A Quick History of MAZDA Cars 

Journeying through the history of Mazda cars, you’ll find race-ready speed demons, capable sedans, and drives that redefined highway cruising. There’s a lot to learn about this historic brand, especially with the many technical innovations that have been invented over the years. These are a few of our favorite models from memory lane at Mazda of Kent, but keep digging in — there’s a lot of history here. 

The First Rotary Engine 

In 1961, the Mazda corporation was charged with developing its own area of technological expertise by the Japanese government, or they would be absorbed by another company. Mazda licensed the rotary engine from the NSU motorcycle company and redesigned it for cars, giving them the characteristic drive that would define their early years. The new design was unveiled as part of the 1968 Mazda Cosmo Sport, and it was an immediate hit with drivers. 

Making It to the Podium 

When Car and Driver Magazine finished evaluating the 1973 Mazda RX-2, they realized how much potential it had for motorsports. Buying the car and outfitting it for professional racing, it became the first Mazda car to win a professional race in the United States. With Mazda vehicles regularly appearing on the podium and entire leagues just for racing the Mazda MX-5 Miata, everyone’s gotten the message by now: underestimate Mazda cars on the track at your own risk. 

The Sky’s the Limit 

In 2008, Mazda unveiled the future of their cars at the Tokyo Motor Show. Referred to then as “Mazda Sky”, this complete system focused on a lightweight drive, adding direct injection for more efficiency, and an increased compression ratio. After developing into the Skyactiv®-G concept, these priorities are now standard across the Mazda lineup, giving you a smoother, more satisfying drive. 

Continuing to Innovate 

Performance isn’t the only place Mazda continued to innovate after the 2008 Tokyo Motor Show. New Mazda cars began to add more proactive safety features, culminating in every 2022 Mazda vehicle winning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. The i-Activsense® suite is more advanced than ever each year, with forward-collision warnings now standard across the lineup. 

Learn More About the History of MAZDA Cars at Our Dealership 

Mazda has played a big part in automotive history, and they’re not done yet. Find out more about Mazda history at our Kent Mazda dealership and try out these driving innovations in person. Apply for Mazda financing, explore our new specials, and take a test drive today!