2011 Mazda Minagi Review

Minago Mazda Mazda concept car is a new technology SkyActiv Kodo and new design language, pointing the way for the next generation of Mazda cars to come.

Mazda Minago concept will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2011, which reflects Mazda's new technologies and new design language SkyActiv Kodo. It 'the first model, which exhibits the characteristics likely to be seen as the next generation of Mazda cars.

For this reason, Mazda has fully integrated its technology SKYACTIV in all aspects of driving performance, including powertrain, chassis, and even the design of the body. As the second concept to integrate the new Mazda "KODO - Soul of Motion" design language, the challenges conventions Mining with emotional design and exhilarating performance.

Although Shinari was a concept of pure design to express the full potential of Kodo Design, Mazda Minago gives a glimpse of the next generation of products come from. As a concept car, Mazda's theme of Kodo, design elements combined with the expression of Minago pulsating energy throughout agility eager to move freely and smoothly the vehicle. His straight and compact, the Mazda offers a vision of Kodo Design Minago Shinari different, but shares the same sinuous, powerful.

"I wanted to convey something other than Mazda Shinari I feel a compact crossover SUV is the perfect way to express the agility and movement of discussion; .. The flexibility of four limbs move in unison, and an upright posture "

- Masashi Nakayama, Chief Designer, Mazda Concept Mining

Mazda Mining is an elegant expression of the stored energy. In Japanese, its name evokes the image of an object that vibrates with energy and reflects the vehicle's speed, agility and fiery character. For mining, Mazda's designers looked at different aspects of cheetah hunting. The head of a cheetah is high, while the long-limbed, powerful and flexible thin keep your torso upright so you can change direction quickly at high speed. Mazda's designers set out to evoke the time when an animal contracts its muscles, ready for the sprint and the groove of their prey. Moreover, a slot can be in either direction, an idea which is the function of a crossover SUV with nimble agility of darts in an expanding urban landscape.

Main features of the concept of Mazda Minago

An urban crossover SUV that combines a compact design with a stirring rendition of the stimulant

Minago Mazda is the first concept car Mazda SkyActiv to fully adopt new technology and "Kodo - Seoul of Motion" design and is Mazda's new generation of products

Unique Mazda compact crossover SUV for a night fuses emotional design - leading a lively capacity to move quickly into action and head in all directions - with the driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance technologies SKYACTIV

KODO design elements adopted by the compact crossover SUV to express the energy exciting and agile capacity to move freely

Exterior design

Crouched stance of the vehicle indicates the cheetah image without the burden of his hind legs ready to ready to dive to catch

The hold of a conventional SUV is often seen as a vehicle carrying a backpack, while mining presents a picture of an entity that integrates interior strictly toned and muscular lines

Investing A-pillar behind the rear turn emphasizes the cottage. This is in sharp contrast with an arc silhouette frontward and column placement, minivans, and emphasizes the driving position - the priority in the design of Mazda's concept Minago

Position relative to the lower body of the car is further back than a conventional SUV. This highlights the movement is expressed as Mining

Front View

"Wing of the signature" The chrome front bumper, which makes mining shares Shinari instantly recognizable as a Mazda and make a strong impression

Fishing grille slightly downward, while juxtaposing the design house lamp tilt upward, creating the intensity

Adding dynamic contours of the front fenders to - very characteristic of Mazda cars - expresses strong feeling KODO design language of accumulation, then immediately release the stored energy. These elements combined with the dynamic shape of the rear fenders to emphasize the wheel, which forms the legs of this predator

Side view

Lines carved along the sides of Minago Mazda emphasize the emotional strength of the body, which sets out the elastic force of the cheetah. These contours extend and connect to the rear fender expression that refers to the powerful muscles that attach to your hips and shoulders cheetah feet

The overall effect is elegant and beautiful, which leads the eye from front to back

The character line running along the bottom of the side panels Mining Kodo symbolizes the sense of being accumulated, and then quickly released

Rear View

The rear fenders boldly projecting outward to create a large stable position befitting an SUV

The contrast between the rear fenders and sharp lines of the rear of the car mimic the lines of the strong hips, seduction of a tonic athlete

The headlight design

How Shinari, 'signature blade' chrome, ranging from the bottom of the front grille has lost half its housing headlights dramatically

The design of three-dimensional headlamps and tail lamps add a sense of depth

The line element headlamps and wing design combine to express the intense look of a fierce look

Interior Design

Mazda designers decided to implement a well targeted and driver's cabin environment, which reflects the impressive high-strength and firmness. The interior uses high quality materials and fit and finish a hand-detailed craftsmanship

These features increase the anticipation of driving pleasure with the creation of a sophisticated and quality of the cabin

The main interior color black are highlighted in red in the rear seat back and bottom of the door armrests

