http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-07-2003/0001867144&EDATE=

Mazda Motor Corporation and Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today unveiled the Washu at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The concept vehicle showcases the company's commitment to questioning the expected in design and packaging. Japanese for Eagle's Wing, the Washu six-seat touring vehicle was developed as a calculated experiment to determine how customers interact with a vehicle's interior
space.

Like all Mazda products, central to the Washu's development was a commitment to make every moment in a car exciting, whether traveling from place to place or just driving for fun. Low, sleek and well proportioned, the Washu works to tear down the barriers that traditionally separate sports cars and family cars.
The Washu, which hints at Mazda's next-generation design direction, combines functionality and refined passenger comfort with well-proportioned, modern styling that presents a level of visual excitement previously not found in multi-seat vehicles.

No new rx concept... :(

I'd think a new RX concept would be unveiled at the Tokyo show later this year. Isn't that where the RX-01 and Evolve were unveiled?

http://prn.newscom.com/cgi-bin/members/thumb/wmark?doc=PRN/prnphotos/docs/030/977&size=512&logo=logo

:(

Originally posted by red_base 95
I'd think a new RX concept would be unveiled at the Tokyo show later this year. Isn't that where the RX-01 and Evolve were unveiled? I'd probably guess the same thing :)

is this a van or somethin more the size of the vibe/matrix thing?

http://autoshow.msn.com/autoshow2003/photos/L_Washu3_4.jpg

First of all it is a "concept"... so don't beat it up too bad... many times concepts are designed in such a way as to evoke comments and criticism to develop the actual intended product, without really giving away the actual indended result.

Remember how fugly most people thought the EVolVe was.. .look what a butterfly it turned out to be... so go ahead... call it ugly now.. but give it time to develop before throwing the stones.

PS. its a heckuva lot lower and smaller than a SUV or minivan it looks like to me.

In fact... front to rear.. and left to right.. .the chassis size seems about on scale with the RX-8 / ETC chassis :)

It' a lot wider, but the lenght is like a mid-size Euro-minivan, it's a lot lower, but this is a evidence that in Mazda will keep them cars with good handling and stability.....
This proto for me it's a good sign, because they want sell cars worldwide (and you MUST have minivan/suv if you wanna do), but at the same time keep the zoom-zoom alive.

Personally I don't care about any SUV/minivan.. They could seize to exist for all I care.. It looks ok I guess.. shrug..

is this a van or somethin more the size of the vibe/matrix thing?

Not for sale in USA, but Mazda has a Midi-MPV (we own one) called "Premacy". A 5-seater, but in Japans also as 7-seater and maybe, just maybe the 7-seater comes to Europe

First generation:

http://www.autoweek.nl/atimages/mazda/prem11_a.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/atimages/mazda/prem13_a.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/atimages/mazda/prem21_a.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/atimages/mazda/prem23_a.jpg

Second generation (facelift):


http://www.autoweek.nl/cbimages/mazda/prem21_a.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/cbimages/mazda/prem23_a.jpg
http://www.autoweek.nl/cbimages/mazda/prem22_a.jpg

Midi-MPV's are very popular in Europe. Almost every brand got one. Japanse brands most of all. they were the first with a Midi-MPV (late 80s: Honda Civic Shuttle and Nissan Prairie) but they weren't very succesfull. Renault came in 1996 with the Scenic and it was en is a húge succes. The size and price of a normal car (like the Protege5, VW Golf) but a lot more space

More pics of the Washu concept:

http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_001.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_002.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_003.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_004.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_005.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_006.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_007.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_008.jpg

http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_009.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_010.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_011.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_012.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_013.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/03_wsh_014.jpg

7-seater Premacy

http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/pre01_004l.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/pre01_005l.jpg

http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/pre02_004l.jpg
http://www.media.mazda.com/photolibrary/img/jpeg_l/E/pre02_005l.jpg

Here is some more data:

Overall length 4,830mm
Overall width 1,850mm
Overall height 1,570mm
Wheelbase 3,200mm
Track (front/rear) 1,560mm/1,600mm
Seating capacity 6 persons
Engine Type V6 3500cc
Max. Horsepower 180KW (245ps)/6,500rpm (estimated)
Max. Torque 278Nm (29.0kg-m)/3,500rpm (estimated)
Transmission Type 6EC-AT
Suspension Type (front/rear) Double-wishbone/Multi-link

I guess this solves the mystery of what those unknown tires are going to be used for.

ahhh c'mon guys im disapointed too, but this car aint that bad:(

Originally posted by cueball1029
I guess this solves the mystery of what those unknown tires are going to be used for.

I figured out last night that the concept probably wouldn't be a new rx-7 because the tire diameter was way too big. A new rx-7 would have at least 45 profile tires and they would have had to be something like 225 45 r23 or something to match the Michelin Pax size.

I didn't want to kill everyone's hope and I was hoping I was completely wrong though. :)

Brian

Originally posted by state island
ahhh c'mon guys im disapointed too, but this car aint that bad:(

Hey, welcome to the Forum!

I'm with you too. :cool:

I kind of like it (for my wife - but I'll drive it when I need the room ;) ) ... but I sad that we have yet to see any new RX-7 ... :(

Originally posted by bwayout


Hey, welcome to the Forum!

I'm with you too. :cool:

I kind of like it (for my wife - but I'll drive it when I need the room ;) ) ... but I sad that we have yet to see any new RX-7 ... :(

THANX, BUT REALLY GUYS THIS CAR IS PRETTY NICE, I THINK I KNOW WHY U SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE DISAPOINTED, U WERE HOPING TO THE SEE THE 4TH GENERATION RX7

AS A HUGE MAZDA FAN , ILL FELL BAD IF THIS CAR WASNT LIKED BY THE PRESS IN THE NAIAS:( just look at the interior i dont think that mazda has ever done one like that, and look how all the doors open(the back looks nice when its opened)

so guys as a mazda fan show love for their cars:)

As a concept, I have to say it does have lots of interesting features like the drive by wire and video monitors for rear view. Don't know if that second one will make it into the production model. Not quite sure what's so innovative about the rear door design though. Haven't minivans been doing stuff like that for a while now?

And besides that, it has the name. Anyone else watch Tenchi Muyo?