The Autozam AZ-1 Is A Tiny Kei Supercar That's Better Than A Ferrari

The Autozam AZ-1 Is A Tiny Kei Supercar That's Better Than A Ferrari - Torch Drives

Рет қаралды 4,003

8 ай бұрын

The Autopian's Jason Torchinsky is driving an all-time internet favorite car to find out if the minuscule little AZ-1 can delivery supercar fun in a cheaper, downsized package. It does. It's great. It's so great. Enjoy.

Пікірлер: 31

@MSWMSW1 8 ай бұрын

There is a KZfaqr named "Anything Wheeled" who imported the Suzuki Cara version of this car. He does videos on how to get parts, tuning, just about everything about these cars. He tuned his car, got it down under 7.5 seconds to sixty. Pretty cool channel.

@AnythingWheeled 8 ай бұрын

Ah that's me. Yep. With the community's help I was able to compile an extensive knowledgebase on the history and specs of the car. Of course I'm sure there's plenty more to gather into it. It's kinda like a winter project to work on that. I've recently been working on getting cosmetic and performance parts that are unavailable/discontinued back into the market.

@ekho_viktor 8 ай бұрын

"I'm nuts qualified" -Torch

@aaronbehindbars 8 ай бұрын

Torch Drives is one of the best things on KZfaq! I do wonder how a 6'1" peron woukd fit, if at all. I think 5'10" is the perfect height. You can probably still fit in a lot of small cars, but not need to ask gor help getting things off a high shelf. One thing I have enjoyed is riding a small motorcycle. I've had several "mini moto" street legal bikes like the Honda Grom. Slow, but you feel like you are flying when you get one up to 60 mph. You can run them to redline in all 4 gears and never fear going to jail for excessive speed. It's probably akin to driving an AZ1.

@nunyabusiness896 7 ай бұрын

A slew of owners are 6'1". There are lots of mods you can do to reduce the bottom seat foam or space out the steering wheel for more leg clearance. I've even heard of people taking out the seat entirely and just laying foam down and driving it like that.

@madflysports8458 8 ай бұрын

Anyone over 6 feet can indeed fit, if you swap the seats, which is not that bad for like a Kirkey seat. I am 6’2” and fit easily in mine!

@gravel2 8 ай бұрын

just out of curiosity mate what specific type of kirkey seat did you get? i’m also 6’2” and looking at buying an autozam and i am a bit worried it’ll be a tight fit

@sarahdell4042 6 ай бұрын

“The tires are chirping” Aka it’s the bov or wastegate making the noise…….

@brianjay7504 8 ай бұрын

The next time I'm out driving, I'm definitely going to try to reach out and grab some air, to put into my hair manually.

@patrickhemmen 8 ай бұрын

10:42 "Rust provided by David Tracy," classic

@jeffzekas 8 ай бұрын

Here in Oregon, the main problem with these cars is many times The DMV will not register them. Also, getting parts will be a pain in the ass because it’s not a normal car, so unless you can read and write Japanese, and get your parts from Japan, you’re going to be screwed. It makes a lot more sense just to buy a Miata.

@tbasmwmc 8 ай бұрын

Just wanted to note that these cars are super easy to work on! Very basic electronics, and surprisingly, a ton of working space in the engine compartment. Even a novice like myself was able to do an engine out service and put it back together in a couple of days without any hiccups. It's like owning a supercar without the supercar headaches and supercar bills.

@sarahdell4042 6 ай бұрын

This car is a nightmare to work on! Haha almost everything requires pulling the engine

@zzmx5 8 ай бұрын

Cool road test of the AZ-1; I too have been to Duncan and drooled over too many cars but once I saw an AZ-1 I had to sit in it. And even though I'm only 5'7" tall, I have wide feet. The seat was comfy enough but the kicker is the narrow pedal box. My right foot covers accelerator/brake, my left covers clutch/brake. So no "Lambo-tini" for me. But hey, I fit just fine in the Changli that Torch let a bunch of us drive at a trackday in NC a few years ago. It fit inside the bed of an F-150 and was going up to MI for Sandy Munro to have a peek at it. The Changli drove exactly as expected. The party tricks of a backup camera and MP3 player IIRC and ability to haul 5 passengers was charming. The Calvin decal whizzing on the Tesla logo was priceless :^)

@nunyabusiness896 7 ай бұрын

You just need driving shoes. I know for a fact a size 13 Vans slip on will fit between the brake and the interior tire hump. Lots of people try to drive them in boots or running shoes and that's why they think it's not possible.

@spewp 8 ай бұрын

Love Torch's enthusiasm for weird stuff. Still waiting to be sold on the idea that this AZ-1 better than any Ferrari, those hard hitting concrete facts must be in part 2... right? right?

@MatthewCochrane9622 8 ай бұрын

"I'm nuts (?) qualified" 8:50 Better be a t-shirt next episode...

@jkinghorn 8 ай бұрын

Saw one of these at Radwood Charlotte this year(in Gulf colors no less!), my wife is 5'4" and towered over it, I'm 6' so that's gonna be a no from me on trying to even fit in one. Does look like fun though! Also shoutout to Christiansburg! I got family there, have to check out Duncan next time I'm up.

@nunyabusiness896 7 ай бұрын

Most owners are 6'1"

@matricious 8 ай бұрын

Would love to see a video on that yellow fiat 600/ zastava 750 in the corner there 1:30

@johnverlautz6025 8 ай бұрын

Great hilarious video torch. I too am not a good enough driver for a cobra. Sometimes my 200hp Integra is too much.

@JakobKsGarage 8 ай бұрын

Suits your size, JT! Please buy one 😎🏆💪

@tbasmwmc 8 ай бұрын

The door on that car is using the incorrect struts, it is going to break the frame of the car where the struts mount eventually

@MrMargaretScratcher 7 ай бұрын

Yeah, I winced as it popped up and rocked the car...

@JeffKirbylogix 8 ай бұрын

aging wheels youtube channel also did a test drive of one. he showed that the spare tire goes in the front compartment.

@MrMargaretScratcher 7 ай бұрын

On early cars, yes. On later cars it was put behind the driver's seat to avoid it being pushed into the cabin in the event of a crash

@LouT1501 8 ай бұрын

One of the few times I wished I was shorter (I'm 6' 5) to be able to fit into one of those. Having owned several of the old Honda N and Z 600s, I like little, weird cars.

@jefferyholcombe5189 6 ай бұрын

Like the car video's but lack's info like engine displacement, Turbocharged, front wheel drive and so on when you showed the engine tell the info about it. Check out Jay Leno's Garage how he does the info and attention to detail!

@Ramonatho 8 ай бұрын

I always enjoyed the practicality of Kei trucks, but I really feel like if 660cc is the limit that you should just use a motorbike.

@nunyabusiness896 7 ай бұрын

It's not as bad as you think. The turbo keis are very quick to about 45 mph and will gap out even middling sports cars off the line, so they are very usable in the real world. The trucks are slower, but still able to pull out faster than typical drivers do. Since they're limited in displacement, they just make them rev out for power and as a result they punch way above their weight. Some US drivers don't understand how to drive them properly and shift them like a diesel pickup, so they perceive them as slower than they are. Also, let's see you haul a load of lumber on the back of a motorcycle (safely).