The MS-8 is a

luxury car A luxury car is a passenger automobile providing superior comfort levels, features, and equipment. More expensive materials and surface finishes are used, and buyers expect a correspondingly high quality (business), build quality. The term is ...

that was produced and sold by from March 1992 through 1997. The car is a replacement to the Mazda Persona and Eunos 300. Just like the Persona is based on the 1987-1991 Mazda Capella, the MS-8 is based on the 1991-1997 Mazda Cronos (Capella sedan). The MS-8 had the same dimensions as the Cronos, and the ɛ̃fini MS-6, sharing the 2.5 L V6 engine. The width, length, and engine displacement dimensions have particular significance in Japan, due to dimension regulations, where Japanese consumers pay an additional annual tax for larger vehicles, and obligate them to pay more 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 regist ...

. The MS-8 is a

hardtop A hardtop is a rigid form of automobile roof, typically metal, and integral to the vehicle's design, strength, and style. The term typically applies to a pillarless hardtop, a car body style without a B-pillar. The term "pillared hardtop" was ...

-style sedan in the vein of the

Toyota Cresta The is a mid-size luxury car built by Toyota. It was launched in 1980 and shared the chassis with the Toyota Mark II, Mark II/Cressida and Toyota Chaser, Chaser and was the top-level car at Japanese dealership ''Toyota Vista Store''. The ...

Nissan Laurel The is a two- and four-door sedan manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1968 to 2002. Later generations added all-wheel-drive along with turbocharged engines. Introduced in 1968 as a new model positioned above the Nissan Bluebird#510 series, ...

Honda Vigor The is a premium sedan that was derived from the Honda Accord. It was sold in Japan through the '' Honda Verno'' dealer network from 1981 until 1995, and sold in North America from June 1991 (model year 1992) until 1994 as the Acura Vigor. Early ...

, and Mitsubishi Emeraude. Unlike the Cresta or the previous Persona, however, the MS-8's body has a

B-pillar The pillars on a car with permanent roof body style (such as four-door sedans) are the vertical or nearly vertical supports of its window area or greenhouse—designated respectively as the A, B, C and (in larger cars such as 4-door stati ...

that is much thicker below the beltline than it is above. Doing so allows the bodyshell more rigidity while still maintaining an airy cabin. Such a B-pillar means that the front seatbelts must be installed below the beltline. The front passenger seat belt tensioner unit, where the seat belt would recoil for storage when not in use, was located inside the rear passenger doors, and the seat belt latch was located on the front headrest support arm, allowing the belt to be properly positioned when the headrest was adjusted for height for the front passenger. The MS-8's interior design has several unique features. The car is only fitted with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, and the gear shifter is mounted on the dashboard next to the air-conditioning controls. Doing so eliminates the floor console between the front seats, and allows for a split front bench seat. The display for climate control and factory-equipped audio is located atop the dashboard, in a thin slit right before the windshield defroster. The

sunroof A sunroof is a movable panel that opens to uncover a window in an automobile roof, allowing light and fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs can be manually operated or motor driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes and s ...

is very large for its day, extending all the way above the rear seat footwell. Following the 1991 ɛ̃fini RX-7, the MS-8 was also available with the Bose Acoustic Wave Guide audio system, a compact subwoofer design. The stereo and CD player were concealed behind a retractable cover in the center of the dashboard below the air conditioning controls, however, simple functions like the volume, music source (radio or CD player) and music selection controls were installed remotely on the steering wheel. Four-wheel steering was offered as an extra-cost option. Like the system on the Mazda Sentia, it is designed to minimize turn radius at town speeds, and improve stability at highway speed. Production for the MS-8 ceased when Mazda's multi-brand strategy failed in Japan, and the company suffered financial difficulties.

References

MS-8 Luxury vehicles Vehicles with four-wheel steering Front-wheel-drive vehicles Cars introduced in 1992 {{modern-auto-stub