:)HISTORY: 50 years of Mazda car design
PRODUCTION CARS
R360 Coupe (1960)
The R360 Coupe was Mazda’s first passenger vehicle. Its 2+2 cabin was enclosed in a stylishly functional coupe form that represented the cutting-edge of Japanese car design. The car combined appealing design with an affordable price in an era when owning one’s own car was still a dream for many; upon its release became a huge hit.
The R360 Coupe model represented a new page in history, not only for Mazda but also for passenger cars in Japan.
Luce 1500 (1966)
Based on an original Bertone design from Italy, the 'A-line' style of the Luce 1500 – due to the shape formed by the three pillars in the front, centre and rear – was adopted by Mazda's designers who enhanced its form with a unique Mazda flavour.
This modern, elegant design conveyed a dazzling individuality that exceeded the general level of styling of Japanese cars at the time and was in keeping with the name LUCE, the Italian word meaning ‘light’ or ‘shine’.
Cosmo Sport 110S (1967)
The Cosmo Sport, the – the world’s first mass produced model with a dual-rotor rotary engine – was unveiled to the world at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1963 and went into production in 1967 after years of intensive tests. Mazda’s president at the time, Tsuneji Matsuda, amazed onlookers when he drove into the motor show venue in a prototype of the car. The Cosmo Sport combined gorgeous, futuristic proportions with superior drive performance and truly embodied the words ‘it feels more like flying that driving’.
Luce Rotary Coupe (1969)
The Luce Rotary Coupe equipped a hardtop coupe body with the new and exclusive 655cc x 2 rotary engine. With maximum output of 126hp and a top speed of 190km/hour, this was the first time that the front-wheel drive layout was adopted to utilize the rotary engine’s compact size to maximum benefit.
RX-7 (1978)
With its low, sharp front form characteristic of the front mid-ship engine positioning, daringly low wedge-shaped body optimized for aerodynamics and glass hatch back, the launch of the Savanna RX-7 was met with global acclaim. This model was extremely successful in motorsport leading to 100 wins in IMSA competition in the United States. Up against rivals including Porsche's 911 and Nissan's Fairlady 240Z, the car's achievements were unprecendented
Cosmo (929) Coupe (1981)
The second-generation Cosmo was launched in 1981 and was equipped with the world’s first turbo-charged rotary engine. To optimize its aerodynamic design, the car was equipped with four-lamp retractable headlights, a low bonnet and a thin radiator grill. The drag coefficient of this two-door hardtop was just CD = 0.32, giving the car the best aerodynamic performance in the world at the time.
MX-5 (1989)
Commercial sales of the MX-5 began in America in the spring of 1989. From launch, the MX-5 sold at rates that far exceeded all expectations. The popularity of the Roadster was not simply a success for Mazda – it also became the trigger for other car manufacturers around the world to launch sports car convertibles. Lightweight sports cars had disappeared for a period during the 1970s, and the MX-5 model was the main player in the segment's revival at the end of the 20th century.
Carol (1989)
The Carol's minimalist micro-car format was combined with the same adorable and appealing design of the original Carol from 1962.Together with a range of different variations including the turbo and canvas-top versions, the car gained a broad popularity base.
RX-7 (1991)
The 3rd generation RX-7 (FD) saw a dramatic leap in dynamic performance, and also embodied a ‘gram strategy’ of comprehensive weight reduction. At the same time, this model adopted an alluring and enticing style, based on the concept of ‘Beauty in the Beast’. The previous two generations of the RX-7 had built a strong presence for the model as a high-performing yet affordable sports car.
Xedos6 (1992)
The car was developed on the theme of ‘Lasting Value’ – value that will never fade – with the focus placed on superior quality and sophistication. In a poll of readers by the German industry magazine Auto Motor und Sport in 1993, Xedos6 ranked first for ‘Best Cars in the world in 1993’ in the mid-size import car category.
323F (1993)
The 323F, with its crouching form which could be likened to a sprinter just about to run a race, appeared on the market with, what was at the time, the world’s smallest V6 engine (2.0) for a mass-produced vehicle. This was a sporty compact car with superior motion performance, distinctive form and outstanding safety features, and promoted by Mazda as a ‘four-door coupe’.
Mazda6 (2002)
The Mazda6 was the start of the success story for Mazda's new Zoom-Zoom generation. Modern, sporty and dynamic, the car marked a watershed moment for Mazda and embodied a new image for its vehicles. In all its three body styles, the aggressive head and tail lamps, the taut lines and the sporty cockpit seduced new customers around the world.
