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Old 08-06-2003, 10:02 PM
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Mazda Kusabi

Mazda Motor Corporation will unveil an all-new Zoom-Zoom concept car at the 60th International Motor Show (IAA)* in Frankfurt in early September 2003. The Mazda Kusabi - a small, lightweight, diesel-powered sports car concept - clearly indicates Mazda's current direction in its effort to expand its future presence in the compact car segment. The Mazda Kusabi will debut alongside the all-new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan), which will also make its auto show debut in Frankfurt, prior to its sales launch into key global markets beginning in the fourth quarter of 2003.


Mazda Kusabi

Mazda Kusabi is a true design concept that showcases Mazda efforts to further develop innovative access systems, packaging solutions and its own, unique design language. Kusabi, when translated from Japanese, means "wedge," but can also mean "making way for something new." And in this sense, Mazda Kusabi presents a new direction for Mazda compact cars, presented as a small, modern sports car with a stylish and aggressive exterior, environmentally friendly 1.6-liter common-rail diesel engine, and driving characteristics that can make everyday city commuting and driving fun and exciting.

The exterior design is highlighted by sharp press lines extending from the bonnet through the body sides to the rear of the car, large wheels and pronounced fenders, and an undeniable "reverse wedge" extending from the A-pillars rearward. The result is a stylish and aggressive sports car concept equipped with a revolutionary tailgate mechanism that allows easy access to the luggage compartment, improving overall functionality for the everyday use.


Mazda Kusabi

The Frankfurt Auto Show debut of the Mazda3s will be the public's first opportunity to see the newest Mazda, the Mazda3, which brings together balanced dynamic performance, evocative styling, and high-quality craftsmanship and finish. The Mazda3 is the fourth, new-generation Mazda and follows closely behind the launch of the all-new Mazda6, Mazda2 and Mazda RX-8. Mazda will release additional Mazda3 product detail - including information pertaining to body styles, packages and powertrains - at the 2003 IAA. The vehicle will go on sale in Europe in the fall and will be introduced into key markets through the fourth quarter of calendar year 2003 and into the first quarter of 2004.
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Old 08-06-2003, 10:05 PM
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the Kusabi reminds me of the MX-3...
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Old 08-07-2003, 05:35 AM
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Bizzare how all the manufacturers are trying to make deisil's sporty and desil sports cars.

Vaxhaul/GM have just done a demo desil VX220.

I cant think of anything further from the rotary engine - cant they leave the oil burners to theer motorway plodding?
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Old 08-07-2003, 05:52 AM
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Little more info...

http://www.mazdaworld.org/forums/ind...showtopic=2177
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Old 08-07-2003, 06:56 AM
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Diesel ! EEUUGgghgh....
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Old 08-07-2003, 03:15 PM
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The above link to the mazdaworld forum doesn't work for me.

I also found a sketch:
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Old 08-07-2003, 10:22 PM
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The sketch of the Kusabi shown in the link looks interesting.

But if Mazda only knew what the name of their new concept car means in Turkish, they would have picked another one! "Kus" is the command form of the verb "kusmak", which means to vomit. "Abi" is a short form of the word "Agabey" which means older brother.

Thus, Kusabi means "Vomit, brother!".
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Old 08-07-2003, 11:42 PM
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Talking

rear of the "vomit, brother" :D but i think it looks nice regardless of the name
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Old 08-08-2003, 03:55 AM
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Looks like any one of 1000's of scetches your average car designer chucks out.

Getting the car build ANYTHING like a scetch is some achievement.
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Old 09-09-2003, 01:18 PM
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Here's an other link to those two drawings ... and some other interesting stuff check out

http://www.cardesignnews.com/autosho...abi/index.html

or to see more actual picts (from AutoWeek Online's Frankfurt show coverage) check out...

http://autoweek.com/specials/2003_frankfurt/

sadly I couldn't come up with anything showing the back or the inside ...

