Key Takeaways
Dates are Mazda's Japanese dates. The 1981–1990 span is Mazda's model-period label, and the rotary start and turbo month are disputed between sources.
- Three bodies: a two-door hardtop, a four-door hardtop and a four-door saloon.
- Piston cars went on sale in September and October 1981. Sources date rotary sales to October 1981, late November 1981 or January 1982.
- The turbo is a 12A at 160 PS, rising to 165 PS in October 1983. It is not a 13B.
- The 13B Super Injection, added in October 1983, is naturally aspirated and rated at 160 PS.
- The turbo's month is disputed: September 1982 in Mazda's chronology, August 1982 in Mazda's album.
- Road-test numbers belong to named cars. Car and Driver Japan's Turbo GT and Motor Magazine's turbo gave different figures.
Background
Dates and bodies
Mazda's 1980–1989 history dates the two-door hardtop to September 1981 with 2000 EGI and 2000 petrol engines, the four-door hardtop to October with 2000 EGI and 2000 piston engines, and the four-door saloon to October with 2200 diesel, 2000 petrol and 1800 petrol engines. It dates rotary cars to the end of November 1981, with the 12A six-port induction engine. Motor Magazine puts the 12A in January 1982, and Mazda's booklet describes the generation's debut as October 1981, so the rotary start is reported three ways. Mazda's booklet labels the generation 1981–1990 and gives no exact end dates. Its booklet and album call the HB the third-generation Cosmo, while its history and Great Cars pages count from the Cosmo AP and call it the second.
The naturally aspirated 12A
Mazda's booklet gives the first rotary two-door hardtop as a 12A with six-port induction, 573 cc × 2, producing 130 PS gross at 7,000 rpm and 16.5 kgf·m gross at 4,000 rpm, with a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic. It is 4,640 mm long, 1,690 mm wide and 1,340 mm high on a 2,615 mm wheelbase, weighs 1,170 kg and seats five. Mazda describes four-wheel independent suspension and electronically controlled AAS suspension, but which grades had the electronics was not established. Mazda gives the two-door hardtop a drag coefficient of 0.32 and describes four-lamp retractable headlights for that early design.
The 12A rotary turbo
Mazda's chronology records the world's first rotary turbo engine going into the Cosmo and the Luce at 160 PS and 23.0 kgf·m. Motor Magazine adds that it uses a four-port housing rather than the six-port system, a Hitachi turbocharger, and 160 PS at 6,500 rpm with 23.0 kgf·m at 4,000 rpm. It lists the Turbo Limited at 1,205 kg on 195/70SR14 tyres with a five-speed manual. Mazda's chronology puts the turbo in September 1982; Mazda's album and Motor Magazine say August 1982.
A 1982 Car and Driver Japan test car, a Turbo GT, carried the code HBSN2. In October 1983 the 12A turbo rose to 165 PS.
The 13B Super Injection
Motor Magazine records the 13B returning at the October 1983 minor change as a naturally aspirated engine with a dynamic-pressure intake called Super Injection, rated at 160 PS. Mazda's booklet describes it as a 13B with an electronically controlled fuel injection system. The torque rating, and which bodies and grades received it, were not located. The sources used show a 12A turbo and a naturally aspirated 13B in the Japanese HB, and no 13B turbo.
Road-test figures
Car and Driver Japan's Koji Okazaki tested a Turbo GT for the November 1982 issue and recorded 15.16 seconds over 400 m and 213 km/h measured over a lap. Motor Magazine's retrospective gives 15.73 seconds and 213.33 km/h for its turbo test car. These are different tests of different cars, so they are not averaged or treated as factory figures. The GT had Advan HF 195/70HR14 tyres, power steering, an optional limited-slip differential and firm suspension. Okazaki found less torque below 2,000 rpm than the naturally aspirated six-port car and said the turbo needed frequent gear changes in town.
Importing
US federal safety law exempts vehicles at least 25 years old under 49 CFR 591.5(i); NHTSA counts from each car's manufacture date. EPA's separate age exemption requires the original unmodified configuration, including the same engine model and configuration, or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. Canada counts 15 years by manufacture month and year, and import clearance does not guarantee provincial registration. Check state or provincial rules separately.
Technical Specifications
Figures are Mazda's or the period press's Japanese ratings. Mazda's chronology does not label gross or net for the turbo.
