The Mazda Sentia is a
mid-size
Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in ...
rear wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars.
Most rear-wheel ...
luxury car
A luxury car is a car that provides increased levels of comfort, equipment, amenities, quality, performance, and associated status compared to moderately priced cars.
The term is subjective and reflects both the qualities of the car and the ...
that was sold by
Mazda
, commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan.
In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...
in Japan from 1991 to 1999 over two generations. It replaced the
Mazda Luce
The Mazda Luce is an executive car that was produced by Mazda in Japan from 1966 until 1991. It was widely exported as the Mazda 929 from 1973 to 1991 as Mazda's largest sedan. Later generations were installed with luxury items and interiors as th ...
nameplate on the
Mazda H platform
This list of Mazda model codes describes following model codes which have been used by Mazda since the 1980s.
Naming scheme
The company's model codes form the fifth and sixth characters of the VIN on post-1981 vehicles. The first character is a le ...
, and continued the tradition of being Mazda's largest flagship sedan, which had been in production since the late 1960s.
The Sentia was also built under license in South Korea until October 2002 by
Kia
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
, at the Hwaseong Plant (formerly Asan Bay) where it was sold as the Kia Enterprise.
__TOC__
Etymology
The name "Sentia" is derived from the
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
word ''"
sentir
"Sentir" is a song recorded by Cuban recording artist Jon Secada for his debut self-titled studio album and for his debut Spanish-language album '' Otro Día Más Sin Verte'' (1992). It was released in 1993 as the fourth single from his Spanish-la ...
"'', meaning to sense, feel or hear.
First generation (HD; 1991–1996)
Shortly after the release of the fourth-generation
Mazda Luce
The Mazda Luce is an executive car that was produced by Mazda in Japan from 1966 until 1991. It was widely exported as the Mazda 929 from 1973 to 1991 as Mazda's largest sedan. Later generations were installed with luxury items and interiors as th ...
HC in 1986 (1987 in some markets), development began on a successor. Design work took place under chief designer Shunji Tanaka, who began to consider a more unconventional approach in early 1988. After struggling with development of a theme known as "Prince's Coach" (after the Japanese Crown Prince, later Emperor,
Akihito
is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. He presided over the Heisei era, ''Heisei'' being an expression of achieving peace worldwide.
B ...
), leading to an unusually large number of rejected full-size models, a young American designer named Peter Montero was tasked with developing a theme with 1/5 scale model. During development of this theme, Montero proposed that, as a non-luxury brand targeting luxury models, a proper rear-wheel drive proportion should be emphasized. After presentation of the theme to and review of the 1/5 scale model with management, a previous full-scale model was modified by pulling the front wheels forward, lengthening its dash-to-axle distance and shortening its front overhang. Another young designer in Mazda's Hiroshima studio, Dori Regev, then developed the final feasibility-proven design, which was approved later that year and frozen on 24 December 1988 for 1991 production, with prototype testing commencing in 1989.
When the Sentia was introduced in Japan, it was also sold at Mazda's short-lived exclusive luxury channel as the
ɛ̃fini MS-9 as a higher content luxury sedan, with optional items on the Sentia as standard on the MS-9. The Sentia was the largest Mazda sold during this era, and came with a 3.0-liter V6 engine, setting the Sentia as the top level flagship of Mazda. The width dimension has particular significance in Japan, due to
dimension regulations, where Japanese consumers pay an additional annual tax for larger vehicles.
The Sentia was marketed by Mazda as having a "front midship" layout: the V6 engine sits behind the front axle, while the fuel tank rests above the rear axle. The implementation of the engine installation behind the front axle showed technology earlier used by Mazda in its rotary-engine powered products, primarily the
Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, rotary engine-powered sports car that was manufactured and marketed by Mazda from 1978 until 2002 across three generations, all of which made use of a compact, lightweight Wankel rotary engine. ...
and the
Mazda Cosmo
The is an automobile which was produced by Mazda from 1967 until 1995. Throughout its history, the Cosmo served as a "halo" vehicle for Mazda, with the first Cosmo successfully launching the Mazda Wankel engine. The final generation of Cosmo ser ...
.
