Mazda SASSOU Design Concept Vehicle

Press Release

Interior – Mazda Insightful Packaging Redefined

 

The Shoji principle is carried over into Mazda Sassou’s interior, an experience that begins when opening the door. The concept’s interior systems are conceived to be used with a universal serial bus (USB) stick key that functions in place of a traditional key and includes a remote central locking function. After unlocking, the concept springs to life just beneath the surface of the exterior with light pulsing around the front and rear lamps graphics and illuminating the door handles. Opening the door reveals an illuminated USB port in the centre console glowing in a warm, red light. Inserted here, the USB stick key controls all interior systems and causes a joy-stick control lever to rise up. The system then comes alive, all systems are activated and the vehicle can be started using an ignition button next to the driver metre cluster.

 

“The USB stick key idea is the result of our targeting younger drivers,� said Mickael Loyer, Mazda Interior Designer, based in Frankfurt. “We conceive the Sassou as having its own hard disc drive, security code recognition and Mazda software for owners, including a navigation programme that could be downloaded onto the vehicle’s USB stick key. The owner could download the music he wants to listen to that day, directions to his favourite pub or beach hang out, using the USB stick key on his computer at home. When he inserts it into the Mazda Sassou interface slot, it would then automatically download onto the concept’s hard drive.�

 

The heart of the Mazda Sassou interior concept is an oval light at the centre of the lower instrument panel. Above this is a centre control screen that visualises vehicle information. The interface with the driver is intuitive, with the joystick used to navigate into the menus and to select main functions. When a function is selected, fluid light circuits illuminate a path to the selected feature; say the air vents, in either the instrument panel or the door trim.

 

The interior itself has two bucket seats in the front connected by an integrated armrest over the centre console and a bucket-like rear seating area for up to two passengers. Colours are monotone, blue-green and light grey, made of soft high quality materials with textural qualities chosen to reflect the illumination system in a way that enhances the sense of the interior as being alive.

 

“By giving the seats a lighter colour than the floor area, we wanted to achieve a floating effect,� said Loyer. “The seats seem to hover in the centre of the car and create a tangible sense of lightness. This colour scheme also enhances the interactive illumination system and makes it even more effective, even more Mazda Alive.�

 

Interior Functionality – Rear Seat Morphing

 

Mazda Sassou evolves the Mazda tradition of providing insightful interior functionality and practicality. An electric front seat fold system makes it easy to get into and out of the back seats through the front doors. Pressing one or two buttons located on the driver’s seatback causes either one or both front seats to slide forward and their seatbacks to tip, allowing easy access to the rear seat area. The seats then return to their original positions by pressing the buttons again. 

 

Mazda Sassou also employs unique “morphing� rear seat functionality. This uses compressed air to allow the vehicle to be formatted for a three or four-seat configuration. By selecting 1 or 2 on a panel at the back of the centre console, the rear seat area can be converted on demand. For one rear passenger, compressed air fills the sides of the rear seating area to form a single seat in the middle. For two passengers, air fills the seatback in the middle, forming two seats on each side. The roomy centre rear seating position provides the rear passenger with a unique view and makes Mazda Sassou even more fun to be in.

 

Mazda Sassou can easily be converted to a practical two-seater by folding the rear seats into the floor, which forms a flat load floor that is 1400 mm long, 1200 mm wide with approximately 1360 litres of load volume (floor to ceiling). Combined with the rear hatch opening, the Mazda Sassou is able to transport larger items without having to remove any seats.

 

“The Mazda Sassou concept proposes a possible future B-car meant for urban singles who commute on a daily basis,� said Peter Birtwhistle. “The exterior looks lightweight and aerodynamic; the interior is flexible, high-tech and interactive. The USB stick key / hard disk drive idea would allow you to configure its systems according to daily needs in a really cool and futuristic way.�

 

Powertrain and Environment – Targeting Low Emissions  (Flexible, Fun and Friendly) 

 

The Mazda Sassou design concept has been developed to support either a petrol or diesel powertrain of relatively small displacement.  For this concept, knowing that the target customer is likely to choose petrol over diesel and would be most interested in a high-performance engine that is also environmentally friendly, Mazda’s engineers have envisioned an all-new, small displacement, three-cylinder engine.  Further, the engineers believe the Sassou concept should benefit from Mazda’s all-new direct-injection, spark-ignition (DISI) technology. 

 

With that in mind, Mazda’s engineers believe a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1.0-liter DISI MZR powertrain would ideally match the spirited and sporty nature of the Sassou concept. Flexibility, smooth acceleration and plenty of torque are hallmarks Mazda’s DISI turbo engines.  And when combined with the Sassou’s advanced aerodynamic shape and small, lightweight body, a three-cylinder, 1.0-liter DISI turbo with idle-stop technology could conceivably contribute to a further reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 as well as achieve class-leading driving dynamics that are characteristic of the Mazda brand and its expression of Zoom-Zoom. The powertrain would be finished off with a dry-type twin-clutch 6-speed powershift transmission that is shifted using paddles on the steering wheel, making it both fun and easy to drive in city traffic.

 

The Sassou’s suspension features MacPherson struts in the front and a torsion beam rear suspension system, along with Pilot Exalto2 Michelin tyres that achieve both responsive handling and improved fuel consumption.

 

Mazda Sassou Design Concept Specifications