The E family was an evolution of Mazda's xC design. It was released in 1980 with the introduction of the first front-wheel drive Mazda Familias and Ford Lasers. Some later variants of the E5-powered Mazda Familia and Ford Laser in Japan incorporated a full-time 4WD drivetrain. All E engines were chain-driven, 8-valve SOHC.
E1 Engines
The 1.1 L (1136 cc) E1 was found in the 1980-1982 Mazda Familia and Ford Laser. It used a 77mm bore x 61mm stroke. It was phased out in 1982. The E1 was never offered to Australia.
E3 Engines
The larger E3 displaced 1.3 L (1296 cc) with a longer 69.6 mm stroke. It was found in the 1980-1985 Mazda Familia, Ford Laser and FWD 1981-1986 Mazda GLC.
E5 Engines
The 1.5 L (1490 cc) E5 pushed the stroke to an undersquare 77mm x 80mm. It was used in the 1980-1985 Mazda Familia, Ford Laser and FWD 1981-1986 Mazda GLC. In certain markets a twin-carburetted, high-compression version exists, dubbed the E5S.
E5F Engines
The E5F was a fuel-injected variant of the E5, released in 1982 and available only in Japan.
Typical E5T engine, as fitted to the Mazda Familia XG Turbo.
E5T Engines
The flagship turbocharged, fuel-injected and non-intercooled variant of the E5 was the E5T. Released in 1983 and available only in Japan, the E5T utilized an IHI-supplied VJ1 turbocharger running approximately 0.5 bar (7 psi) to produce as much as 115 hp (85 kW) and 119 ft.lbf (162 Nm). Other notable advancements included an integrated knock sensor (supplied by Mitsubishi) and multi-point fuel injection as standard.
This was Mazda's first production 4-cylinder turbo engine and was found in the top of the line 1982-1985 Mazda Familia XGi-R Turbo and Ford Laser S Turbo as well as the early Mazda Familia XG Turbo, XG-R Turbo and Ford Laser TX3 Turbo models. Most of the technological features found in this engine were carried over to the later Mazda B6T.
E5T Carb Engines
A strange carburettor turbocharged version of the E5 was the E5T Carb. It was exclusively available in Australia as part of the White Lightning Ford Laser limited-edition package of just 300 cars released in June 1985. The engine started out as a normal E5S and then an IHI RHB52 turbocharger was fitted, setup in a blow-through style, with boost limited to just 5.1 psi (0.35 bar). A modified version of the stock carburettor known as a "Solex 32 DIS (turbo)" was fitted to provide fuelling. A Compuspark ignition system with knock sensor was also added to prevent engine damage if the driver ever used a lower octane fuel than the 97RON that was recommended. As the carburettors were not boost referenced, they were difficult to maintain and often suffered from float rupture or excessive flooding. Unlike its more reliable fuel-injected counterpart, the E5T carb turbo setup was notoriously difficult to maintain and some cars had the turbo systems removed instead of having them replaced.
