regardless of how this looks on the outside, or what is under the hood, i really like where mazda is going with interior upgrades. there is no reason they cannot compete with the likes of audi, bmw, lexus etc.
it was mentioned earlier, but hyundai is already taking aim at audi and bmw w/the genesis and equus.

i love my rx8, but when you compare it to my bmw, you can see the difference pretty fast. you've got 2 cars that drive and handle absolutely brilliantly, but one just has a fit and finish level so far ahead of the other. interior quality on mazda vehicles needs love and what they show here in shinari is definitely that love.

I loved the look of the mazda nav control in this concept too. it really reminds me of my idrive control.

 

Okay, I am wrong on that one. Thanks for correcting me. However, like many others and myself have said, just because this concept is currently powered by the front wheels doesn't mean much at all. If a mid-engined FWD platform was relatively beneficial and feasible, it would be much more popular. You do also realize the cars you stated above are pretty much prehistoric technology compared to what we have today, right? With how complex suspension geometry is today, I'm pretty sure it's hard to stuff an engine behind it's front axles WHILE powering it's front wheels AND being able to make it handle on rails.

Mazda's halo car isn't going to be FWD when they make it. Think logically. As another member before me said earlier, the suspension gives it away. Mazda simply wanted to show an audience it's design language as well as a little RX teaser and they chose the quickest and most economic way to do so.

 

the interior is great. i love the double stitched leather, sparse but well placed chrome bits, i love the HMI pod.

the seats re fantastic- the bolsters look articulated, like you could fold/wrap them to adjust. I noticed they arent attached to the center tunnel like in most of their recent concepts. the fronts would need a little more space under them for rear seat foot room.

I know it wont help rigidity much but i really want that glassed over roof with the y/x beam exposed bracing. for some locales it would be problematic for cooling in the summer but add some shading somehow for those areas- we could really use the light here So far I havent found a car I would trade my 8 for that options a panoramic roof. if i were to buy a new mustang i'd get the panorama roof.

about the only thing i feel like knocking them for is the almost manic use of buttons. while cleverly tucked in so that the are reachable without being too obvious, they are seemingly everywhere. i cant think what they all could be for.

i would really like to get a chance to sit in this car.

 

Haha your Bimmer may be fit and finish inside but it had a hard time keeping up with us in the corners on the Root Beer Cruise we took haha... And yes I know you have 300 hp/ft.lbs torque... Car&Driver, Road&Track and Motortrend have been reporting a decent amount of understeer in the 1 series and recently the 3 series... I just recieved my monthly C&D in the mail and it was a best handling comp.* * meaning cars under $100K, lol and the Mazda RX-8 beat the BMW M3. The 8 got 3rd (Nearly 2nd, only 1 point below the Lotus, 213 to 212, this amazes me because the Lotus is a 2 seater weighing 2000lbs, its crazy how our car, 1000lbs heavier with 2 more seats almost handles better) while the M3 got 4th...



In other news this excites me, I will be getting out of college around 2015-2016 so this is perfect, makes me wait a year or two after it comes out. Enough time to keep a steady job, and let Mazda work out the kinks that arise...

 

More Pics...

 

More pics......

 

Ok , so I'll withhold opinion about why Mazda persists in 'always' holding this event some 5100km from where some of the more dedicated owners live....

...but which of you west coast crazies are going to simulcast ...stream ... blog ...tweet ...iow do something in psuedo realtime so that the rest of the world isn't 'like totally left out, dudes " of this (theoretically) historic gathering/introduction/presentation???

 

Ash, I need to work today. How dare you provide such scintillating pictures to distract me?

Thanks, I really love these images.

Paul.

 

I'm driving 3,000 miles to get there for it....And 4,500 mile detour back.

You would beat me in farthest driver if you did as well.

 

Beeeeautiful wallpaper

 

Awful big hole there in the RX lineage.....sad....

And although this history is part of the new press kit on this Shinari concept - the new car itself is not in the picture ...confused....?

 

One more...big one...for full HD monitors

 

Mazda Announces New Design Theme: 'KODO - Soul of Motion'

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation today announced Mazda's new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion', and the design concept model, Mazda SHINARI, a pure expression of this new theme.

Since launching its first passenger car, the Mazda R360 Coupe, exactly 50 years ago, Mazda has spent many years exploring the concept of 'motion,' offering customers designs that are exciting both to view and to drive. In particular, since the launch of the Zoom-Zoom brand message, Mazda has pursued the concept of more athletic and sporty motion, and has adopted dynamic designs for all Mazda models starting with the Mazda6 and followed by the RX-8 and the Mazda2. In recent years, this motion-based design has been further extended to incorporate the theme of 'motion inspired by nature', embodied in the Mazda NAGARE concept car series and the all-new Mazda5.