Last edited by bwayout; 09-09-2003 at 01:30 PM.
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Old 09-10-2003, 09:57 AM
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http://www.cardesignnews.com/autosho...ts/index2.html

If you scroll al the way down, you'll see these pics and if you click on them you'll get even bigger versions ...
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Old 09-10-2003, 10:05 AM
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I like how the rear wheel fenders follow the front's style and lines - I now wish that the RX-8 sort of did the same in a less pronounced but still a little edgey way (IMHO I've always feel that the rear design of the RX-8 was it's weakest)...
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Old 09-11-2003, 08:34 AM
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Official pics:

http://members.chello.nl/mel.rozeboo...s/nieuws19.htm

Based on the Mazda2. At the Tokyo Motor Show Mazda will present a cabrio-version of the Kusabi. And...there will be a small roadster based on the Mazda2. So maybe, Mazda will present the MX-2 on the Tokyo Motor Show or a prototype for it
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Old 09-11-2003, 12:58 PM
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Thanks for the link for those "official" pictures!

I love the way the rear hatch can open 2 different ways!

:D

I just wish I could read it ...

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Old 09-11-2003, 01:19 PM
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awesome
love the interior
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Old 09-11-2003, 09:43 PM
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The drawings and the actual car look pretty similar...sporty and futuristic....something robocop would drive after his mid-life crisis.
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Old 09-15-2003, 04:53 PM
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The kusabi could be a cool little car if mazda ends up producing it, but on a side note, how badass is that Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione.
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Old 09-15-2003, 05:32 PM
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That has to be one of the ugliest cars I've seen and not that practical either ... despite the fancy boot ....

Why rake the roofline back like that? How does that help rear headroom?

Wierd!!!
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Old 09-15-2003, 06:57 PM
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Originally posted by Crazyfool
T... but on a side note, how badass is that Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione.
I agree!

:D

I wonder if it has a back seat?

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Old 09-16-2003, 04:06 PM
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Unhappy

funky looking car .

Next!
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Old 09-16-2003, 07:05 PM
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reminds me of the Infiniti FX. That Opel insignia is gorgeous (off your link at the auto show)
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Old 09-16-2003, 07:22 PM
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I'm off to the Frankfurt Motor Show this Saturday, so I'll see if I can get some more pics for you guys...


-andy-
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Old 09-17-2003, 05:58 PM
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Originally posted by sixspeed
I'm off to the Frankfurt Motor Show this Saturday, so I'll see if I can get some more pics for you guys...


-andy-
Thank you! Thank you!

:D
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Old 09-17-2003, 06:41 PM
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Originally posted by RodsterinFL
... That Opel insignia is gorgeous (off your link at the auto show)
not to hijack this thread, but it looks like GM is going to head into production on the Opel Insignia give or take a year or two ...

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/gm9_20030909.htm

BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


FRANKFURT, Germany -- General Motors Corp. plans to build a new worldwide family of mid- and full-size sedans and crossovers based on the underpinnings of the 344-horsepower Opel Insignia concept car it will show at the Frankfurt International Motor Show today, executives said Monday night. ...

As many as four or five of GM's brands could get V8-powered vehicles based on the architecture, he said, including Chevrolet, Pontiac, Opel/Vauxhall in Europe and Holden in Australia.

The first cars based on the architecture are expected to go into production in North America in 2005 or 2006. ...

Opel will decide whether to build a car like the Insignia by the end of the year, said Hans Demant, Opel chief engineer. Opel, based in Ruesselsheim a few miles south of Frankfurt, is GM's main European unit and is responsible for engineering most cars GM sells outside North America.

The Insignia could give Opel a flagship model to help create a premium image for the brand, Demant said. Opel would probably only sell 30,000 to 50,000 such cars a year, too small a number to repay the investment of developing a new architecture, he said. The low volumes have kept Opel from developing a top rear-drive model to replace its aging Omega.

"We need to decide if we will build the Insignia soon," he said. "The idea will not stay fresh."
... Now do we think that Mazda started the ball rolling with the RX-8? Looks like that to me!

:D

Last edited by bwayout; 09-17-2003 at 06:44 PM.
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Old 09-21-2003, 02:07 PM
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the artist illustration of the mazda kusuba concept looked better than the car.

What caught my eye was the pillerless design (how would it be possible???), but nonetheless it looked way cool. Then I saw the actual concept vehicle on one of the sites posted, and was disappointed to see there were pillars.

I was hoping they somehow tackled the "pillerless" design, as depicted in the artists rendition of the concept.
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