SA22C:JDM Model Year History

The Japanese models parallel the US models fairly well.

1978

Production started in March 1978

The Japanese cars, have a slightly different spec than the us cars did. The bumpers are the same, but the US bumpers are mounted on shock absorbers, and the Japanese cars have brackets. The Japanese cars also do not have any kind of door impact bars. In Japan the cars had a backseat. Mechanically the US and Japanese cars are the same.

1980

The Japanese get the new "lean burn" catylist engine. The US did not recieve this until the 1981 model year.

1982

Mazda released the 12-SIP engine, in the RX-7 and the Cosmo. This is the first of the "6 port" induction engines. it uses valves (like the 84-92 13b's) to open up 2 more ports in the engine, so it gets more low rpm power, and better high rpm power.

1983

Mazda released the Turbo 12A engine, in the RX-7 and the Cosmo. It delivered 160ps