Press Release
Page 1: Model history
Page 2: Interviews
Page 3: The Future
80s
Already 25 years ago, Mazda had demonstrated its will to become more Europeanized showing a concept car "made by Bertone". Follow us in this contemporary design journey. Experimental technologies for powertrain, steering and bodyworks are the true highlights of the eighties.
Mazda MX-81 (Bertone)
Tokyo, 1981
A futuristic 4-seat coupe based on the 323. Was designed by Bertone with Marc Deschamps as Chief Designer. To be seen is the steering wheel replaced by a rectangular belt.
Mazda AZ550 Sports (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo 1989
A small sports prototype study based on small Mazda Carol.
Mazda MX-02 (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo 1983
A study for an experimental sedan featuring a 4-wheel steering system.
Mazda MX-03 (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo 1985
A tremendous 4-seat coupe which highlight-ed the high-tech know-how of Mazda: tri-rotor turbo engine (320 PS), 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering. The dashboard came directly from aircraft design. MaxiÂÂÂÂmum speed was measured at 300 km/h.
Mazda TD-R (Mazda Hiroshima Design)
Tokyo 1989
An interesting study for what we would now call a sports crossover or all-road vehicle with gullwing doors.
Mazda MX-04 (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo 1987
When it comes to "fun to drive", Mazda cannot help but overdoes it. The MX-04 was a mod-ular car that could be transformed just by changing body panels.
´90s
In the nineties, Mazda began to present hydrogen powered prototypes and explore in depth new market niches.
Neospace (Mazda Research & Design Europe)
Frankfurt, 1999
A concept that explored the new and growing niche of B-segÂÂÂÂment van-style cars. And a real milestone in Mazda's design history: the "Freestyle" doors (that opened towards the rear) were used for the first time.
Mazda HR-X (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1991
A study featuring gullwing doors and a hydrogen rotary engine. The beginning of 15 years of research with hydrogen fuelled engines at Mazda.
Mazda CU-X (Mazda Design / Japan)
Frankfurt , 1995
This concept focused on practicality and had rotatable front seats and on safety with a collision avoidance system.
Mazda HR-X2 (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1993
Another hydrogen rotary engine in a sedan shaped package. The entire body was recyclable.Invented by James Dyson, the first bagless vacuum cleaner the Dyson G-Force won the International Design Fair prize in Japan. The Japanese were so imÂÂÂÂpressed by the pink and lav-ender machine, it became a status symbol in homes and sold for $2,000 each.
1993
A sponsored project with a RCA (Royal College of Art, London) student. A vision of a single passenger London taxi anticipating a time when there would be restrictions in the city for normal cars. It was never shown at a Motor Show.
Mazda Gissya (Mazda Research & Design Europe)
Birmingham, 1991
An advanced proposal from Mazda's European Design Centre for a Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV). To enhance its sporty appeal, it was powered by a midship twin-rotor engine.
Mazda RX-01 (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1995
The first concept using the new-generation rotary engine, the first draft for a possible future RX-7.
Mazda SU-V (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1995
Mazda's proposal for the growing trend of compact SUVs. The SU-V concept was only 4.15 metres long.
Mazda BU-X (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1995
A concept based on the Demio, and the first B-MAV (Multi-Activity Vehicle) to arrive in the market.
Mazda MV-X (Mazda Design North America)
Tokyo, 1997
A concept very close to what a future large MPV could look like for Mazda.
Mazda MS-X (Mazda Research & Design Europe)
Frankfurt, 1997
A study that gave a sedan the same spatial feel as an MPV.
Mazda SW-X (Mazda Research & Design Europe)
Frankfurt, 1997
Another study for a compact van (C-MAV), this time realized by the European Design Studio with a more aggressive styling.
Mazda Activehicle Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1999
A close look at Mazda's SUV entry in the market. The mass production Tribute followed shortly thereafter.
Mazda Nextourer (Mazda Design / Japan)
Frankfurt, 1999
The crossover field is still today not clearly defined. In 1999, Mazda proposed this study crossing a station wagon with a coupe. Freestyle doors for the body, rear-wheel drive and hybrid powertrain under the skin.
