1992 Autozam AZ-1 - The Teeny Tiny King Of Kei Cars

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In today's exciting episode of JayEmm on cars, I look at one of the wildest cars ever to come from Japan - the Autozam AZ1.
Designed to fit inside the regulations of the Kei category, the AZ1 is small as a smart car, but has a spec like a supercar - gull wing doors, mid engined and with a novel construction. Is it though really the baby Lotus its owner says?
#Autozam #AZ1 #KeiCar
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Опубликовано:

8 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 207

@goldengooch1867 Год назад

This thing is just too impossibly cool. A classic case of 'they will never build a car like this again', even with stuff like the S660 on the Japanese market.

@lrs3 Год назад

How could you not love the Autozam?

@RTJ_CARS Год назад

It looks ugly

@bid84 Год назад

I’d be pretty embarrassed climbing out of that going into the supermarket or local garage

@Gravengaard Год назад

@@bid84 I do that all the time - nothing to embarrassed about when you know how to do it. You can egress much more gracefully in this than a Lambo

@sean6992 Год назад

Its pretty cool

@JamesGlenCarSales1982 Год назад

It’s easy when you know how 👍

@IsuckAtDriving Год назад

Great review and thanks for the history lesson! I did not know that the UK was involved in this. I have owned and daily drive the AZ-1 for 6 months and have put in 5000KM on it, and it is fantastic as a daily driver! I loved everything about it from the turbo sniffles to the sense of speed without breaking the speed limit. And of course the looks it gets, especially from kids. That's where you know you are driving something truly special.

@xdddbx Год назад

Do more Forza videos

@larrypizzaguy520 Год назад

Second.

@NeXMaX Год назад

You misspelled Forza. It's Forga.

@Brandon-uy1uv Год назад

What is the fuel economy?

@realnutteruk1 Год назад

Absolutely the most desirable car you've ever featured.... totally wonderful!

@duncanmartin2626 Год назад

I love these things. We need a triple test - this, the Capuccino and the Honda Beat. :)

@CathodeRayNipplez Год назад

That sure is nuts. I WANT ONE!

@psircos Год назад

Unlike some of the other K-cars you've been in recently, this really looks like it should have another 40 horses! Absolutely brilliant though....gotta love the Japanese and their way of thinking and attention to detail 👍

@LarsAgerbk Год назад

7:05 I sat in one of these at a "super"-car meeting and I remember telling the guy who owned it, that I considered it the star of the show. There was plenty of Ferraris, Porsches etc.. Since I'm 6'5", I couldn't close the door.

@JamesGlenCarSales1982 Год назад

I’ve just bought one and drove it home from Sweden. Was quite a trip. Loved every mile.

@rasherbasher8203 Год назад

This car is 100% more interesting than all the SUV's nowadays... ❤ cool little thing..👍

@miket570 Год назад

Appreciate the levels of detail and research that must go into these videos. You've somehow manage to make history lessons very entertaining! Loving the obscure JDM car btw!

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Thanks Mike, it's a journey of discovery for me too!

@davekennedy6315 Год назад

These reviews are so bloody interesting! Jay you inform us and keep us enormously entertained about these weird and truly wonderful oddball Japanese tiny cars. You have far and away my favourite car channel, each and every review a little gem and about cars that literally couldn't be anymore different from each other.

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Thanks Dave, very kind words there!

@carguygibby Год назад

Great video, James. I just saw one yesterday at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee!

@KeenanStyles Год назад

Not gonna lie I clicked immediately just to see you squeeze into this thing like Mr. Incredible 🤣

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

It was actually pretty easy to get in!

@mrb6094 Год назад

Perfect timing. I was actually boring the wife talking about Kei cars earlier, and my example was this car!

@jamiepeterson5646 Год назад

This is probably the most historically accurate video about the AZ-1 out there. Andy really knows these cars well, and JayEmm clearly listened and cared enough to include a lot of information that's otherwise sadly buried, such as Hawtal Whiting developing the production car, and manufacturing taking place outside of Mazda (at Kurata). My only criticism is that it's still implied that it came from a Suzuki concept, but the lead designer had already settled on the general shape before the RS/1 was even produced. The Suzuki concept myth comes from a Dutch owner's blog - one of the earliest sources in English - but the designer actually says he drew inspiration from the abandoned mid-engined MX-5 concept, plus some early Autozam Carol drawings he did which were also mid-engined. Suzuki didn't become aware of the AZ-1 until August 1988, when the powertrain supply agreement was negotated, and until then, Mazda was actually using a 550cc Daihatsu engine in the early prototypes.