!['92 Mazda 929 Serenia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/%2792_Mazda_929_Serenia.JPG)
To showcase Mazda's advanced technology prowess, this iteration of the Sentia also debuted Mazda's speed-sensitive four-wheel steering system. At speeds of lower than , the rear wheels steer in an opposite (toe out) direction from the front wheels, in order to reduce the turn radius. At higher speeds they steer in the toe in direction to improve stability.
Solar ventilation system is a setup where amorphous solar cells in the sunroof panel power small ventilation fans located in the trunk area, in order to cool the cabin while the car is parked in the sun. This setup would later be found on the Eunos800/
Millenia.
Two engines were available. Both having their roots in prior Mazda V6s, and have no relation to the aluminum KL series found in the
Capella
Capella is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It has the Bayer designation α Aurigae, which is Latinised to Alpha Aurigae and abbreviated Alpha Aur or α Aur. Capella is the sixth-brightest star in ...
-platformed Mazdas. The 3.0-liter JE-ZE received a new
variable-length intake manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable-length intake manifold (VLIM),variable intake manifold (VIM), or variable intake system (VIS) is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology. As the name implies, VLIM/VIM/VIS can vary ...
to boost its power rating to . The 2.5-liter J5-DE was also available, rated at . Two different engine displacements were offered in Japan so as to give buyers a choice between which annual
road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road.
National implementations Australia
All states and territories require an annual vehicle registra ...
obligation they were willing to pay. The bigger engine was substantially better equipped with luxury features and conveniences for choosing the larger engine.
929
![1991-1992 Mazda 929 (HD) sedan (2011-11-08)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/1991-1992_Mazda_929_%28HD%29_sedan_%282011-11-08%29.jpg)
The
HD generation of the 929 appeared in 1991, with the smaller four-cylinder engines dropped in favour of V6 engines only.
It was sold as the
ɛ̃fini MS-9 under Mazda's ill-fated diversification plan. There was no longer a
Luce
Luce may refer to:
People
* Luce (name), as a given name and a surname
* Luce (singer)
Places
* Luče, a town in Slovenia
* Luce, Minnesota, an unincorporated community
* Luce Bay, a large Bay in Wigtownshire in southern Scotland
* Luce Co ...
rotary version, and the Cosmo got a new platform as well. A new model, the Sentia, appeared on the same platform. In
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, the car was known as the 929 Serenia. This was the only year to carry the Mazda "diamond" badge from 1992, and the updated "diamond" badge (a smoother version) to appear on all 1993 models.
The Mazda 929 was available with ABS, full electrics, cruise, 4WS, 4WD (in some markets), as well as a 'solar vent' that vented the heat from the car.
The Sentia continued for one more generation, but export of the 929 to
North America stopped in 1995 with the
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
Mazda Millenia
The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002.
The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances caused ...
remaining at the top of the company's lineup. The 929 was withdrawn from North America due to a lack of interest in non-luxury brand Japanese imports of this size, evidenced by the withdrawal of the
Toyota Cressida
The is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cres ...
in 1992.
During the early 1990s Mazda had considered introducing its own luxury brand,
Amati
Amati (, ) is the last name of a family of Italian violin makers who lived at Cremona from about 1538 to 1740. Their importance is considered equal to those of the Bergonzi, Guarneri, and Stradivari families. Today, violins created by Nicolò ...
, to compete with
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...
,
Infiniti
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Nissan. Infiniti officially started selling vehicles on November 8, 1989, in North America. The marketing network for Infiniti-branded vehicles included dealers in over 50 countries in ...
and
Acura but later withdrew their plans. The 929 was replaced by the
Mazda Millenia
The Mazda Millenia is an automobile which was manufactured by Mazda in Japan from 1993 to 2002.
The Millenia was originally planned as the second of three models for Mazda's proposed luxury brand Amati. As the company's dwindling finances caused ...
as the flagship sedan, but the Millenia is
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
. 929 Serenia sales ended in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
after the 1994 model year, and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
followed suit with the 1995 model year. It was also sold in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
as the
badge engineered
In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. To allow for product differentiation without designing or engineering a new model or brand (at high cost or risk), a ma ...
Kia Enterprise, using Mazda-sourced engines.
Engines:
* 2.5 L (2494 cc) ''
J5'' V6,
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...
