Mazda Furai Concept first images before Detroit debut

The Furai Concept was designed at the Mazda’s studio in Southern California led by North American design boss Franz Von Holzhausen.

It is powered by a mid-mounted, three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine fueled by E100 ethanol that generates 450 hp.

The Furai breathes through a shallow, leaflike cup known informally as an "air fang." It looks something like the bow of a boat, rising proud of the roof in order to breathe relatively clean, turbulence-free air that has not been de-energized by the boundary layer. As the air rushes past, twin vortices on either side of the device are generated, which then dump fresh air directly down the intake without incurring the efficiency losses of a traditional snorkel. It’s an elegant solution in keeping with the Furai’s design theme.