Mazda Carol First Generation 360 358 cc Inline-Four Engine
A small four-stroke inline-four developed for the original Carol 360, with aluminium construction, water cooling and an increase from 18 to 20 PS in September 1963.
The Carol 360 engine
The 358 cc engine powered the first-generation Carol 360. Mazda introduced the car in February 1962 with a water-cooled, four-cylinder, four-stroke engine and seating for four. The designation 360 identifies the vehicle; 358 cc is its engine displacement. Mazda’s corporate chronology records this specification at introduction.
Design and engineering
Mazda describes the newly developed inline-four as having all-aluminium construction and associates its water-cooled, four-stroke design with passenger-car quietness. Refinement was central to the Carol’s positioning as a more substantial micro-mini. Mazda’s Carol history documents this engineering emphasis.
The earlier R360 Coupe used a different 356 cc air-cooled engine. Its specifications should not be transferred to the Carol simply because both cars occupied Mazda’s smallest passenger-car category. Mazda’s chronology distinguishes their engines.
Development from 18 to 20 PS
Mazda’s retrospective dates the increase from 18 to 20 PS to the September 1963 facelift. These figures describe successive specifications within this engine record. The date is a calendar production-development milestone, not a separately established model-year designation.
PS denotes metric horsepower. Mazda’s account does not specify the rating standard, engine speed or mechanical changes responsible for the increase, so those details are not assigned here. Source: Mazda, Great Cars of Mazda.
Application and production context
The original Carol was assembled in Hiroshima, Japan, during 1962–1970. Its two- and four-door saloons used a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. These dates describe the vehicle application; they do not establish the manufacturing dates or factory location of every individual engine. The first-generation Carol overview provides this assembly and body-style context.
The Carol 600 used a separate 586 cc engine. Its specifications are outside this 358 cc record. Mazda credits the larger Carol with experience that contributed to the subsequent Familia, so that development claim should not be attributed exclusively to the 360 engine. Source: Mazda’s Carol history.
Mazda Carol First Generation 360
Parent variant record within the first-generation Carol model line.