@Gravengaard Год назад

JAMIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! Our very own in-house AZ-1 historian

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Glad I was *mostly* correct and yes, Andy is a passionate owner and was very helpful with researching this car

@JustAnotherPoorSlob Год назад

@7:46 "I've diverted power from life support to the thrusters" 🤣 I knew there was a reason I love your videos....

@Reznor_Meeks Год назад

brings back memories of Gran Turismo 5, so many Autozam's at the Daytona circuit doing car shows, such a GEM of a car, what an era, such car would NEVER ever pass a OEM board these days, golden era of creativity, character back when being adventurous was a perk to be admired.

@Gravengaard Год назад

Hands down the best online review of the AZ-1. As an owner myself (almost 5 years) I can attest to everything being said here. I've swapped the stock suspension for coilovers though... makes for a pretty harsh ride around town, but the grip is even more incredible now on the B-roads. Love it!

@Raatokalle Год назад

How difficult it is to maintain? Especially engine wise. Do you have to order everything from japan or does it share some common parts with other mazdas?

@Gravengaard Год назад

@@Raatokalle more or less everything had to be ordered from Japan. It shares some components with the older Suzuki Alto, so some parts are possible to get in Europe. That being said availability of parts in Japan is surprisingly good

@jeeves_uk Год назад

Cooler than any supercar, Facts.

@bid84 Год назад

64hp? Ehhhh no

@Cloxxki Год назад

I had a Mazda 323F with floppy head lights. One of them worked every single time.

@RossReviewsau Год назад

this is one of the coolest Kei cars ever 100% would love to test one out someday!

@Ashfielder Год назад

EXCITING MICRO COUPE Love that very ‘90s very Japanese graphic.

@davidramsay-kerr1959 Год назад

Greetings, jolly James, Really LOVE the AZ1. In my 60-odd years of driving (and 70-odd as a car enthusiast)), there aren't so many cars that have instantly claimed my heart. (You'll laugh: incidentally, I love SMALL) Among them: Jaguar D Type, Austin A40 Farina, Mini Cooper S, Mini Moke, Jaguar Mk II, MGB GT, Ogle GT, ....and that doesn't get me past the 1960s! But you can see where I'm coming from! Current wheels? Supercharged Toyota Yaris (and an electric OAP scooter). Love your work, my boy, even though I've thrown you a few crits.

@colinmaynard2879 Год назад

Thank you for the “power from life support to thrust “ line.

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Glad someone appreciated it

@KarlAdamsAudio Год назад

Sweet. I drove a Honda Beat for many years - I had a similar procedure with the aircon, always disengage on arrival at your favourite stretch of road...

@adogmcdizzle Год назад

Love it love it love it - Thank you for doing this review

@bobstark184 Год назад

What a fabulous review of a fantastic little car! I've only ever seen pictures of one before, so brilliant to see a proper road test.

@TheMrFishnDucks Год назад

Awesome car. Thank you for making videos on this fun and quirky car. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

@SA-zoom1 Год назад

The front of this looks exactly like one of the baby Robot Aliens from the 80's film 'Batteries Not Included'.. look it up. Can't be unseen.

@markjagodzinski1850 Год назад

literal dream car

@thetezz0001 Год назад

Well made video great job bro

@nelsonclub7722 Год назад

I mean C'mon. Just too cool for words.

@stigben 9 месяцев назад

Watched this a few times now. Its defo a dream car weekend fun car. Imagine it parked next to a evo 6 tme. Best combo ever

@JamesDOConnor1916 Год назад

Very cool 😎 thanks James I love the AZ - 1

@1_5RCBiker Год назад

The early '90s were also a great time for Japanese bikes. The Honda FireBlade springs to mind, the Kawasaki ZZR100 and the wicked 400's from all manufacturers for the domestic market.

