Planning my own bumper design/build this winter
 

So recently Ive been doing several small custom built bodywork projects, and now I've decided to step it up alittle and design and build my own bumper. I currently have two spare oe bumpers with the addition of my AutoExe SE-03c that is currently being modded and was sent to paint yesterday. I will be doing this this coming winter. I am thinking that it will take a solid month or two to build the master and currently thinking of making a limited small production of the bumper. Maybe somewhere around 20-25 bumpers just enough to get the kit out there but keeping it rare and exclusive. The plan is now to do this once a year just to keep my interest up, each year will be a different design. Each year I will set out to design something new and refreshing but keeping in mind the original lines of the car. For that reason the design will be somewhat modest. I have though about wether to build an integrated chin splitter or keep the original dimensions of the oe look so that people may add thier own splittter(ie, AutoExe, Siebon, burnout, oe AP, etc etc.) This is yet undecided but I figured that I start designing now and get some feedback from the community.
The design reflects some of the new 09 design and some of my own imputs. Here are some of my thoughts in PS form some are mild some alittle bit more wild. I am leaning towards the milder designs but am open to suggestions.
This is a work-in-progress so I will keep posting the latest ideas here and see how it evolves. Issues with things like the bumper bar will be considered and may be resolved with something like the 09 bird beak but more like that of the 010 Mazda 3 with an integrated air intake that would either encase the VFad or replace it entirely....

So here they are from mild to wild...

Lager ducts, shallowed out bottom of the main grill(shallower point)
http://g.imagehost.org/0616/bumper-exp01a.jpg

Larger ducts with 09 shaped center grillwith the profile without 'beak'
http://g.imagehost.org/0740/bumper-exp02b.jpg

Contoured grill with beak top line, same oil cooler ducts with additional vent above
http://g.imagehost.org/0439/bumper-exp02d.jpg

sharper contour center grill, matching contoured oil cooler ducts
http://g.imagehost.org/0537/bumper-exp02c.jpg

sharpened nose, more veilside-ish
http://g.imagehost.org/0074/bumper-e...point-nose.jpg

Extra division in oil cooler ducting possible source for brake cooling,
http://g.imagehost.org/0863/bumper-exp02c_e_vent.jpg

And number 3 I like the most, make the bottom of the center grill not so pointy....

"Contoured grill with beak top line, same oil cooler ducts with additional vent above"

I like the first best. The others look like faces with cleft lip... haha But I would actually be interested in purchasing one if you make them... and of course if I see the final result and like it.

+10

Flatten that bottom center grill out and I'll paypal you tonight lol ;)

Brice's suggestion...

http://g.imagehost.org/0789/bumper-exp02brice.jpg

Smooth it out just a touch and it is teh sex :icon_tup:

Smooth out which area....

and that is where it is at.

Just about perfect!

Right below the Black mesh grill the lower line it is slightly coming to a point, make the connection more...fluid

:)

I agree with brice on flattening the bottom of the center grille, but i would like it without the beak ....:yesnod:

edit: both are great!

Ross Dawg and Brice's suggestions

http://g.imagehost.org/0317/bumper-exp02b_RD.jpg

I knew something was missing or "not missing".........DELETE THE SIDE MARKERS!!!!

The 'beak' will be behind the mesh much like in the 04 style grill, instead of a solid wall it will be an integrated cold air supply like the Racing Beat duct just in front of the bumper bar...

Side markers will stay for those who want to keep them, deleting them with body work will be something that the owner will have to do...

Done!

Awesome!

I patent exclusive rights to sell! ;)

Lol j/k

Oh man... I have to go change my shorts now dammit!

Good input so far, keep the ideas coming and we will widdle down to the most desireable design. Now I gotta go watch the Rolex race,,,,

No joke, you know how I poked at you for supporting others(the guy who paints interior panels) I had you in mind for production once the master was finished....
We'll take that paprt of the discussion offline for now....

i still like the 2nd one the most
*Larger ducts with 09 shaped center grillwith the profile without 'beak'*

what channel? direct tv? is the 8 in it?

That happens to be my favorite too, if that one isnt chosen as the final design I may still make it for an even more limited run... It sounds like I may have to start earlier than the winter for the, for now, favorite design...

SPEED 2pm,,, yes the 8's are in it and the #70 has the new facelift which is dead sexy...

