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“I wanted to convey something different from the Mazda SHINARI. I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture,” said Masashi Nakayama, the designer of the crossover concept.
We already know about several world debuts such and Nissan's completely redesigned Quest minivan, Murano Cross Cabriolet concept and Ellure sedan study, but today the organizers [officially] confirmed a few more premieres.
These include -in no particular order- the well-received Mazda Shinari sports sedan [read the full story here]; the five-door version of the Land Rover Evoque; Saab 9-4X; Kia Optima Hybrid; VW Eos facelift, and the U.S.-spec Hyundai Elantra compact sedan and Fiat 500
The theme for the 2010 Design Challenge is the creation of a super-efficient and lightweight four-passenger car: "The objective is to envision an efficient, light-weight, four passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1,000 lbs.), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand. "
Follow the break for the first group of concept models by Cadillac, Honda, Maybach and Mazda, and stay tuned for the second part.
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Expect the flowing, toned lines to appear on everything from the Mazda3 and Mazda6 to the MX-5 Miata and potential RX-8 successor; on that note, can we get a decent rotary engine around here or what?
Since these "tense" and "organic" designs are becoming more and more common nowadays, how will Mazda emphasize its own unique design elements? As with most unofficial homages (because we all know this isn't a purely original design or layout), the answer is in the details.
Automakers are trying their best to convince American consumers that size doesn't matter and that small cars can be equally fun and adventurous as their larger siblings. Following the example of Ford with the customized 2011 Fiestas, Mazda also displayed a trio of funky concept models based on the new U.S.-spec Mazda2 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Coincidently, the Mazda2 and Fiesta share the same underpinnings.The most impressive concept version of the Mazda2 is the 2Evil which gives us an idea of what a potential MazdaSpeed2 (MPS in Europe) could look like.
The supermini has been spiced up with a full body kit that includes an aggressive front spoiler, chunky side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser that houses the new exhaust tip.
The 2Evil is finished Ceramic Grey metallic with subtle motorsports inspired graphics while wheels, mirrors and other details are accented in Spirited Green.
The MazdaSpeed-prepped hatch rides on 17-inch wheels with 215/45/17 Yokahama Advan tires while the lowered coil-over suspension by H&R and the Magna performance exhaust complete the package.
The other two concept models are the Active2 Surf and Active2 Snow. Both variants feature 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45/17 Yokahama Tires, a H&R coil over suspension, special graphics and a Thule roof rack system.
What you see pictured here is a conceptual vision for a 2+2 sports coupe with reverse opening rear doors designed to replace the current Mazda RX-8. The so-called Mazda RX-Z was conceived by Romanian design student, Adrian Ciprian who took a different -but not necessarily better- styling approach ditching most typical new-generation Mazda design cues except for the 'smiley' five-point grille.The artist also claims that he envisions the RX-Z being fitted with a hybrid powetrain comprising of a front-mounted diesel engine and a pair of electric motors at the rear.
Understandably, this means that the Mazda-badged sports car proposal isn't much of a member of the 'RX' series, but hey, it's just a hypothetical design study.
Via: Diseno-art
At next month's 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda will perform the world premiere of its next-generation engine lineup and automatic transmissions that are due to find their way on the firm's production models in the next year or so. Starting with the SKY-G, this gasoline unit features a brand-new engine block designed to reduce mechanical friction and achieve an optimal air-fuel mix, and a direct fuel injection system. Details are still scarce but the Japanese firm claims fuel economy and torque are improved by around 15 percent compared to Mazda's current 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.Mazda said that the new SKY-G gasoline engine enables fuel economy equivalent to the current Demio (Mazda2 in markets outside Japan) to be achieved in a vehicle the size of a Mazda Axela, which most us know as the Mazda3.
Next up is the next-generation SKY-D clean diesel engine that offers a high output with reduced fuel economy and low exhaust emissions. The Japanese company says that SKY-D's newly designed engine block reduces mechanical friction to the level of a gasoline engine.
This particular unit also employs piezo injectors, a two-stage turbocharger and other technologies to deliver 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the firm's current 2.2-liter diesel engine. With this engine, Mazda says that a vehicle the size of a Atenza (Mazda6) can achieve a fuel economy equivalent to the current Mazda Demio (Mazda2).
Finally, the Japanese maker plans to showcase its newly developed SKY-Drive automatic transmission that contributes to improved fuel economy by approximately five percent compared with the current unit as well as a more direct feel "similar to a dual clutch transmission".
Alongside the new engines and auto gearbox, Mazda's Tokyo Show stand will also host the Japanese premiere of the Kiyora concept city car.
As part of the year-round celebrations for the two decades of the MX-5 / Miata roadster, Mazda has crafted this special Superlight concept for the Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the latest facelift version of the MX-5, the zoomalicious Superlight is a two-seater speedster model with no windscreen that has been stripped down to the very basics in order to achieve a kerb weight of just under a tonne thus improving the vehicle's driving dynamics. It was developed at Mazda's European R+D centre in Oberursel, Germany."I've dreamed of building a Mazda MX-5 with this kind of radical form for a long time," says Peter Birtwhistle, Mazda Motor Europe's Chief Designer. "Now that weight reduction has become a dominant factor in automotive development, the time is ripe for it. We show how lightweight a car today can be."
Aside from the elimination of the windscreen that allows the driver and passenger to come in full contact with their immediate surroundings, Mazda's designers also removed the MX-5's retractable top and its frame.
The removal of the windscreen required the extension of the original aluminum bonnet into the cabin with a lightweight carbon fiber sheet that provides a "hood" for the dashboard frame while it also houses the single, filigree aluminium, wide-angle mirror.
The Superlight also gets a pair of special roll over bars fitted with LED brake lights which prevent wind turbulence around the heads of the passengers.
Inside, the driver and passenger of the Superlight concept are greeted by racing bucket seats made of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre and are upholstered with the same saddle colored leather as the armrests, the steering wheel, and the lightweight aluminium shift lever and hand brake.
The dashboard that contains the same instruments as the production MX-5 along with a starter button, is made of lightweight plastic reinforced with fibreglass. As you'd suspect, the interior has been stripped out of any unnecessary features such as the air condition and fan as well as sound insulation mats and rugs.
Underneath the sheetmetal, the Superlight retains the production MX-5's 126-horsepower 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine paired to a five-speed manual transmission. However, there's a Mazdaspeed cold-air intake made of polished and powder-coated aluminium and a Mazdaspeed exhaust system that allow the engine to deliver a sportier sound.
Mazda's engineers also fitted the show car with four-piston, fixedcalliper brake system with perforated discs that required an increase in track of 50 mm and a 30mm lower Bilstein B16 coil-over suspension plus Eibach stabilisers. The superlight rides on stock 205/45 R17 original-equipment tires and alloy wheels from the 2.0-litre version, that weight in at less than 8 kg.
Weighing in at just 995 kg or 2,194 pounds, the Superlight accelerates from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 8,9 seconds consuming only 6.3 lt /100 km (37.3 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 150g/km. That's compared to the stock MX-5 1.8's 1,080kg, 9,9 seconds, 9.5 lt/100km (33.6 mpg US) and 167g/km CO2.
The Japanese carmaker said that at least for the time being, there are no plans to built a production version of the Superlight, but as we've said, you never know with a company like Mazda...
Technical Specifications