Engine Options
-
HB 12A (six-port) Mazda chronology: late Nov 1981; Mazda booklet: Oct 1981; Motor Magazine: Jan 1982 · two-door hardtop reference
12A- Displacement
- 1,146 cc (573 cc × 2)
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 130 PS (gross) @ 7,000 rpm
- Torque
- 16.5 kgf·m (gross) @ 4,000 rpm
- Transmission
- 5MT / 3AT
Six-port induction; 1,170 kg
-
HB 12A turbo 1982 · Rotary Turbo, two-door hardtop
12A turbo- Displacement
- 1,146 cc (573 cc × 2)
- Aspiration
- Turbo
- Power
- 160 PS @ 6,500 rpm
- Torque
- 23.0 kgf·m @ 4,000 rpm
- Transmission
- 5MT (automatic from Sep 1983)
Four-port housing; Hitachi turbocharger; month disputed
-
HB 12A turbo (revised) Oct 1983 minor change
12A turbo- Aspiration
- Turbo
- Power
- 165 PS
Torque for the revised engine was not located
-
HB 13B Super Injection Oct 1983 minor change
13B- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 160 PS
Dynamic-pressure intake; torque was not located
-
HB 2.0 L EGI piston Sep 1981 launch
2.0-litre EGI piston- Displacement
- 2.0 L
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Power
- 120 PS @ 5,500 rpm
Launch engine of the two-door hardtop
Variants & Trims
Only documented grades, bodies and engines appear. A full code and grade table was not located.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB (1981–1990) | Two-door hardtop (2000 EGI / 2000) | 2.0-litre piston; EGI version 120 PS | On sale September 1981; the first HB body. |
| HB (1981–1990) | Four-door hardtop | 2000 EGI / 2000 piston | On sale October 1981. |
| HB (1981–1990) | Four-door saloon | 2200 diesel / 2000 petrol / 1800 petrol | On sale October 1981. |
| HB (1981–1990) | 12A six-port rotary | 12A, 130 PS gross | Mazda's chronology dates rotary sales to late November 1981, its booklet to October 1981 and Motor Magazine to January 1982. Mazda's two-door reference specification is 1,170 kg with a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic. |
| HB (1981–1990) | Rotary Turbo GT (two-door hardtop) | 12A turbo, 160 PS | Firm sport setup, Advan HF 195/70HR14 tyres, power steering and optional limited-slip differential on the 1982 test car, code HBSN2. |
| HB (1981–1990) | Rotary Turbo Limited (two-door hardtop) | 12A turbo, 160 PS | 1982 reference car: 1,205 kg, 195/70SR14 tyres, five-speed manual. |
| HB (1981–1990) | Turbo automatic | 12A turbo | An automatic was added to the turbo range in September 1983; the speed count was not specified. |
| HB (1981–1990) | 13B Super Injection | 13B, 160 PS | Added at the October 1983 minor change; naturally aspirated with a dynamic-pressure intake. |
Should You Buy a Mazda Cosmo HB?
Why You'll Love It
- Documented rotary line-up Mazda and the period press record the 12A, the 12A turbo and the 13B Super Injection with outputs and dates.
- Independent suspension Mazda's booklet describes four-wheel independent suspension and electronically controlled AAS suspension. Which grades had the electronics was not established.
- Low drag body Mazda gives the two-door hardtop a drag coefficient of 0.32.
Why You Might Not
- Low-speed torque Car and Driver Japan found the 1982 turbo had less torque below 2,000 rpm than the naturally aspirated six-port car and needed frequent gear changes in town.
- Incomplete records No full list of HB codes, grades or body-by-engine combinations was located, so a listing cannot be checked against a complete table.
- Sources disagree on dates The rotary start and the turbo month are reported differently by Mazda's own pages and the period press.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Anyone looking for a 13B turbo: the sources used show a 12A turbo and a naturally aspirated 13B, with no Japanese 13B turbo.
- Anyone relying on Mazda 929 specifications for a Japanese Cosmo: this page does not use them.
- Buyers considering a US import with a replaced engine should verify the engine and emission controls against EPA's separate age-exemption requirements before purchase.
Differences between JDM & USDM
This page covers the Japanese HB Cosmo. Mazda's album titles the 1981–1986 Luce 'Luce/Mazda 929' and describes the turbo as added to the Luce/Cosmo (929) series. Mazda 929 specifications are not used here, and no export comparison was researched. Figures are Japanese PS and kgf·m ratings from Mazda and the period press.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Generation History
Generation span (Japan) (1981–1990)
- Mazda's booklet labels the generation 1981–1990
- Exact end dates for each body were not established
Launch (September–October 1981)
- Two-door hardtop on sale in September 1981 with 2000 EGI and 2000 petrol engines
- Four-door hardtop and four-door saloon followed in October 1981
Rotary cars (October/November 1981 or January 1982 (sources differ))
- Mazda's chronology puts the 12A six-port cars on sale at the end of November 1981
- Motor Magazine gives January 1982 for the 12A
12A rotary turbo (August–September 1982)
- World's first rotary turbo engine in a production car, 160 PS and 23.0 kgf·m
- September 1982 in Mazda's chronology; August 1982 in Mazda's album and Motor Magazine
Turbo GT road test (November 1982)
- Car and Driver Japan's test of the Turbo GT: 15.16 seconds over 400 m, 213 km/h over a lap
Turbo automatic (September 1983)
- An automatic was added to the turbo range
Minor change (October 1983)
- 12A turbo raised to 165 PS
- 13B Super Injection added, naturally aspirated at 160 PS
In Pictures
The Buyer's Read
Start with the body and the engine. The HB is a two-door hardtop, a four-door hardtop or a four-door saloon, and each came with piston engines. The rotaries are the 12A at 130 PS, the 12A turbo at 160 PS and, from October 1983, a 165 PS turbo and a 160 PS naturally aspirated 13B Super Injection. The turbo is a 12A. The sources used show no 13B turbo.