Speed, channel 607 for Direct TV

i know it's really early to be askin somethin like this, but PRICE???

maybe some furai lights in the top small ducts? I tried to MS paint but it didnt come out so good. :(

1 millio.... wait what? ;)

Custom pieces will not be cheap

Being mass produced is another story, one or two yes.

yeah i know... I would expect to pay a lot for a custom piece like this
but im really just lookin for a ballpark figure here so i can start savin up:naughty:

Well Im not into that kinda look, nor the Audi knock off headlight look, your comment did spur another idea however, what about the new 09 fogs in there and removing the 04 fogs.... Of course with the 09 fog light assembly costing in the $400 ballpark this would drive the price up significantly...

http://g.imagehost.org/0354/bumper-exp02zumnlights.jpg

hmmm... what about incorporating a vent below the oil cooler to use as a brake duct?

Like take the second picture in the OP and and make one in the BO lip? Might look wierd, iono

So price wise compared to the AUTOExe that looks like this?

I'd love to see the last pic from the first post with the same 'de-beaking' you did on the recent iteration. Love the vertical inlets.

You can always make the light optional...

yeah I've been contemplating this for a while I have some PS work from three years ago....

I dont want to deal with the bumper below the point that you would attatch a chin spoiler so it can leave as much of an option for the buyer to incorporate any lip they like.

As for brake ducting, if everything goes smoothly and quickly I have thought about building a duct that sits within the bumper for some time now, and would build that too. The AutoExe SE-03c bumper I just received is a 5 piece bumper, they have two oil cooler shrowds and you have to purchase either the R3 fog light trim or the oe factory trim pieces off the 09 to complete the bumper....

No, all pricing is TBD and hasnt really been considered for now... The original intent of this project is to release a limited number and move on, every six months or a year producing a new design.

I will PS this next, the inlets on that are enlarged so I will see what it looks like by de beaking it, Again the beak is more a function to hide the bumper bar and has thought about to incorporate a cold air source.

True, but there are considerably complex mounting points for the light assembly, this can be though t out more as the build progresses...

suggestions from allanstrings -

http://g.imagehost.org/0380/bumper-exp02allan_a.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0980/bumper-e...lan_events.jpg

i think the more you tweak the kits the weirder they're starting to look, i still like the original 2nd kit

Its ok to think that, I have setup all these pieces in PS so that we can explore and exhaust all ideas, it doesnt mean however that the first are forgotten, they are there and still in mind as the front runner, however if we dont tweak and explore than something even better may not be discovered....

I like the one brice made suggestions on...came out nicely.


O and your originals look like a smiling face which progressively get a larger and larger smile lol

These bumpers are looking great Greg. You're doing some awesome work here. I'm subscribed.

Well thats the direction that the Mazda Design language is going and Im trying to keep my designs current and relavent as well...

Thanks Garrett...

04-08 Oem Bumper was smiling like the movie Cars

This new design is not smiling anymore........its LOL'ING! "why so serious!"

A couple more to consider,,,,

alil more big mouth...
http://g.imagehost.org/0389/bumper-exp02fs.jpg

A touch of FEED and alil snake
http://g.imagehost.org/0535/bumper-exp02g.jpg

Hints of RMagic... http://g.imagehost.org/0794/bumper-exp02h.jpg

And shallowed out,,,
http://g.imagehost.org/0237/bumper-exp02i.jpg

Need a big hole for that FMIC????
http://g.imagehost.org/0617/bumper-exp02j.jpg

I like picture #2. I think it might look a bit better if the bottom of the grill was a touch flatter and the top of the grill a touch of an overhang. I think if you could add a Leg style lip were the front center comes out a bit it would look hot! It would like OE bumper with a molded lip/splitter.

#3 AND THE fmic. Ill take the FMIC now please. Where do i paypal to??:yesnod:

something like this????

http://g.imagehost.org/0160/bumper-exp02pdxhak.jpg

I like the flatter bottom! Can you add some overhang to the top of the grill area like pic #3?

the first 2 are the best.

When designing the front ducts you usually want to follow the shape of the headlight, it flows better especially with certain angles

I was thinking the overhang from this picture. Think the roundness of the vertex nose. I really like the ducts from picture #2 and the flatter lower grill you did.

Have to say you have some photoshop skills :)

http://g.imagehost.org/0439/bumper-exp02d.jpg