Every manufacturer goes through trials and tribulations of their products competing to be the first with the latest and greatest, to keep hold of the consumers attention.  Car manufacturers are no different in this battle.

RELATED: Mazda's Most Budget Friendly Cars, Ranked 

Mazda has a long list of model types in each of their vehicle categories...some still in production, some which have been discontinued due to various reasons.  Choosing to discontinue a particular model may be from a total lack of interest from consumers, or it could be a design blunder, or that particular model could not prove itself in the competitive automobile market. Read on for a list of ten car models that Mazda has "retired".

10 Protege (1963-2003)

Mazda

The first generation of the Protege ran from 1963-1968, and started out in Japan as a two door van known as the Familia.  It wasn't until 1964 that the two door coupe and four door sedan were released to the market.

The Protege saw a grand total of eight generations through its production life.  Changes over the years included redesigns of everything from the body styling to the power train.

The small family car was reliable, fun to drive, had great fuel economy, and was a great value for the cost.  In 2003, the entire Familia line was discontinued, ceasing the Protege, and was replaced by the Mazda 3 for the 2004 production year.

9 626 (1970-2002)

This mid-size model was introduced to be a larger option to the Protege (Familia).  It worked its way through six generations receiving updates to items such as the styling and powertrain.  It was in the fifth generation that the Capella name was dropped.

The discontinuation of the 626 was to make room for the Mazda 6, and an outcome of consumers concerns.  One concern was drivers having issues with the tranny.  Another one was the disappointment in buyers thinking they were buying a Japanese made car, but more and more of the parts were being made in America.  Therefore classing the 626 as a domestic.  Sales declined and the 626 production ceased.

8 MX-6 (1987-1997)

The successor to the 626 coupe went through two generations through its 10 years in production.  First generation ran from 1987-1992 offering four different trim levels of options.  Second generation ran from 1991-1997 offering three different trim levels of options.

Along with the 626, the MX-6 was the first to be considered a domestic car, by a foreign automaker, to be made in America.

RELATED: Electric Mazda MX-30:Everything We Know (So Far)

The MX-6 offered a comfortable, smooth, well-handled ride.  There are hints that the MX-6 may be making a comeback at some point.  In 2018 there was a trademark application submitted for the MX-6 name to be used again on parts and accessories... only time will tell.

7 Persona (1988-1992)

The mid-size Persona was based off of the Mazda 626 but contained higher end options.  The upper end version, or option, was named the Eunos 300.

It was powered be a 1.8L or 2.0L engine, depending on which level was selected.  The focus on style was creating a luxurious interior and offering two trim levels.  Mazda tried the pillarless design but that left the roof lower and decreased the room within the interior.

The Persona seemed to fad away out of production by being phased into the Eunos 300.  The Eunos 300 was replaced by the Eunos 500 leaving the Persona in the history books.

6 Sentia (1991-1999)

Mazda's largest 4 door luxury sedan was the Sentia, the successor to the Mazda Luce.  First generation Sentia's were produced from 1991-1996, followed by second generation product from 1995-1999.

The Sentia offered the option of two engines, a 2.5L or 3.0L V6 engine, powering the massive car.  If customers chose the 3.0L option, they had the pleasure of enjoying the available luxury options... one downfall though, they were responsible for paying a high annual road tax in Japan.

Unfortunately the high prices of the Sentia scared off consumers, which in turn resulted in decreased sales.  This led to Mazda halting the production of the Sentia in 1999.  Kia then took over the model, renaming it the Enterprise.

5 MX-3 (1992-1998)

The MX-3 made its grand entrance at the 1991 Geneva Auto Show.  It was marketed under numerous names in different countries, for example the MX-3 Precidia in Canada.

Even though the four seat coupe had a short wheel base, it was still a fun little sports car to drive.  The small V6 engine, along with the small size of the car, kept the annual taxes Japan car owners were responsible for  in a lower bracket.

The 1993 model year had a special edition, the MX-3 GS, to celebrate Mazda being in the Canadian market for 25 years.  Upgrades included leather interior and heated seats for the cooler Canadian temperatures.

The MX-3 is a bit of a celebrity making appearances in TV shows and movies including The Fast and the Furious and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

RELATED: 10 Most Comfortable Yet Affordable Cars

The MX-3 did not have the appeal to the buyers market leaving slumping sales and the discontinuation of the MX-3.

4 Xedos 6 (1992-1999)

http://www.autogaleria.hu -

Known as the Xedos 6 in Europe, and the Eunos 500 in Japan, the Xedos 6 offered two engine sizes, 1.6L and 2.0L.  It was the original of the Xedos line and was supposed to be a luxury car.  But the interior was not impressive or competitive with other luxury cars in its time.

The compact exec car had a comfortable firm ride, even with its narrow track.  Road noise was minimal and handling was great even in tight corners.

In 1996, the Xedos 6 being sold in Europe, was renamed the Eunos 500.  It ran under that model name until 1999 when Mazda decided to discontinue it totally due to low sales.

3 Xedos 9 (1993-2002)

The four door executive sedan came with some upgrades and redesigns over the Xedos 6.  For example, two of the three engines were bigger in being a 2.3L and a 2.5L.

The Xedos 9, as it was known in Europe, was known as the Eunos 800 in Japan and Australia, and known as the Millenia in the United States.  In 1997 the Eunos 800 was renamed the Millenia as well.  This move was to save on expenses by using some of the same body parts.

The Xedos 9 was not a popular car with consumers and was discontinued due to poor sales.

2 RX-7 (1993-2002)

A replacement to the Savanna RX-3, the RX-7, was designed to be a light weight, two seat coupe sports car.  Its production life saw it go through three generations.  The first generation span was 1978-1985, second generation 1985-1992, and third generation 1992-2002.

It got its power from a twin turbo 13B-REW Wankel engine.  A "unique" feature to the RX-7 was its three exhaust pipes... two larger ones to carry engine exhaust out, and a smaller one running parallel exhausting the cooling air.

The RX-7 production was halted due to a number of reasons including emissions issues and declining sales in its last few production years.

1 RX-8 (2002-2012)

The successor to the RX-7 first appeared in North America in 2001 at the North America International Auto Show (NAIAS).  This Japan manufactured model had a rotary Wankel engine under the hood.  The RX-8 ran through two generations of production.  The first generation, 2003-2008, was made up of numerous editions, including the Shinka, Evolve, and PZ.  The second edition, 2009-2012, came with improvements in body rigidity, rear suspension, and a more aggressive appearance.  Trim options included Sport, Grand Touring, and R3.

Failing to meet emission standards in Europe was the demise of the RX-8.  European sales ended in 2010, followed by an end to full production in 2012.  The fastest RX-8 produced was a celebratory edition, the Spirit R, celebrating the end to the RX-8.  Only 1,000 units were produced with all being sold in Japan.

Even though the four door, four seater quad coupe was not the fastest or flashiest, many drivers were impressed with its steering, braking, and cornering.

NEXT: KIA Models:Best & Worst, Ranked