused, focusing on a more promising, in their opinion, Suzuki Cappuccino. The idea was picked up by representatives of Mazda, led by Mr. Hirai - the "father" of the iconic Mazda MX-5. 
Mazda engineers refined the tubular steel frame, floor and engine shield made of aluminum honeycombs, and the body is made of fiberglass. In 1989 the car was ready, and in 1992 mass production started. The AZ-1 offered the emotion and thrill of a sports car in limited budget. Well, the size, of course! The car weighed only 720 kilograms, and the power of a three-cylinder engine with a volume of 657 cubic centimeters was 66 horsepower, some kind of the dynamics were… The design carried elements of the style of the 1980s when the project originated: side ventilation slots - Ferrari Testarossa, doors - DeLorean DMC-12, profile - Fiat X1/9, two-tone paint scheme - Ferrari 512BB.
There is no motor in front. As, in principle, and the trunk ... 
Traditional for the "Japanese" "banana" is hidden in a case behind the driver's seat 
The AZ-1's main competitors were Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda Beat. Cars in the same class offered similar benefits, for except for the unusual appearance, but they were cheaper. Eventually, strong competitors and the decline of the Japanese economy in the 1990s limited demand on Autozam AZ-1. The Japanese planned to sell 800 cars a month, but for the period from 1992 to 1994, only 4.4 thousand AZ-1s were sold (plus 500 clones under the Suzuki brand). Significantly smaller than Suzuki Cappuccino (22 thousand cars) and Honda Beat (33.6 thousand cars). Real rarity! 
The photo shows a 1992 car, located in America. The other day was sold at the Bring-A-Trailer auction for a respectable $32,000. The car is extremely unusual and stylish. Roll-up doors, rear motor (also turbo!), sports steering wheel, white instrument dials, mechanical gearbox and rear-wheel drive - a real sport, but a lot of fines for speeding will not bring :) 
And finally, it is impossible not to note the dimensions of the AZ-1. It can be "lost" even next to the compact Fiat 500. Although the Italian bestseller in Japanese standards are not so compact! 