@lasersimonjohnson Год назад

Thanks for finally making a video that doesnt have any references to porsche. 😂

@paulking54 Год назад

Love it!!! What a cool early nineties Japanese number . This and the 80's90's supercharged toyota mr2 put a real smile on my face. Cheers Jay.

@eze8970 Год назад

Needs a one make race series! Thanks J, quirky & cool car!

@neilmustow368 Год назад

What a cute set of wheels loving the Kei car reviews James 😎😎

@The_Original_Geoff_B Год назад

Lovely little thing. I have to admit enjoying watch Mr. DeMuro giggle his way through a review - he clearly enjoyed it just as much as you did 😄

@JowoHD Год назад

definitely a dream car of mine. so cool

@JRGRAY-33 Год назад

Gorjus looking car...! Another cracking review

@ptjww9455 2 месяца назад

Like most kei cars, its main shortcoming is it's not available in LHD. Reminds me a lot of my beloved Smart Roadster from a few years back...

@klasseact6663 Год назад

James...put this in your suitcase and take it for a spin on The Tail of the Dragon 🐉

@benzinapaul7416 Год назад

Mr Pedantic here, 'head up' not 'heads up'. Great review of a great little car

@Eragon_R.T.S. Год назад

Hi Jayem. I love your informative reviews💙! I would love it if when you get the chance to review the Toyota Sera.

@mat9516 Год назад

interesting piece. cool little car

@Mtnflying Год назад

Thanks!

@MrNegativecreep07 Год назад

As a man, I feel no shame in saying that car is absolutely adorably cute and I love it.

@az5655 Год назад

Loving all the glass. Mint little car.

@jameswalker366 Год назад

You can actually get an N2 ECU, upgraded turbo and injectors kits which bolt on. Brings the power in 120bhp.

@jeb419 Год назад

That would be fun with 120bhp.

@SamFrostDigitalMarketing Год назад

Great review - love these Kei cars. My brother lived in Japan for a few years and drove a Honda "N Box" kei car. You should look out a Suzuki Super Carry ... that's a very cool kei van and like a tardis inside.

@janstaes2172 Год назад

great review, mazda had a luxury brand in the '90, xedos.

@malcolmhardwick4258 Год назад

I love it. It looks like a mini MR2 !

@JeffLongley Год назад

Just an incredible car - it absolutely was Japan’s gold age of car. Currently pricing up which body parts I need to sell to own one of these…

@Eksistenssi Год назад

whoa, didn't expect to find this one on your channel

@bicyclist2 Год назад

Very cool car. I think Doug Demuro did a review of one. I've never even seen one of these before. I hope to get the chance to just see one some day. Thank you.

@ingopaul67 Год назад

What a wonderful little car.

@heem6619 Год назад

You should check out the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini too.

@neil1922 Год назад

Woaa that is SO AWESOME!

@10rGreenninja Год назад

Love it 🙂

@pizzagogo6151 Год назад

Excellent feature, thanks👍. much as I am a fan of the Suzuki Cappuccino.( thanks for the recent review), ever since I first saw one, I’ve alway been obsessed with these😍, would give a lot to own one one day, but unfortunately.....pretty much unobtainable where I am😁

@ElTurfStuff Год назад

I'd never fit in this car, but I love the look and idea of it too much! Nice review of something entirely unusual. As usual...

@markymarkreviews Год назад

Easily one, if not the best review you have done on your channel. Great car, and very informative. I get the feeling it is these such cars, with the energy & cost of living crisis we will be in for a while, which the market needs although may be as an EV though. Had my Daihatsu Copen 1.3 for 6 years and 100,000 miles. Still miss it. Never seems to get the same rep as the Capucinno and Honda Beat but was a truly great car. And had the best steering feel of any car I have owned as it had hydraulic steering. MM

@ianmead7712 Год назад

You enjoyed that I can tell which is good 😀

@leejones4768 Год назад

Cool video! This is now one of my favourite japanese cars, second only to the Mitsubishi GTO.

@Lot76CARS Год назад

Like that one James, what an interesting little car that is… now off to the Bay of ar to find one….

@damienhowell3727 Год назад

I'd love one of thoses for christmas lol they sound fantastic for such a small thing very special indeed

@426baron Год назад

Kinda reminds me of my Seicento Sporting. It felt crazy fast at very legal speeds, every roundabout feeling like a racetrack corner.

