Leverkusen, 30th August 2005. Mazda Motor Corporation will present an exciting Zoom-Zoom design concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September – the Mazda SASSOU (‘sa-so’) – a small, lightweight, three-door hatchback powered by a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1.0-liter MZR DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) gasoline engine. Combined with evolved Zoom-Zoom design language and a unique interior concept, Mazda SASSOU is a look into the future at where Mazda might be heading with its B-car. It will share the stage with the Mazda Crossport concept, Mazda2 facelift, the third-generation Mazda MX-5, the high-performance Mazda6 MPS and the recently launched Mazda6 facelift and the compact Mazda5.

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It looks like a hot tub with wheels

Was I the only one who thought it looked more like a VW than a Mazda from the back? -_-;

mmmm lightweight < thinking about putting high-power rotary in there :D >

What would you do if Mazda did it for you?

I'd jump on it and take it home. Park it next to my 8 :D I hope it's going to be RWD.

I don't know. I'm not wowed, that's for sure.

The design isn't anything to even glance at to be honest. The "lightweight" got my attention.

I think the most significant thing about this is 2 dr hatchback.

Look beyond what it is to what it could become.

wow, 3 cylinders, 1 liter!

yeah and very smartly fuel effecient I would imagine!

The exhaust tips look a little like my wife 05 Acura TL.

I love it. I like how the front, side and rear lights come on.

I just wish they'd design a version as 2+2 3-door fastback hatchback!

I thought ford cancelled the Focus. Maybe this is thier way of keeping the plant open so as to avoid retooling costs...

www.mazda.ca

Vehicles -> Concepts -> Sassou

You can find more details there, glanced through the mazdausa website, n didnt seem to find it there, mayb i didnt look hard enough :wink2:


quoted from the site:


"The powertrain would be finished off with a dry-type twin-clutch 6-speed powershift transmission that is shifted using paddles on the steering wheel, making it both fun and easy to drive in city traffic."

Anyone know what a powershift tranmission is? is it just a really short throw one? + twin cluctch?
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powershift hints at an SMG type paddle shifted setup

According to the JDM new car mag I was reading... fall 2006 is supposed to bring a restyled RX-8 and a SMG transmission. With the upcoming 6speed auto from the MX-5... I dunno. Direct Injection does look like a possiblity though.

According to the JDM new car mag I was reading... fall 2006 is supposed to bring a restyled RX-8 and a SMG transmission. With the upcoming 6speed auto from the MX-5... I dunno. Direct Injection does look like a possiblity though.The 6 speed AT from the MX-5 is suppose to be for the '06 model RX-8, according to what's been posted on our RX8club website. That should be showing up this coming Winter, not next Fall.

SMG is an entirely different animal; that would be a true MT that has a computer auto engaging the clutch instead of one's foot. A true SMG "like" MT would be able to handle the 9K redline of the highpower unit. It would be great to have an SMG option for the '07 year, but I'd be much more interested in improvements to the Rotary itself.

The 6 speed AT from the MX-5 is suppose to be for the '06 model RX-8, according to what's been posted on our RX8club website. That should be showing up this coming Winter, not next Fall.

SMG is an entirely different animal; that would be a true MT that has a computer auto engaging the clutch instead of one's foot. A true SMG "like" MT would be able to handle the 9K redline of the highpower unit. It would be great to have an SMG option for the '07 year, but I'd be much more interested in improvements to the Rotary itself.

I know what the difference is between a manual select auto and a SMG/DSG transmission. :bottom:

What I meant was for a company with limited resources and on a car that is not a big seller/mainstay... it doesn't seem worth the funds to offer both a paddle shift auto AND an SMG transmission. Maybe I'm wrong... auto for the auto lovers and the SMG could also be carried over to the MX-5.

BTW, I said SMG in fall 2006, not 6 speed auto. I acknowledged that sources on this site have said the 6 speed auto is fall 2005.

... and a SMG transmission. With the upcoming 6speed auto from the MX-5... Sounded like you were saying a "SMG with the 6 speed auto from the MX-5". But it's cool, I get you now. :beer05:

RX-8 and a SMG transmission

They do that and they'll have me as a return customer, otherwise my 8 stays until it dies, maybe twice.

Sounded like you were saying a "SMG with the 6 speed auto from the MX-5". But it's cool, I get you now. :beer05:

Looking at it again...I suppose the wording wasn't so clear. We cool now... :beerchug:

They do that and they'll have me as a return customer, otherwise my 8 stays until it dies, maybe twice.


