Monday, December 13, 2010

Abu Dhabi International Motorshow : Mazda zoom-zoom!

I liked Mazda's stand ... they showcased the Mazda Kazamai. Haha... nope it ain't a sushi dish. Its an oddball batman-esque SUV by Mazda! Kazamai actually means “swirling crosswinds” in Japanese!


Mazda speak ... The Kazamai concept further evolves Mazda’s ‘Nagare’ design language by fusing Nagare’s ‘flow’ design cues with aerodynamic proportions. The design features panel lines inspired by crosswinds in nature which evoke visual lightness. Its bold five-point grille, accentuated front wheel arches and sleek roof line, combined with large 22-inch wheels, lend it high emotional appeal.


My favourite part of the Mazda stable, the evergreen ... Miata!
It was first unveilled at the Chicago Motorshow way back in 1989, being sold in some markets as a Eunos Roadster. Mazda had created an affordable front-engined / rear wheel-drive lightweight roadster. Bravo!


I love how in 1976, Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai, head of Research and Development at Mazda. Yamamoto and Gai Arai asked Hall what kind of car Mazda should make in the future:
"I babbled [...] how the [...] simple, bugs-in-the-teeth, wind-in-the-hair, classically-British sports car doesn't exist anymore. I told Mr. Yamamoto that somebody should build one [...] inexpensive roadster."
21 years later, the Mazda MX-5 is still so well-loved, despite having put on a few pounds and safety devices, and even an automatic transmission IF you really wanted one!

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