Only for a compact crossover SUV

Four standing satin chrome spacers seem to support the instrument panel, each growing up in an image of the vertical force that seems to defy gravity, underscoring the impression that residents are adequately protected Mining

The design of the dashboard and switches around the charming character stands passenger sport in the driver, while expressing the spirit of the Mazda sports

Profession

Leather seats and door trim is modeled using the finest leather available

Craftsmen are carefully sewn pleats strikes raised, the touch, indicating a high level of quality of Interior

The "black smoke covering the metal panel in dark horizontal - positioned along the center of the dashboard - it shows the high quality of components inside

Solid metal components, including door handles that are machined from solid aluminum and highly polished to give a smooth surface, improved surface quality. The door handles are designed to mimic the beauty and functionality of high-end components for racing bikes, and provide a quality level that ensures that they are a pleasure to use

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car

Mazda launched the 2010 Shinari sports cars coupe at the Paris Motor Show in early October, a four door concept car that shows the new design. This design as well as to replace the Nagare design. Mazda Shinari Concept represents the profound connection of driver and machine and the beginning of Mazda's latest design theme 'KODO-Soul in Motion'. Shinari exhibits a functional aesthetic that will continue to evolve as Mazda continues to define its next generation of vehicles.

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car

The development of the Shinari Concept was actually a collaboration between three of Mazda’s design centers in Japan, Germany and the United States. Mazda also said it is working to improve the quality level of its interiors for future vehicles. With 2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car as the first step, Ikuo Maeda, general manager of Mazda's design division, aims to create original Mazda designs that will be recognized around the world. He summarizes his resolve in the following words:

"My goal is to create designs that people can point to proudly and say, 'This is a Mazda design'. There is no need for Mazda to build cars for people who are only concerned with 'style' and 'trends'. Whether working on sports cars or compact cars, I have always worked to create designs that evoke an emotional response in people and I hope to keep doing the same as I remain fully committed to develop designs for people who love and admire cars. It is my personal belief that the only way to create designs that fundamentally connect with people and to create designs they love, is if the people creating them are absolutely passionate about cars and are willing to make that passion a firm policy for design expression.

The Mazda Shinari is a pure design concept model of a four-door, four-seater sport cars coupe which perfectly expresses the 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design theme in a graceful and carefree form. All of Mazda Shinari Concept's body surfaces appear as if constantly undergoing transformation. There is no static shape to be found, as if the car is in perpetual motion. For instance the subtle control of the angle of the upper surface of the side sill, from the front to the rear, results in a form that suggests a flash of speed along the body of the car. Aerodynamic performance was a major priority for Mazda Shinari Concept, and the centre of the lower sections - on both the front and rear bumpers - are designed to optimize the flow of air along the underbody of the car.

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car 

The principle of 'dedicated driving ergonomics' is further reflected in the car's next generation Human Machine Interface (HMI). The availability of smaller electronic components has allowed Mazda Shinari Concept's designers to create a floating HMI three-dimensional display; a design element that represents the very latest HMI technology . The system offers three distinct modes: 'Business, Pleasure and Sport'.

Yasushi Nakamuta, the chief designer who led the design of the third generation Mazda MX-5, was the first to begin the ideation of the Mazda Shinari Concept: "The challenge for us was to create an innovative new expression for energetic and powerful movement; something that we had never attempted before. We began by developing the design around the image of a predator, as it strikes at its prey, or the stabbing movement in kendo, Japanese fencing, to express the instant where accumulated force is released.

Ikuo Maeda say, "Further, I consider it vitally important to have an awareness of Japanese originality in designing cars for Mazda. This is not merely about incorporating traditional Japanese elements into car design. I believe in reflecting the Japanese spirit in car designs as part of a subconscious practice. So, while I consider where this may lead in the future, my plan is to create cars that will be instantly recognizable as a Mazda, even when viewed at a distance. My ultimate goal is to create a brand presence that car lovers around the world recognize as representing both Mazda originality and Japanese originality. Future Mazda's will move people physically and emotionally - this is 'KODO - Soul of Motion'."

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car 

Mazda RX-Z: A... Diesel-Electric Hybrid Design Study for RX-8 Replacement

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

Classic Japanese Cars at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show

Together with their new production cars and concept studies, some domestic automakers also brought along with them a handful of Japanese classics to display at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show floors. First up is the 1980 Mazda Familia hatchback which was essentially the Mazda3's forefather. Toyota had a 1981 Toyota Soarer Coupe and the GT HYBD, a gas-turbine hybrid concept version of its first production sports car, the Sports 800 that went on sale in 1965.

Mazda displayed the 1970 500cc rotary-powered RX-500 Concept while Mitsubishi exhibited Japan's first series production automobile, the 1917 A Model which was based on the Fiat Tipo 3. Finally, Honda showed off a first generation (1976-1981) Honda Accord CVCC three-door hatchback.

Photos shot by our Tokyo Motor Show reporter, Phil Alex