Mazda Teases Two Concept Cars Coming To Tokyo Auto Show
Mazda is ramping up their hype train for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Show by revealing that they’ll be bringing not one but two concept cars with them.
A few teaser images have been released and it appears that one concept will be a hatchback while the other could be a coupe or sports sedan as it has some pretty aggressive raking.
According to Mazda each concept also serves a specific purpose.
The hatchback is what Mazda refers to as a “Product concept model”. Its focus is to showcase Mazda’s new SKYACTIV-X engine which will be the first ever “commercial” engine to use compression ignition tech. If you want to know more about compression ignition I would recommend checking out this video from Engineering Explained.
The other concept is what Mazda calls the “Design model” and as the name suggests its meant to preview the future of Mazda’s “KODO” design language.
Now, its rare that Mazda introduces a concept that doesn’t eventually make it to production. The “Furai” and “RX-Vision” are the only two exceptions that come to mind.
Its likely that the hatchback “Product concept” will likely evolve into the next-gen Mazda3 which I sincerely hope will get a Mazdaspeed variant as it seems Mazda is not going that route with the current 3.
As for the “Design model” concept, my best guess is that it is a preview of the next gen Mazda6 which I also hope will get a Mazdaspeed variant. There hasn’t been a Mazdaspeed 6 since 2005 and cars like the Alfa Romeo Gulia and BMW M3 sedan prove that there the market for turbo’d performance sedans is making a comeback.
Though this is all just wishful thinking on my part. Who knows what Mazda is actually going to do in the near future? I guess we’ll have a better idea once these concepts make their debut at the Tokyo Auto Show at the end of this month.
For a better look at the concept teaser images as well as a few images of the new SKYACTIV-X engine, check out the thumbnails below. You can also find the press release below as well if you’re interested in trying to mine a few more details out of it.
Press Release:
HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation will exhibit two concept models at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, one that heralds the company’s next-generation products and another that embodies the direction of the company’s next-generation design. Mazda will also display the SKYACTIV-X next-generation gasoline engine as a technology exhibit at the show, which runs from Oct. 28 through Nov. 5. 1
Mazda’s theme for this year’s show – Mazda is committed to enriching people’s lives through “Celebrate Driving.” – indicates the company’s determination to continue offering cars that celebrate the driving experience, enrich lives and build a strong bond with customers.
The product concept model, a compact hatchback that fuses next-generation technology and design, will make its world premiere at the show. It adopts SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture, next-generation technologies that apply a human-centered design philosophy for optimal functionality, and is powered by the SKYACTIV-X, set to become the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition.2 Dynamic performance has been dramatically refined and next-generation design condensed to create Mazda’s ideal compact hatchback.
The design vision model embodies the concepts that will define the next generation of Mazda design, resulting in a more profound expression of the globally-acclaimed KODO design language Mazda debuted on the Mazda CX-5 in 2012.
The Mazda CX-8, a new three-row crossover SUV that goes on sale in Japan in December, will also be on display at the show. The company’s flagship SUV in Japan, it features sophisticated styling and comfortable seating in all three rows. Major upgrades to the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel engine increase torque and power for composed performance.
A special edition Mazda Roadster (MX-5) Red Top featuring a dark cherry red canopy and auburn Nappa leather upholstery will be exhibited.
“In August, we announced our Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 long-term vision for technology development, setting out how Mazda hopes to use driving pleasure, the fundamental appeal of the automobile, to help solve issues facing people, the earth and society. The vision commits Mazda to make substantive cuts in CO2 emissions, and we believe the best way to achieve this is to reduce emissions under real-world conditions while offering a mix of combustion engines and electrification technologies in consideration of each region’s energy situation and energy mix,” said Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO. “Our stand this year marks the beginning of a new era for Mazda. We will showcase a concept model with the design and technologies that will define a whole new generation of Mazda cars. Among them is SKYACTIV-X, a gasoline engine that realizes a long-held dream of the global automotive industry.”
List of exhibits at 2017 Tokyo Motor Show
| Reference exhibits | Next-generation product concept (World premiere) |
| Next-generation design vision model | |
| Mazda Roadster (MX-5) RF with hand-operated controls 3 | |
| Models scheduled for sale | Mazda CX-8 |
| Mazda Demio (Mazda2) Noble Crimson special edition 3 | |
| Mazda Roadster (MX-5) Red Top special edition | |
| Updated Mazda Roadster (MX-5) RF | |
| Currently available models | Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) sedan 3 |
| Mazda Axela (Mazda3) sedan 3 | |
| Mazda CX-3 3 | |
| Mazda CX-5 3 | |
| Technology exhibits | SKYACTIV-X next-generation gasoline engine |
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