,
* 3.0 L (2954 cc) ''
JE'' V6,
SOHC, 160 hp (118 kW)/180 lb·ft (245 N·m)
* 3.0 L (2954 cc) ''
JE26'' V6, DOHC, 205 hp (151 kW)/200 lb·ft (272 N·m)
Second generation (HE; 1995–1999)
![1995-1997 Mazda Sentia rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/1995-1997_Mazda_Sentia_rear.jpg)
The final
HE generation of the Sentia appeared in late 1995 in Asia and in Australia in April 1996 as the 929. The engine remained a carry-over, and the dimensions of the vehicle were reduced from the previous model. Production remained short; exports were halted to Australia in 1997 due to poor sales and an increasingly high price tag (in its final year the 929's price had increased to over
AUD
The Australian dollar (sign: $; code: AUD) is the currency of Australia, including its external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island. It is officially used as currency by three independent Pacific Island s ...
$83,000 in the Australian market—about the same price as an entry-level
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972, succeeding the New Class Sedans, and currently in its seventh generation.
The 5 Series was initially available as a sedan, with a wagon/estate body style (market ...
).
The 1995 Sentia used Mazda's updated HE platform, and was the last large RWD sedan from Mazda. A Japanese language automotive magazine source has shown that the car incorporates a number of styling cues from the stillborn
Amati 1000. This generation Sentia had been developed with the proposed Mazda flagship in mind. Anticipating that it would take over the role of formal-use vehicles (i.e. chauffeur-driven transport for executives) in the product line, this Sentia is considerably geared towards private owners in its focus. The mechanical underpinnings are largely carried over from the previous Sentia. The exterior and interior received a mild redesign to make the car more stately, and suitable for formal corporate use. This includes a larger grille, taller roofline for improved rear headroom, as well as large expanses of woodgrain panelling.
The Japanese TV advertising campaign featured
Sean Connery stating "Sentia...striking!".
Engines:
* 3.0 L
JE-ZE V6
* 3.0 L (2,954 cc) ''
JE26''
V6,
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...
, 138 kW (185 hp)/
The second-generation Sentia drops the 2.5-liter engine, and uses the 3-liter unit in two different tuning for and respectively.
Kia Enterprise
![20110924 kia enterprise 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/20110924_kia_enterprise_2.jpg)
The Kia Enterprise was a sedan built by
Kia Motors
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
at its Hwaseong Plant and was based on the Mazda Sentia. It was made available for sale in 1998. It was powered by one of three
Mazda
, commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan.
In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...
-sourced petrol engines of 2.5, 3.0, or 3.6 litres. As before, Kia's full-size sedan was based on a Mazda platform and its predecessor was called the
Kia Potentia
The Mazda Luce is an executive car that was produced by Mazda in Japan from 1966 until 1991. It was widely exported as the Mazda 929 from 1973 to 1991 as Mazda's largest sedan. Later generations were installed with luxury items and interiors as t ...
. The Enterprise has a
FR layout
In automotive design, a FR, or front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is one where the engine is located at the front of the vehicle and driven wheels are located at the rear via a drive shaft. This was the traditional automobile layout for mos ...
with
multilink front and rear suspension. In 2002, it was replaced by the
Kia Opirus
The Kia Opirus is an executive car/full-size sedan, manufactured by Kia Motors and marketed over a single generation for model years 2003–2012 globally and 2004-2009 in North America. Having debuted internationally at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, ...
, a platform shared with the
Hyundai Grandeur
The Hyundai Grandeur ( ko, 현대 그랜저) is an executive sedan manufactured and marketed by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 1986. From 1986 to 1996, the Grandeur was the flagship for Hyundai's South Korean range before the Hyunda ...
. The Enterprise was a left hand drive vehicle, while the Sentia was right hand drive. It was the last rebadged Mazda released by Kia motors before the company merged with
Hyundai Motor Company due to the
Asian Financial Crisis
The Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East Asia and Southeast Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion. However, the recovery in 1998– ...
in 1997.
References
External links
1992-95 Mazda 929 infoat Consumer Guide
GAZOO (Japanese) Mazda Sentia
{{Kia timeline 1970–1999
Sentia
Cars introduced in 1991
Cars discontinued in 2002
Executive cars
Flagship vehicles
Luxury vehicles
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Vehicles with four-wheel steering
Limousines
2000s cars