Mazda brought out the big guns here at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Company Chairman, President and CEO Takashi Yamanouchi was on hand to unveil the Zoom-Zoom automaker's latest concept, the Minagi, and announce the launch of a new eco-conscious sub-brand.
The Minagi concept car is another design study based on Mazda's new Kodo design philosophy, which we're told was "inspired by the swift movement of animals." The first Kodo creation was the Shinari, unveiled last summer in Milan, Italy. Both models are bubbling with aggression and road presence.
Just as important as the head-turning concepts, and possibly more so, was the announcement of Mazda's new SkyActiv brand. It sounds like yet another one of those eco-umbrellas that most manufacturers have unfurled, under which to launch their greenest creations. But there's a little more to it here.
Mazda is holding true to its sporty Zoom-Zoom billing with SkyActiv. It's a package of technologies designed to deliver sparkling economy and low emissions without hurting the driving experience. We've heard this before of course, but SkyActiv's lightweight body and chassis technology could well deliver on this promise.
Read Blog: Mazda Gets SkyActiv With High Tech
The forthcoming SkyActiv engines stand up to scrutiny, too. There's a direct-injection gas-powered unit dubbed SkyActiv-G, which has the highest compression ratio of any production gas engine. That means a 15 percent increase in torque and fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, the SkyActiv-D diesel engine meets Euro 6 emissions regulations without expensive exhaust after-treatment technology and is 20 percent more economical than Mazda's current 2.2-liter oil-burner.
Both SkyActiv engines have significantly reduced weight and friction losses. Each can also be paired with the new SkyActiv-Drive automatic gearbox for further efficiency savings.
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What is it? It's a compact SUV design concept from Mazda using the company's latest Kodo design language.
What makes it hot? The flowing curves of the Minagi should hit the right notes with buyers who want an SUV without the bullish squared-off lines that have pervaded this market in the past. Mazda has aimed to produce a driver-focused cockpit feel in the cabin, with bold instruments and a sporty seating position. The concept is powered by a diesel engine capable of returning carbon-dioxide emissions of 120g/km.
What concerns us? It's hard to pick holes in this one. It doesn't look like a production car, with its outlandish curves and futuristic cabin, but with a production version just around the corner, who knows how much of the Minagi style will be carried over?
How much and when? Yet to be determined. Concept only for now.
Our verdict? We've seen a string of concept cars previewing Mazda's new design direction, and there hasn't been a duffer among them. With a Mazda compact SUV borrowing from the Minagi just around the corner, it might be time to start getting excited.