View source for Autozam Clef

{{Infobox automobile
| name = Autozam Clef
| image = Autozam Clef (Japan).jpg
| related = [[Mazda 626]]/[[Mazda Cronos|Cronos]]<br />[[ɛ̃fini MS-6]]
| manufacturer = [[Autozam]] ([[Mazda]])
| production = May 1992 – December 1994
| assembly = Japan: [[Hiroshima]], [[Hofu]]
| designer = Yasuo Aoyagi (1989)
| class = [[Mid-size car]]
| body_style = 4-door [[sedan (automobile)|sedan]]
| layout = [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive]]<br />[[Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout|Transverse front-engine, four-wheel drive]]
| platform = [[Mazda G platform#GE|Mazda GE platform]]
| engine = {{ubl
  | '''[[Petrol engine|gasoline]]:'''
  | 2.0&nbsp;L ''[[Mazda F engine#FS|FS-DE]]'' [[Straight-four engine|I4]]
  | 2.0&nbsp;L ''[[Mazda K engine#KL|KF-ZE]]'' [[V6]]
  | 2.5&nbsp;L ''[[Mazda K engine#KL|KL-ZE]]'' V6
  }}
| transmission = 4-speed [[Automatic transmission|automatic]]
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2610|mm|in|1}}
| length = {{cvt|4670|mm|in|1}}
| width = {{cvt|1750|mm|in|1}}
| height = {{cvt|1400|mm|in|1}}
| weight = {{cvt|1310|kg|lb|0}}
}}

The '''Autozam Clef''' is a [[midsize car|mid-size]] [[sedan (automobile)|sedan]] that was built Mazda for their [[Autozam]] sales channel from May 1992 until December 1994.<ref name=Gazoo1>{{cite web | url = https://gazoo.com/catalog/maker/MAZDA/AUTOZAM_CLEF/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241216151637/https://gazoo.com/catalog/maker/MAZDA/AUTOZAM_CLEF/ | archive-date = 2024-12-16 | title = カタログ: マツダ オートザムクレフ | trans-title = Catalog: Mazda Autozam Clef | work = Gazoo | publisher = Toyota Motor Corporation }}</ref>

==Description==
It shared [[Mazda]]'s [[Mazda G platform#GE|GE platform]] with cars like the [[ɛ̃fini MS-6]] and [[Mazda MX-6]] coupé. The word "[[clef]]" is a [[musical notation]], and Mazda chose it to signify that the Clef was meant to serve as a reference point by which other Autozam products would become to be known or regarded as. The Clef was mechanically related to the [[Mazda Cronos]] (626 in global markets), but featured different bodywork, and rear side window designs. The front end in particular was designed to have the Autozam corporate "face", reminiscent of the [[Mazda Carol|Carol]] and [[Autozam Revue|Revue]].<ref name=tragic>{{cite web | url = https://motorz.jp/race/car/116583/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240712225236/https://motorz.jp/race/car/116583/ | archive-date = 2024-07-12 | title = 悲劇のマツダ クロノスシリーズでも超ド級のレア車！オートザム クレフ | trans-title = A super rare car in the tragic Mazda Cronos series: Autozam Clef! | work = Motorz | date = 2021-03-03 | last = Hyōdō | first = Tadahiko | language = ja }}</ref><ref name=100Clef>{{cite web | url = https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/cars/detail_029_clef.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20250113190942/https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/cars/detail_029_clef.html | archive-date = 2025-01-13 | title = Autozam Clef | work = Mazda 100th Anniversary | publisher = Mazda Motor Corporation }}</ref>
 
The Clef had the same width dimensions as the Mazda Cronos which shared the engine lineup. Engine size and exterior dimensions have particular significance in Japan, due to [[Vehicle size class#Japan|dimension regulations]], where Japanese consumers pay an additional annual tax for larger vehicles as well as higher [[Road tax#Japan|road tax]] obligations. The Clef was Autozam's first car to exceed the compact car dimensions.<ref name=100Clef/> The front-wheel drive Clef was only offered with a four-speed automatic transmission; the base 2.0 was also available with four-wheel drive.<ref name=Gazoo1/>

==In the market==
As the Clef was the top level sedan at Autozam, which was introduced as a retailer of entry level products to Japanese consumers, the width dimension presented an issue in that buyers in Japan were liable for yearly taxes, and because the Clef was largely identical to other Mazda GE platform cars, Japanese buyers who were willing to pay extra taxes for a wide car from Mazda had many choices and the Clef wasn't usually the first choice. Additionally, Autozam mostly targeted young, female customers, who were unlikely to trade up from the subcompact Revue and Carol to the expensive Clef.<ref name=tragic/> The car's grilleless fascia was more cute than prestigious or sporty, further harming sales. Late in the production run, a version with a redesigned front bumper incorporating a grille was introduced. Called the Clef Limited-X, it was only offered for a short while and was built in very small numbers.<ref name=tragic/>

Of all Autozam products sold at the time, only the Clef exceeded the width dimension stipulation; other Autozam products were either [[kei car|kei]] class vehicles or [[supermini]] products.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mazda road car timeline 1990s–present}}
{{Mazda vehicles}}
{{commonscat|Autozam Clef}}
[[Category:Autozam vehicles|Clef]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Vehicles with four-wheel steering]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1992]]