Mazda presented an exciting design
concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show with the world premiere
of the Mazda Sassou (‘sa so’) – a small, lightweight,
three-door hatchback powered by a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1.0-litre
MZR DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) gasoline engine. The Mazda
Sassou design concept indicates a possible direction Mazda might take
for a future B-segment vehicle.
The Mazda Sassou concept
car at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show |
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Sassou was joined by the exciting Mazda MX-Crossport concept, which made
its European motor show premiere. Also on stage was the new facelift version
of the Mazda2 and two all-new vehicles on the eve of European launch –
the third-generation Mazda MX-5 roadster and the high-performance flagship
of the Mazda6 line up, Mazda6 MPS, as well as the recently launched Mazda6
upgrade and Mazda5 Compact-Multi Activity Vehicle.
Conceived and designed at Mazda’s European R & D centre in Oberursel,
near Frankfurt, the Sassou is a lightweight, three-door hatchback that
provides young, first-time buyers with a vehicle that makes urban driving
fun, highly practical and economical.
The exterior design evolves Zoom-Zoom design language to communicate the
dynamic potential Mazda design is known for, and mixes this with lightness
and surprising hidden features never seen on a Mazda concept before.
The Mazda Sassou design concept is based in part on the “Shoji”
principle. Shoji screens are thin Japanese doors that partially hide what
is behind them. Opening them for the first time can reveal something surprising,
which is also true of a first encounter with Mazda Sassou.
For instance, an ingenious use of translucent plastic hides the front
and rear lamps, which only become visible once the car is unlocked, with
light pulsing around the exterior light graphics in a way that makes the
car seem to come alive.
The Shoji principle is carried over into Mazda Sassou’s interior,
an experience that begins when opening the door. The concept’s interior
systems are conceived to be used with a universal serial bus (USB) stick
key that functions in place of a traditional key and includes a remote
central locking function.
Using this as an interface, the driver can operate all the important functions
through a screen in the centre stack. When a function is selected, light
circuits illuminate a path to the selected feature, enhancing the Mazda
Alive aspect of the concept even further.
The USB stick key also provides new levels of convenience, as it can be
downloaded at home with music and favourite hot spots, which can then
be uploaded onto the car’s hard disc drive and navigation system.
Mazda Sassou also has advanced comfort and room for either three or four
occupants. It employs a rear seat morphing system that uses compressed
air for seating one passenger in the middle of the back seat area, or
two passengers.
Mazda MX-Crossport
Frankfurt also saw the European premiere of the Mazda MX-Crossport, an
exciting crossover concept that combines sports car styling motifs from
the Mazda RX-8 with the more practical packaging of a Sport-Utility Vehicle
(SUV) – taking Zoom-Zoom to an “advanced frontier” where
Mazda Motor Corporation has never before ventured.
The MX-Crossport has a low roofline compared to traditional small SUV-type
vehicles and has an aggressive off-road look. Its sporty lower grille
opening and powerful front bumper are similar to that of the Mazda RX-8
and achieve a unique balance between the evolutionary nature of the concept
and Mazda’s recent sports car tradition.
The interior is surprisingly roomy with a “floating” seat
construction, with each seat mounted to a “monorail” system
in the floor, which allows slide adjustment fore and aft. Mazda MX Crossport
also features an advanced information and entertainment system, including
a separate screen for the front passenger that shows four different views
of the driving experience using five cameras.
Mazda2 Facelift
Mazda is also presented a refreshed version of its sub-compact star, Mazda2,
at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Its bold and sophisticated
exterior design with the Zoom-Zoom face is now enhanced with new colours,
wheels, lights and fog lights. On the inside, Mazda2 is now more comfortable
and convenient with two new colours, new seat and trim fabrics, and a
new audio system with CD player also available.
Mazda2’s engine line up is now cleaner as well with the introduction
of a Euro Stage IV compliant version of its MZ-CD 1.4-litre common-rail
turbo diesel. It is also safer and more fun to drive, with dynamic stability
control (DSC) now available for all engines with manual transmission.
ABS, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist are now standard
in all EU countries.
Mazda MX-5
Frankfurt also saw the presentation of the third-generation Mazda MX-5,
which will be launched at the end of this year in Europe. The new Mazda
MX-5 retains the same vehicle concept that has made it so popular around
the world – affordable, lightweight, compact and perfectly balanced
with front midship engine and rear-wheel drive.
Within these parameters, the new Mazda MX-5 delivers an even lower centre
of gravity than its predecessor for even more instantaneous handling response.
It is also longer, wider and higher, with more room on the inside, and
it is safer.
Despite these upgrades, vehicle weight has remained nearly the same, which
ensures the same compact, open-top Zoom-Zoom driving fun the roadster
has always been known for. The third-generation Mazda MX-5 will continue
the tradition that made it the best-selling roadster of all time in an
exciting, fun-to-drive vehicle evolved for the 21st-Century.
Mazda6 MPS
Another exciting vehicle to take the stage at this year’s Frankfurt
Motor Show, was the all-new Mazda6 MPS, which is set for launch soon as
the flagship version of the Mazda6 line up. Its design enhances exterior
features of the Mazda6 saloon to communicate high performance combined
with the sophistication that characterises the entire model line up.
Mazda6 MPS features an all-new, direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine
that produces 260ps of maximum power at 5,500 rpm* and 380Nm of torque
at just 3,000 rpm** with modifications to the body and chassis that ensure
handling stability and ride comfort. The new DISI* engine is coupled to
a new six-speed transmission and an Active Torque Split, 4-Wheel Drive
system that ensures stability whatever the road conditions might be.
* Subject to final homologation
** DISI : Direct Injection Spark Ignition
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