8. Autozam AZ-1 (PG6SA, 1992-1994)
Under Mazda’s Autozam sub-brand, the AZ-1 was a pocket-sized mid-engined coupé sporting dramatic gullwing doors. Beneath its tiny 9-foot frame lurked a turbocharged 657-cc three-cylinder engine producing 63 horsepower, enough to send its 1,900-pound chassis hurtling to 60 mph in about 11 seconds. Though performance figures seem modest, the AZ-1’s impeccably balanced mid-engine layout, razor-sharp steering, and surreal presentation made it a cult classic.
With production limited to roughly 4,400 units, it embodied 1990s Japanese kei-car eccentricity while proving Mazda’s driver-centric philosophy extended to even the smallest segments. The AZ-1 stands as a testament to the notion that driving thrills aren’t defined solely by displacement.