As a result of these initiatives, since the launch of the first Mazda6 in 2002, Mazda design has been the subject of great acclaim, receiving 30 global awards for car design alone.

Ikuo Maeda, the head of Mazda's Design Division, explains the new design theme in this way: "In our work to further evolve the expression of motion, Mazda Design has focused on the strength, beauty and tension found in the instantaneous movement seen in animals. This motion that is so full of vitality that it stirs the emotions of those who see it. We have named it 'KODO - Soul of Motion', and our aim is to express movement with forceful vitality and speed as the design theme for Mazda's upcoming models."

Maeda continues, "Mazda's four design studios located in Japan (Hiroshima and Yokohama), Europe (Frankfurt, Germany), and North America (Irvine, California) are currently combining to take up the challenge to achieve a breakthrough in the expression of motion in car design, and incorporate this expression into our future products."

Mazda SHINARI
Mazda SHINARI is a 4-door, 4-seat, sports coupe and a pure expression of the new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion', in its idealized form. Mazda SHINARI showcases several new design elements that will carry forward into production, and represents the first initiative by Mazda Design to express 'KODO - Soul of Motion'.

The Japanese word shinari describes the powerful yet supple appearance of great resilient force when objects of high tensile strength, such as steel or bamboo, are twisted or bent. It also refers to the appearance of a person or animal as it flexes its body in preparation for a fast movement, and it is these images that form the basis for the name of this concept car.

With images of strength flowing across every panel and part, the Mazda SHINARI looks ready to leap at any second. This form incorporates the expression of a strong backbone running through the body, the sudden release of pent-up energy, and the interplay of beautiful, supple movements. The distinctive front fenders represent the further evolution of the prominent fenders introduced on the RX-8. They highlight the dynamic movement expressed in the sides of SHINARI, in a style that is both sporty and elegant. Together with the further three-dimensional sculpting of the front grille, the design proudly emphasizes the Mazda lineage. There is a powerful line of movement originating at the grille and continuing through the bonnet, fender, front lamp modules and bumper. Finally, an aluminum floating bar linking the grille with the headlights enhances the three-dimensional expression of speed.

In the interior, Mazda Design has created the 'ultimate athletic space' focused on linking ergonomics with basic mechanical functions. We have designed the optimum space for both the driver cockpit, to enable the driver to focus on the task of driving, as well as the passenger environment, offering a sense of openness. In this model, Mazda offers new ideas for the human-machine interface in cockpit design, enabling the driver to switch at will between three modes: Business, Pleasure and Sport, to enjoy driving in line with the situation at the time.

Mazda SHINARI, the first of Mazda's concept cars to embody the design theme 'KODO - Soul of Motion'.

 

That's simple, it was printed before photos taken.

Check this out: http://www.mazda.co.jp/90th/

 

I'd come back to Mazda for this, well if the power was there, it was RWD or AWD and isn't a rotary. It's going to be to big and heavy for even a 16x. Lightweight 2 door is going to be best for the 16x.

 

Because it isnt Mazda holding the event. The SoCal 7club actually throws the party, its their yearly club BBQ. They just happen to invite anyone the world over who wants to come and Mazda lends them some space for it and helps put on a nice display for everyone.

 

Sorry about that Mate....

Gee this is Beauty In Motion....Mazda should just make it as it is...I wonder??,,,MMMmmm.

 

Shinari STEALTH Pic...

 

A bit of Photoshop work and we have a 2-door coupe (RX-7)...

longer hood, more "cab-back"; could probably be a 2+2



...and a 4-door coupe (RX-8)

same wheelbase as 2-door, but with shorter hood; more "cab-forward"

 

No kidding, I always thought it was a Mazda sponsered event.

 

mazda is a major sponsor for many years but its not their party

 

The two door pshops look great and if it’s light enough then a new rotary coupe would do well although it would need a lot of marketing to overcome perceived issues of the 13b.

The rotary even in a CLS/CC bodystyle is a non-starter. Performance enthusiasts will chance a new rotary but sedan buyers aren’t going to. A sky-g 4 and 6 or borrowing Ford’s ecoboost 6 if they don’t intend to do a sky-g 6 would work well.

Even if the 16x comes out with 300hp, fuel economy in the high 20’s it’s still not going to be trusted by the main stream buyer looking for something stylish.

The interior is nice but there is a lot of concept fluff in the center stack and buttons placed out of visual sight of he driver that would never fly.

Hopefully they can translate most of this into a new MX-6.

 

Here is Mazda official video. Just in case this was not posted yet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-pWc...eature=related

 

^Nice vid! This car looks so good in motion and it is unfortunate it will not be a production car.

 

I think it's kind of funny how much more japanese Mazda is compared to other japanese brands... the other brands are more strictly industrial/corporate japanese.