Another four door sports coupe for all to love or hate. This one comes from Mazda->ke53 and was unveiled in Milan, Italy. The new Shinari is a four-door concept car that illustrates the direction Mazda will be taking for the design of their future cars. This direction is the result of a collaboration between Mazda's styling studios in Germany, the United States, and Japan.

With the launch of the new concept, Mazda also announced that the company's future design language will be described by the word Kodo, which is Japanese for soul of motion. Talking about the new design language, Ikuo Maeda, general manager of Mazda Motor Corp.'s design division said: "this design will lead to the next generation of Mazda design and will lead to other elements."

Mazda is taking a little of a vivacious step for them with this new design concept and they are increasing the move by announcing that they will also be working on improving the quality level of its interiors for future vehicles: "We want to play in the same group as BMW->ke178 and Audi->ke14. On fit and finish we want the same level of quality." That's a little of a reach, don't you think?

Updated 09/04/2010: Mazda has unveiled today the official details on the new "Kodo - Soul of Motion" design language and the Shinari - the first vehicle built to embody this new design theme. There is also a new set of high res images. Hit the jump to get full details!

2010 Mazda Shinari Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2010 Mazda Shinari Concept
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Press release

Mazda Motor Corporation today announced Mazda's new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion', and the design concept model, Mazda SHINARI, a pure expression of this new theme.

Since launching its first passenger car, the Mazda R360 Coupe, exactly 50 years ago, Mazda has spent many years exploring the concept of 'motion,' offering customers designs that are exciting both to view and to drive. In particular, since the launch of the Zoom-Zoom brand message, Mazda has pursued the concept of more athletic and sporty motion, and has adopted dynamic designs for all Mazda models starting with the Mazda6 and followed by the RX-8 and the Mazda2. In recent years, this motion-based design has been further extended to incorporate the theme of 'motion inspired by nature', embodied in the Mazda NAGARE concept car series and the all-new Mazda5.

As a result of these initiatives, since the launch of the first Mazda6 in 2002, Mazda design has been the subject of great acclaim, receiving 30 global awards for car design alone.

Ikuo Maeda, the head of Mazda's Design Division, explains the new design theme in this way: "In our work to further evolve the expression of motion, Mazda Design has focused on the strength, beauty and tension found in the instantaneous movement seen in animals. This motion that is so full of vitality that it stirs the emotions of those who see it. We have named it 'KODO - Soul of Motion', and our aim is to express movement with forceful vitality and speed as the design theme for Mazda's upcoming models."

Maeda continues, "Mazda's four design studios located in Japan (Hiroshima and Yokohama), Europe (Frankfurt, Germany), and North America (Irvine, California) are currently combining to take up the challenge to achieve a breakthrough in the expression of motion in car design, and incorporate this expression into our future products."

Mazda SHINARI


Mazda SHINARI is a 4-door, 4-seat, sports coupe and a pure expression of the new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion', in its idealized form. Mazda SHINARI showcases several new design elements that will carry forward into production, and represents the first initiative by Mazda Design to express 'KODO - Soul of Motion'.

The Japanese word shinari describes the powerful yet supple appearance of great resilient force when objects of high tensile strength, such as steel or bamboo, are twisted or bent. It also refers to the appearance of a person or animal as it flexes its body in preparation for a fast movement, and it is these images that form the basis for the name of this concept car.

With images of strength flowing across every panel and part, the Mazda SHINARI looks ready to leap at any second. This form incorporates the expression of a strong backbone running through the body, the sudden release of pent-up energy, and the interplay of beautiful, supple movements. The distinctive front fenders represent the further evolution of the prominent fenders introduced on the RX-8. They highlight the dynamic movement expressed in the sides of SHINARI, in a style that is both sporty and elegant. Together with the further three-dimensional sculpting of the front grille, the design proudly emphasizes the Mazda lineage. There is a powerful line of movement originating at the grille and continuing through the bonnet, fender, front lamp modules and bumper. Finally, an aluminum floating bar linking the grille with the headlights enhances the three-dimensional expression of speed.

In the interior, Mazda Design has created the 'ultimate athletic space' focused on linking ergonomics with basic mechanical functions. We have designed the optimum space for both the driver cockpit, to enable the driver to focus on the task of driving, as well as the passenger environment, offering a sense of openness. In this model, Mazda offers new ideas for the human-machine interface in cockpit design, enabling the driver to switch at will between three modes: Business, Pleasure and Sport, to enjoy driving in line with the situation at the time.

Mazda SHINARI, the first of Mazda's concept cars to embody the design theme 'KODO - Soul of Motion'