Mazda RX-Evolv (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 1999
A charming study for every sports car fan looking for practicality. RX-Evolv offered 4 seats and freestyle doors for easy access to the second row seats. The nice package hid the new-generation RENESIS rotary engine.
Mazda Lego Car (Mazda Research and Design Europe)
1999
Do you think designers still play with toy cars? ObÂÂÂÂviously yes, as this 30 cm long concept shows. It was produced based on a winning Lego car of a Mazda-sponsored contest for children.
The new Millenium
2000 begins a new millenium for Mazda with a clever mix of performance concepts and versatile vehicle proposals.
Mazda Miata Mono-Posto Concept (Mazda Design North America)SEMA 2000
MX-5 makes driving fun, a single seat MX-5 with a racing look makes driving even more fun. This concept was not the dream of one Mazda designer only…
Mazda Secret Hide Out (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 2001
This nice, colourful concept for a new B-segment derivative with a pillar-less freestyle door system invited passengers to take an exciting journey.
Mazda MPS Concept (Mazda Research & Design Europe)
Paris, 2002
A study to express how a high performance Mazda6 might look. Powerful but still stylish. Now on the road keeping the same spirit.
Mazda RX-8 Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
Detroit, 2001
After the RX-Evolv concept, Mazda proposed another concept even closer to reality. Just a few details would change before the beginning of RX-8 production.
Mazda MX Sport Tourer (Mazda Design / Japan)
Geneva, 2001
This hybrid concept provided environmentally friendly performance coupled with interesting opening systems (freestyle doors and vario-lamella roof). It shows some lines of the Mazda6 wagon.
Mazda 626 MPS Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
2000
MPS was a label that Mazda wanted to use for high performance versions of its line-up, and a study based on the 626 was produced in parallel to a 323 MPS Concept.
Mazda Kusabi (Mazda Design / Japan)
Frankfurt, 2003
The Kusabi concept presented Mazda's propoÂÂÂÂsals in terms of practicality (flat floor and Twin-Lift Hatchback), driving performance and environmenÂÂÂÂtally-friendly features (1.3-litre supercharged MZR engine).
Mazda Roadster MPS Concept (Mazdaspeed / Japan)
2001
The Mazda MPS Concept family couldn't exist without a roadster, and now it had one, with a 200 PS engine.
Mazda MX Sport Runabout Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
Geneva, 2002
A dynamic styling for a B-segment offer. Would be launched as Mazda2 a short time later.
Mazda RX-8 X-Men (Mazda Design and FOX studios)
Los Angeles, 2003
Mazda customised its RX-8 for its appereance in the US blockbuster.
Mazda Ibuki (Mazda Design / Japan)
Tokyo, 2003
Mazda presented a lightweight, open-top sports car study which harkened back to the 1989 origins of the first MX-5.
Mazda RX-8 Mazdaspeed Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
2003
MAZDASPEED, a subsidiary of Mazda specialising in accessories to boost performance, presented a fierce version of the RX-8.
Mazda MX-Flexa (Mazda Design / Japan) Geneva
2004
Highly flexible, this concept explored smarter ways to improve communication between passengers. The answer was its Karakuri seating and storage system, to be found later on the Mazda5.
Mazda Washu
Mazda Design / Japan) Detroit, 2003
Washu's interior provides space for six passenÂÂÂÂgers, incorporated concepts and forms found in traditional Japanese architecture.
Mazda Verisa TS Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
2004
Bold and agile, the Verisa TS Concept was meant to burn the tarmac!
Mazda MX-Crossport (Mazda Design / Japan) Detroit,
2005
Mazda presented a new vision for a crossover mixing an SUV and a sports car. Clearly some RX-8 lines were smartly integrated. This concept will be launched shortly as CX-7.
Mazda Roadster Coupe TS Concept (Mazda Design / Japan)
2004
Italian classic shape based on the roadster coupe.
