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Mazda’s latest series of concept cars seem like odd organic cars that do not look like it may make it’s way into production form anytime soon, and the latest is the Mazda Taiki concept which continues to follow the Nagare theme established with the first car in the new concept line, the Mazda Nagare. Nagare means flow, and Mazda turned to nature for inspiration – using cues from natural flow lines all around us – shapes in sand dunes etched by the wind, ocean waves, lava flow down a volcano, and etc.
All three design centers – US, European and Japan contributed to this series of concepts, with cars like the original Nagare coming from the US-based design center and the Mazda Ryuga from the Hiroshima Design Center in Japan. The Mazda Hakaze design concept came from the European Design Center.
The Mazda Taiki is the fourth in the series, and this one comes from the Hiroshima Design Center team led by Chief Designer Yamada Atsuhiko. Every concept car represents a different segment of future cars, for example the Mazda Ryuga was envisioned as a future compact car. The Mazda Taiki points to a possible future design direction for Mazda sports cars.
The stretched coupe has short overhangs and its interior has a liberating and free feel to it thanks to an all-glass canope. It has a drag coefficient of 0.25 and zero lift. Air is channeled through the front fender via a tunnel formed between the body and the rear fender – this creates downforce.
This design concept is also used to unveil some technical goodies. The 2-seater Mazda Taiki is conceptually powered by the next generation RENESIS rotary engine engine called the RENESIS 16X. The engine will be mounted at the front and will power the rear wheels, a proven formula for a sports car.
More details on that engine will come in a later post, but you’ll be pleased to know that Mazda is the latest manufacturer to jump on the twin clutch bandwagon. The RENESIS 16X engine will be mated to a 7-speed dry twin clutch transmission. Suspension is a double wishbone setup for both front and rear, and the car rides on 22 inch Enkei wheels wrapped with Yokohama Advan Super-E spec Prototype 007 tyres in 195/40R22 size. As for dimensions, the Mazda Taiki is 4620mm long, 1950mm wide, 1240mm tall and has a wheelbase of 3000mm.
More photos after the jump.
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Now this is different and totally awesome! Looking at it makes you feel its one of those alien space fighters piloted by Will Smith in ID.
Wonder is alien their chief designer.
Yeap, TMS (Tokyo Motor Show) is always a BIG SHOW for CONCEPT cars. Mass-Pro Cars? Sorry TMS is not the right place to go for!
Mazda is going CRAZY now. Only Alien will BUY such ULGY looking Beast.
paul,ur at tokyo auto show or tokyo comic show ?!!
wat la thse cars…..i tink even batman tinks its over the top !!
Err, how to car pool?
Alien knight rider.
this is not only an alienated design, this is a work of art!
alien …totally!
Maybe just make a car that look like ultraman!!!
future rx-8 ?
Maybe a flying car will be good…time to watch my Star wars collections..yikes..
so futuristic!
will not see this like another 10 years time…
i envy those employees that get to work on concepts……we can only admire from far those leet machines that never made it to the market.
If they come up with so many concepts of the same art direction, it might mean that they’re working to make this work into their production cars… it may take a while for this to materialise, but they seem to be real revolutionary in this aspect
The interior looks like the cockpit of a spaceship!
Holy cow, I’ve been playing C&C3: Tiberium War lately, n this concept looks like it was inspired by the Scrin alien race!! Hv the designers been playin that game too?
Cool though, at least those who went to the Tokyo Motorshow gets to see them live, rather than us oni gazing at pics. Imagine the sensation n shock they get when they see this: “WOOO!! STAR TREK HAS ARRIVED!!”
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/10/mazda-developin.html#more
thats the engine detail of the car. Direct injection with a larger capacity and longer stroke.
Scrin…yeah, I agree! Totally crazy! Yet somehow totally awesome!
if a 65years oldman going into that cockpit…. i bet he will pengsan! those line are so futuristic!
wtf. the rear tyres should have shown thou.. would make it less alienated.. the interior seriously looks like alien spacepod thou..