RX-8 (2003)
At launch in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 coupe represented an impressive evolution of the rotary-engine sports car from the only company in the world to make them. Its dynamic and sporty design, unique centre-opening doors and room for four – along with a cleaner-running, more compact naturally-aspirated RENESIS rotary engine – made it a big hit with sports car customers around the world.
Mazda3 (2003)
The second model of the Zoom-Zoom line-up, the Mazda3 was the heir to the very successful 323 generations, bringing a fresh look to the compact segment with a very dynamic and athletic design in both body types; hatchback and sedan. The cockpit look was perfect for the sporty driving feel of the car. A few years later it would be topped by the high-performance MPS version, the fastest Mazda ever, with 250 km/h top speed.
CX-7 (2006)
The Mazda CX-7 is a crossover vehicle that combines high-performance power with 260 PS, a sporty design, SUV functionality and comfort. Developed using the MX-Crossport concept car (2005 Detroit Motor Show) as a starting point, the CX-7’s silhouette is dominated by an aggressively-raked windscreen angle of 66° which is even more extreme than on many sports cars. This is combined with a sweeping roofline, kick-up belt line and large, powerful fenders over 18-inch alloy wheels, giving the car an aggressive road stance.
Mazda2 (2007)
The 2007 Mazda2 car ended the trend towards larger and heavier automobiles, weighing 100 kilos less than its predecessor. It’s a revolution that led to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, better performance and handling and nimbleness. The car’s dynamic design reflects these qualities and along with its other numerous assets resulted in the sub-compact Mazda winning the 'World Car of the Year' award in 2008.
Mazda5 (2010)
The all-new Mazda5 refines the winning recipe of its predecessor. Its exterior styling stands out of the crowd in a generally ‘boxy’ C-MAV segment, integrating Nagare design elements for the first time in a production vehicle, while its functionality still benefits from two sliding rear doors with a very large opening, generous leg room for seven passengers and high levels of seat flexibility called Karakuri. It features new powertrains including the 2.0 DISI with Mazda unique stop and start system called istop.
CONCEPT CARS
RX-500 (1970)
The RX-500 was the first concept car from Mazda which featured a rotary engine. Named in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Mazda’s establishment, the RX-500 was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1970. With a top speed of more than 200 km/hour, butterfly-wing doors that rotated upward to allow entry and exit, and tail lamps in three colours of green, yellow and red, the innovative concept attracted widespread attention.
RX-01 (1995)
The RX-01 was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995 and was also equipped with a rotary engine. This model’s unique form, including its short and wide proportions, was characteristic of the MSP-RE (multi-side port rotary engine) layout. The car had a dry sump lubrication system an extremely slanted nose and aerodynamic wing and was well-received.
RX-EVOLVE (1999)
This was the RX-8 concept car announced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1999. It was equipped with the newly-developed rotary engine, RENESIS, and was a completely new four-seater sports car. At the time the model already sported an advanced package and design, but for the production version Ikuo Maeda, chief designer of the RX-8, led the way in further refinement work to give the design a feeling of even greater dynamic sensation.
MX-Sport Tourer (2001)
Displayed at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, the MX-Sport Tourer featured double doors and a vario-lamella roof that slid open accordion-style. This concept car struck a balance between the convenience of a wagon and the dynamic design of a sports car. The interior featured rear seats that could be stored away with a single push of an electromagnetic switch and an extensive fully-flat load area. The concept ultimately led to the Karakuri seat arrangement adopted in the Mazda6 and Mazda5.
Nagare (2006)
The Nagare concept gave its name to a series of concept cars inspired by nature. At the time Mazda’s designers were simply exploring potential surface language and vehicle proportions that would begin the evolution of Flow. Most impressive of all were the two long butterfly doors that moved forward and up to enable access to the four-seat interior. With a centrally-located driving seat and wraparound lounge-effect rear seating, Nagare managed to combine driving dynamics and interior function all in the one innovative package.
Taiki (2007)
The most futuristic of all the Nagare concepts, the Taiki is a sports cars designed for a sustainable society, exploring weight-reduction and aerodynamic technologies in a bid to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Taking its inspiration from the Earth’s atmosphere, the groundbreaking stretched-coupe form with its front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, short overhangs and all-glass canopy, was designed to visually express air flow which can be seen in everything from its surface treatment to its complex but beautiful wheel arches and wing-like tail.
Furai (2008)
The Mazda Furai concept (Japanese for ‘sound of the wind’) debuted at 2008 North American International Auto Show. It was created at Mazda’s studio in Irvine, California to blur the boundaries between road car and weekend racer to create an actual functional race car. On Furai, Nagare’s ‘flow lines’ actually enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamic performance, by channeling and directing the airflow over Furai’s body surface. Its ethanol-fuelled, three-rotor rotary engine produces 450 HP at 9,000 rpm.