For the market outside of its domain in Japan, Mazda produced the Mazda 626 family car. It was based on the Mazda Capella which was mainly sold in Japan. This new vehicle replaced the 616/618 and the RX-2 in 1979 and this was sold up until 2002. What took up the place of the Mazda 626 was the Mazda 6. In Asia, Australasia, and in Southern Africa, the Mazda 626 was sold under the name Ford Telstar.
This vehicle made its first public appearance in 1979 as a rear wheel drive compact. It had a 75 hp 2.0 liter SOHC straight-4 G/MA engine that had automobile magazines comparing it to a BMW engine. The vehicle sported a split-folding rear seat that increased cargo capacity and flexibility to the maximum level. This vehicle has been a top seller since its production.
In the year 1998, the Mazda 626 had gone through a dramatic change in its entirety. All models had either a five-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. It had a wheelbase that was enlarged to two inches and the sedan type had 2.4 inches longer, and around a half inch wider. Along with that came the V6 engine that took traction control and engine mobilization to another level. From...