I always wonder about people and that... but I guess it's like auto transmissions. I hate 'em... never getting another. SMG... I really don't care how fast it's supposed to be able to shift. I prefer a traditional clutch and double-H.... but that's me.

Gosh Mazda...did you guys hire a bunch of BMW people?

Sharp and soft lines seem to not mix well. Most of the time the car just looks messy...please don't tell me this is their design direction cause it's ugly!

That looks...safe...

I always wonder about people and that... but I guess it's like auto transmissions. I hate 'em... never getting another. SMG... I really don't care how fast it's supposed to be able to shift. I prefer a traditional clutch and double-H.... but that's me.


ooh ill offer an after market fake clutch pedal for the guys who still want to feel like they are using their left foot for something:)

But zoom... that double-H pattern things is important too. I really don't like the feel of +/- forward/backward only. Like when riding a motorcycle... sucks for skipping gears and such.

I always wonder about people and that... but I guess it's like auto transmissions. I hate 'em... never getting another. SMG... I really don't care how fast it's supposed to be able to shift. I prefer a traditional clutch and double-H.... but that's me.I'm 100% with you on this one. All the F1 technologies, like traction control and the semi-auto manual gear boxes etc., are meant to make the car easier to drive faster. Which they do, but they also partially negate the driver's skill as a key element of the racing.

Likewise for road cars, a really good SMG can probably shift better than me, but it's certainly not as fun! I love the foot work, the feel of shifting in the H pattern, the mechanical feel of the gear engagement, and the live vibrations that the shift knob emits. SMG is too sterile in comparison.

However, for those that like or really do need an auto for whatever reasons, SMG is terrific. It's sorely needed to have a proper alternative to the 6 spd MT in the RX-8. But I'd still put improving the Renesis to have more torque and hp (in that order) as a higher priority.

I'm with RX-Hatchi...I love the double H!!!

Don't forget this is a thread about the Sassou concept.. and not the future transmission choices of the RX-8 :D

I'm 100% with you on this one. All the F1 technologies, like traction control and the semi-auto manual gear boxes etc., are meant to make the car easier to drive faster. Which they do, but they also partially negate the driver's skill as a key element of the racing.

Likewise for road cars, a really good SMG can probably shift better than me, but it's certainly not as fun! I love the foot work, the feel of shifting in the H pattern, the mechanical feel of the gear engagement, and the live vibrations that the shift knob emits. SMG is too sterile in comparison.

However, for those that like or really do need an auto for whatever reasons, SMG is terrific. It's sorely needed to have a proper alternative to the 6 spd MT in the RX-8. But I'd still put improving the Renesis to have more torque and hp (in that order) as a higher priority.


You and I are seeing eye to eye.

I'd never buy another auto much less an SMG. But I do think that the SMG makes for a better alternative to a manual on sports cars than a traditional auto or even a manual shift auto.

See my posts in the M5 thread. The SMG is certainly a better and more consistent performer than a manual transmission. All the electronic nannying makes a car easier to handle at the limits. It also removes a certain element from cars... that thing that all real enthusiasts love... that which makes us passionate about cars/bikes. Like the smell of oil, race fuel and rubber at the track. The vibration of the engine between your legs or the shifter in your hand. The feel of the road through the steering wheel, suspension, engine and transmission. The connection between man and machine. I would never give up this element. This feeling from this union when pushing towards the limits.

So yeah... the SMG might be "better" on paper, but it's not better in reality. And as I said in the M5 thread... do you think you can take a pro driver with you both in RX-8's? SMG gives an edge when driving at 9/10's. I certainly hope none of you are doing that on public roads. How many of you think you can get 9/10's of your car's performance on the track?

I agree with most of your post, however I am a true enthusiast. I drive an auto. Being an enthusiast doesn't mean I have go through the archaic procedure of gear selection. It's all about the drive for me. You take away from the drive when you take away from the experience. The normal manual transmission takes away from the experience for me. SMG for me, all the way (get with the program carmakers). Barring that, I'll settle for the auto.

The opposite for me, and apparantly other people as well. Not having total control over gear selection and clutch engagement disconnects me from the driving experience. I'm no longer driving... just steering a car.

To each his own... but if automakers go SMG or auto only... I'll never buy another new car. P E R I O D.