Mazda Style: 25 Years of Design

Press Release

Page 1: Model history
Page 2: Interviews
Page 3: The Future

Mazda Sassou

Inspired by traditional Japanese Shoji rice-paper doors that partially hide what is behind them, Sassou employs exterior and interior materials with an illumination system to hide certain features when the car is at rest, and then reveal them when the car is activated with red lighting that circu­lates as if by heartbeats just below the surface. Designers called this design aspect “Mazda Alive.�

Specs

• Shown at IAA Sept. 2005

• Length 3890 mm

• Width 1740 mm

• Height 1370 mm

• MZR I-3 1.0L DISI turbo with Mazda

Idling Stop System

• Dry-type twin-clutch 6-speed Powershift transmission

USB Stick Key

Inserting Sassou’s USB stick key into a port in the middle console causes joy­stick to rise up for navigation of vehicle functions in a monitor in the dashboard. USB stick has software for downloading destinations and music at home, then up-loading these onto car’s hard disc drive.

Rear Seat Morphing

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.

Peter Birtwhistle, Chief Designer:

“The Mazda Sassou concept proposes a possible future B-car meant for urban singles who commute on a daily ba­sis. 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.�

Mazda Senku

Combining the conflicting visual elements of sharp edges and soft curves give Senku a strong emotional appeal. Its three main graphic elements – body surfaces, a glass canopy and five-point front grille – are unified to produce a graceful simplicity. The interior features red leather surfaces hand-stitched by a master craftsman.

Functionality + Beauty

The side doors not only slide back elec­trically creating two wings, the resulting 800 mm-wide opening and high front-seat placement make for easy entry. The doors also hug the sides of the body and can be opened in tight parking spaces where hinged doors cannot.

Specs

• Shown Tokyo Motor Show Oct. 2005

• Length 4650 mm

• Width 1850 mm

• Height 1400 mm

• Wheelbase 3100 mm

• Low emission13B-DI rotary engine + Mazda hybrid system

See-through Solar Cells

Part of Senku’s glass roof uses a pigment-sensitized solar cells system that is an evolution of the solar sunroof first used by Mazda on the Sentia in 1991. They are low cost and offer a high degree of design freedom. They let light through to the inte­rior, supply supplementary electric power to the RE Hybrid system while driving and provide power

Atsuhiko Yamada, Chief Designer:

Senku’s wheels are large and placed at the extreme corners of the body, which gives the design a ‘floating’ look. This we com­plemented by a sleek, boldly chiselled form to create unique proportions that em­body dynamism and elegance. Looking for a color to express the sharpness and melow­ness of the concept, we found the perfect match having dinner in a sushi bar: the knife of the chef showed a subtle balance between bronze and alumini­um that we we reflected in the Ingot Silver color.�

Mazda Kabura

With a long front end and short boot, Kabura is reminiscent of classic sports coupes. Its wind-shield and forward portion of the roof are integrated into one seamless glass surface that extends from the cowl to the B-pillars in a sweeping, round roofline. This shape is repeated by the powerful fenders to give the design movement, confidence and stability befitting a Mazda sports car.

Specs

• Shown Detroit Motor Show Jan. 2006

• Length 4050 mm

• Width 1780 mm

• Height 1280 mm

• Wheelbase 2550 mm

• MZR 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve engine

• 6-speed manual transmission

Sustainable + Recyclable

Some parts of Kabura‘s interior employ innovative regenerated leather substrate made entirely of material recovered from the manufacturing of sports shoes. This leather-grind can be dyed and printed in any colour or design and appears in Mazda Kabura as a technical yet inviting material.

Disappearing 3rd Door

Kabura has an extra right-side door for easy access. After the right, front door is opened, touching a button slides the bonus door straight back and into a cavity notched in the rear-quarter panel area, the way a pocket

Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Designer:

“Kabura’s exterior has a nimble-looking fuselage with a powerful stance, pronounced wheel arches and taut surfaces. Every line flows into another with no open ends. Surfaces are drawn tight over the wheel arches, the way a spider’s web stretches between anchor points.