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.

Full Story : http://www.speedsportlife.com/mazda-sassou-design-concept-vehicle-to-be-unveiled-at-2005-frankfurt-motor-show

Photo Gallery : http://www.speedsportlife.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=686

 

 

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


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?
________
VAPORIZER-INFO

 

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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!