Treat dates carefully: the rotary start and the turbo month are reported differently by Mazda's pages and the period press. Road-test numbers belong to the cars that were tested. Keep Mazda 929 data away from a Japanese Cosmo, ask for engine and service records, and check the import dates against the build month.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which HB Cosmos had rotary engines?
- Mazda lists three rotaries: the 12A six-port (late November 1981 in Mazda's chronology, October 1981 in its booklet, January 1982 per Motor Magazine), the 12A turbo from 1982, and the naturally aspirated 13B Super Injection from October 1983. Motor Magazine says the turbo was also fitted to the four-door hardtop and saloon. Piston and diesel engines were sold alongside them.
- Is the Cosmo Rotary Turbo a 12A or a 13B?
- A 12A. Mazda's chronology gives the turbo as 160 PS and 23.0 kgf·m, and Motor Magazine describes a 573 cc × 2 12A with a four-port housing and a Hitachi turbocharger. The sources used show no Japanese HB 13B turbo.
- What does 13B Super Injection mean?
- Motor Magazine describes a naturally aspirated 13B with a dynamic-pressure intake called Super Injection, added at the October 1983 minor change and rated at 160 PS. It is not a turbocharger or a supercharger.
- Was the HB sold as a coupe, a hardtop sedan and a saloon?
- Mazda's booklet lists three types: a two-door hardtop, a four-door hardtop and a saloon. Mazda dates the two-door to September 1981 and the other two to October 1981.
- Was the Rotary Turbo really the fastest car in Japan?
- Two magazines praise its speed in different terms. Motor Magazine calls its 213.33 km/h the fastest figure of its time. Car and Driver Japan calls it the fastest domestic rotary turbo, and its writer says that among fast cars such as the Celica XX 2800GT, Skyline RS and Starion he could not recall one with a stronger combination of acceleration and top speed. Both are magazine opinions, not a measured ranking.
- When can an HB Cosmo be imported into the US or Canada?
- The US safety exemption runs from each car's manufacture date at 25 years. EPA's separate age exemption requires the original unmodified configuration, including the same engine model and configuration, or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission-control system. Canada counts 15 years by manufacture month and year. Check state or provincial registration rules separately.
Sources & References
Sources (29)
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- Mazda Great Cars: Cosmo (1975 onward), Mazda corporate history (Japanese) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- Mazda 100th anniversary: Legendary Mazdas, Cosmo AP (2nd) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- Mazda 100th anniversary: Eunos Cosmo (4th generation, Japanese) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- Mazda corporate history 1980–1989 (Japanese) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- Mazda corporate history 1990–1999 (Japanese) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- Mazda recall 592: Cosmo air-conditioning circuit, 7 October 1999 (Japanese) — Mazda Motor Corporation Verified
- FIA Historic Database: Mazda Cosmo CD23C — Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Verified
- GAZOO: Mazda Cosmo AP, chapter 9 of the series on Japan-born sports models, 2 March 2022 (Internet Archive snapshot of 13 May 2023) — GAZOO (Toyota) Verified
- Webモーターマガジン: Mazda Cosmo two-door hardtop Rotary Turbo, 1982 (Japanese) — Motor Magazine Verified
- Car and Driver Japan: Koji Okazaki on the 1982 Mazda Cosmo Rotary Turbo (Japanese) — Car and Driver Japan Verified
- Motor-Fan catalogue: Eunos Cosmo Type SX, September 1991 (Japanese) — Motor-Fan Verified
- goo-net catalogue: Eunos Cosmo, March 1994 profile (Japanese) — goo-net Verified
- 1993 Mazda Eunos Cosmo: rare three-rotor luxury coupe, Motor Trend Classic — MotorTrend Verified
- The Manual-Swapped Eunos Cosmo of Your Dreams Is for Sale — Road & Track Verified
- Watch Two of Your Favorite 1990s JDM Grand Tourers Face Off on Track — Road & Track Verified
- 1976 Mazda Cosmo: A hit in Japan, but an energy-crisis miss in the States — Remember Road (AutoWeek, 1994) Verified
- 49 CFR 591.5: Declarations for importation of motor vehicles and equipment — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School Verified
- NHTSA: nonconforming vehicles and eligibility list — NHTSA Verified
- NHTSA: Importation and Certification FAQs (Internet Archive snapshot) — NHTSA Verified
- EPA: Learn about importing vehicles and engines — US EPA Verified
- EPA: Importing vehicles and engines, 2011 guide — US EPA Verified
- Transport Canada: Importing a vehicle from countries other than the United States and Mexico — Transport Canada Verified
- Transport Canada: Importing older vehicles into Canada — Transport Canada Verified
- Daily Automotive News via carview!: Cosmo AP in the series on cars in film (Japanese) — Daily Automotive News (carview!) Verified
- FIA: homologated forms sorted by make and model, 2010 — Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Verified
- FIA: homologation form number 5632, Group 1 (Cosmo CD23C) — Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Verified
Sources last verified: