Autocade is an international car cyclopædia that’s geographically unbiased, carefully edited for enthusiasts and media who want a quick, accurate reference. There is a greater emphasis on models produced after 1970.
Inside Autocade
Mazda CX-9 (TC). 2016 to date (prod. n/a). 5-door SUV. F/A, 2488 cm³ (I4 DOHC). CX-9 gets Mazda’s kodo design language and severs ties with Ford, with the Blue Oval’s V6s finally deleted in favour of a Skyactiv (high-compression) turbocharged four. At the time, this meant that Mazda offered no more sixes. Decent balance and good ride from the chassis. Well equipped and spacious.
Manufacturing location: Hiroshima, Japan
Marque: Mazda | Model: Mazda CX-9 | Predecessor: Mazda CX-9 (TB) | Successor: Mazda CX-90
BYD Dolphin. 2021 to date (prod. n/a). 5-door sedan. F/F, 30·7, 44·9, 60·48 kWh electric. One-box electric car from BYD, and reaching the top of the sales’ chart for the A0 segment domestically. Boxy appearance appealed to buyers, as did consumer trust in BYD’s battery life. Well equipped for the price, with panoramic image rendering, Bluetooth key, 12·8 in central screen, and leather sport seats. Long wheelbase for the segment, at 2,700 mm. Base 30·7 kWh unit deleted in 2022. Front and rear ends lengthened for export, supposedly to incorporate better safety structures. Largest (60·48 kWh) battery for export only.
Manufacturing locations: Changsha, Hunan, China; Fuzhou, Jiangxi, China
Marque: BYD
Trabant 600. 1962–5 (prod. 106,117). 2-door saloon, 3-door estate. F/R, 595 cm³ (I2 2-str.). P50 with an engine upgrade to the larger but still noisy P60 0·6 two-stroke, minor exterior changes, and a revised interior featuring a new dashboard and redesigned seats. Power up to 23 PS (17 kW), improving acceleration (24 s to 80 km/h rather than 30·1 s, comparable to western European cars in the same class). Connecting rods with needle bearings on the crankshaft side. Duraplast body as before. Price up by 200DM because of the new engine. Saloon replaced first while the Universal (estate) and Camping were improved in 1964, before being replaced by the 601 in 1965.
Manufacturing location: Zwickau, Germany
Marque: Trabant | Predecessor: Trabant P50 | Successor: Trabant P601
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