- Responsive and refined 2.3-litre supercharged engine
- Impressive ride/handling balance
- High standard of fit and finish
- 4WS operation can be disconcerting
- Front seats lack lateral support
- Poor comfort for centre rear seat
Overview
Released in October 2000, the Mazda TA Millenia was a large, luxury sedan. Manufactured in Hiroshima, Japan, the front-wheel drive Millenia was powered by a 2.3-litre Miller cycle four-cylinder supercharged petrol engine that was to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Engine
For the Miller cycle engine, the bottom 20 percent of the normal compression stroke was non-compression because of the late valve closure. Furthermore, the power stroke was assisted by a Lysholm compressor which forced air into the engine’s cylinders, resulting in a compression ratio of 8:1 and an expansion ratio of 10:1. The M variant was also fitted with yaw-sensitive four-wheel steering.
Dimensions and body
Based on the same platform as the Mazda Eunos 800 , the TA Millenia was 50 mm longer (at 4870 mm), though width (1770 mm), height (1395 mm) and wheelbase length (2750 mm) were unchanged. The body was also filled in strategic spots with a high-strength resin foam plastic for greater bending and torsional rigidity.
Suspension
Like its predecessor, the Millenia had double wishbone, multi-link suspension front and rear. For the Millenia, however, the links were reinforced, the suspension geometry modified and damping forces revised. The Millenia also had electronically-controlled four-wheel steering (4WS) steering.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millenia | 2.3-litre s/charged petrol I4 (Miller cycle) | 4sp auto | 149 kW at 5500 rpm and | 282 Nm at 4000 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mazda Millenia included dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS and traction control.
Features
Standard features for the Mazda Millenia included 16-inch alloy wheels, a nine speaker Bose sound system with a six-stack CD player, climate control air conditioning, leather seats, a power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, front fog lamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, sunroof and an immobiliser.
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