@jamesbuckingham77 Год назад

Great line James; "I've diverted power from life-support to the thrusters" 😂

@eddiekrustysock4395 Год назад

Exciting Micro Coupe energy

@user-en9zo2ol4z 2 месяца назад

You are reminding me, somewhat uncannily, of what I generally describe as a go-kart. With the road holding of a large quadrangle, with wheels set firmly at each corner. On the road, I drive smoothly, with alacrity. A go-kart does not make me wish for smooth and steady wins, a podium.

@3ducs Год назад

The concept reminds me of the American Bantam cars pre-WWII. Those were based on the Austin 7, very whimsical cars, wonderfully styled. They were quite expensive for their size though. Some would've called them cartoonish and indeed a Bantam was the inspiration of a car seen in animated cartoons in the prewar era.

@jimmykucera8627 Год назад

Awwww that Turbo sneezing 🤓 Review a Smart ForTwo 450 and hear it’s Turbo ROAR 🥸

@grayfool Год назад

Yep, very cool.

@4pevans Год назад

That thing is SWEET!

@everythingjacksrc7201 Год назад

Very cool James 🙏🏼 could you review the Daihatsu copen by any chance mate

@michaelcole3998 Год назад

I love this little car, quirky it is by definition and that's what gives it its appeal. Not sure I'd give my MX5 up for it but I'd bet it would be as much fun in a different way

@rumengeorgiev3741 Год назад

cheer's for the neighbour from Basildon 😊😊😊

@EzzaLeo Год назад

I want one of these so badly

@autobahnproven Год назад

Such FUN! 🙂👍

@brusselssprouts560 Год назад

Love it, and I see some design that might have found its way to the Mk1 MR2? It sounds really nice too with that exhaust. A car to go somewhere and have a very big smile on your face all day!

@tsmith7146 Год назад

Mk1 MR2 predates this by 7 or 8 years.

@brusselssprouts560 Год назад

@@tsmith7146 The other way around then 🙄😀

@urbanmenace7705 Год назад

I always wanted to get one of these & do a nutty bike engine conversion on it. Bet it’d be an absolute riot with a ‘busa turbo or H2R engine in the back.

@gabrielcaramet3238 Год назад

This thing is so dam cool

@nedkelly4999 Год назад

Thats mint👍🏻

@S-Ltd1000 Год назад

Why I love Japanese cars and Mazda in particular.

@geoffwallis8588 Год назад

That looks a proper hoot to drive

@quackman 11 месяцев назад

nice!

@ThunderChunky101 Год назад

I love these! Someone somewhere must have put a Hayabusa engine in one 😂 Edit: looks like a lot of people have searched it on RU-vid!

@Gravengaard Год назад

Everybody's talking about it, but none have succeeded. Trust me, a lot of people are like "Busa swap", but once they actually own one, they find out the F6A is a really capable engine.

@jamesengland7461 Год назад

"I've diverted power from life support to the thrusters" BRILLIANT!

@888johnmac Год назад

lol , that line also made me laugh

@davidashley4386 Год назад

I want one !

@jakobholgersson4400 Год назад

This thing reminds me of the Saab Sonett. In fact, I wish Saab would've ordered a version with a bigger engine and better dashboard and sold it as Sonett IV.

@istimamrian5300 Год назад

Idk about others, the 3 cylinder engine sounds a lot like a 6 cylinder

@the5th2000 Год назад

Yes please

@seanweirdbeard Год назад

Luvvit!

@Dominik189 Год назад

I wonder how it'd be to drive if you tuned one up to 120-150whp and just went up +10 in rear tire width. Would probably make the car even more bonkers.

@banglacibai6713 Год назад

This will exist again in EV form,very practical for big city,saving u a lot

@Nick-vp7lp Год назад

I want one 😍

@markonmotoring Год назад

I have said for some time now that even though the Japanese released some fantastic sports cars and coupes back in the 90's, it's the Kie cars that for me are some of the most exciting cars to come out of Japan. Having wanted to own a mid engined car for decades the AZ1 strikes a chord with me, as does the Honda S660. Oh and I liked Micheal Keaton as Batman too. 😅