for its mainstream cars, notably including the Mazda 929, the luxury Mazda Eunos 800 so far retains the softly flowing lines that once seemed a company trademark - and most importantly, the premium model 800M kept its innovative "Miller Cycle" engine. Around $64K will put you on the road in an ‘ordinary’ Mazda-Eunos 800 powered by a 2.5 litre quad-cam V6 with ABS braking, alloy wheels, and a list of luxo-bits that includes auto climate control and power-assisted everything (including the nicely shaped leather-covered seats). Or for just $9,000 more, you can have all of the above - powered by an engine which has won numerous awards around the world, and is widely regarded as one of the best ever built. Developed by Mazda from a concept invented in the 1940s by an American naval engineer, the "Miller Cycle" is essentially some very clever valve timing that lowers the compression ratio but maintains a high expansion ratio for maximum efficiency. So unique that it was dubbed on its release in 1994 as "the five stroke engine", it also has what is basically a supercharger, but is called a "Lysholm (lishum) compressor". In plainer terms, the result is a 2.3 litre engine that produces power and torque normally expected of something over 3.0 litres - but sips fuel like a 2.0 litre. Put that in a saloon car of understated luxury and you have the 800 Miller Cycle, a car with which you are unlikely to be bored even long after you have become accustomed to it. Standard equipment in both 800s includes remote locking which, thankfully, does not beep or chirp whenever it is locked/unlocked. It is content to discretely flash its indicators instead of announcing to the neighbours that you have arrived home safely at 3am.