- Mazda unveiled its Shinari concept this week in Milan.
- The Shinari's front end is described as the face of future Mazda products.
- The four-door coupe will be shown at the upcoming Paris auto show.
MILAN, Italy — Mazda has officially unveiled the Shinari, a four-door "coupe" concept that introduces the company's new Kodo design language.
Shinari looks good enough to stand on its own, but Mazda apparently has no immediate production plans for the four-seater, judging from what little its designers shared with journalists at a preview here, ahead of the concept's formal unveiling at the 2010 Paris Auto Show in late September.
Mazda emphasized that Kodo — said to translate as "soul of motion" — was a collaboration among its design studios in Japan, Europe and the U.S., and is intended to replace the Nagare design language that graced such recent production cars as the latest Mazda 3.
In particular, the front-end design of the Shinari, with its signature aluminum wing, was described as the new face of future Mazda production vehicles. According to Britain's Autocar, Shinari's "prominent, gaping-mouth grille . . . does away with Nagare's 'smiling face.'"
The concept's interior, designed in California, features aluminum trim, chronometer-style gauges and leather-covered seats and surfaces, as well as an asymmetric front seating layout plus deep rear buckets.
Inside Line says: From the rear, a dead ringer for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
dafada3 says:
05:32 PM, 01/12/2011
WOW! Is Mazda headed in the right direction or what?! This just goes to show you that all the criticism they got for the smiley face BS they came up with made it back to the designers. Imagine that, a car company that listens to its customers. I've postponed buying a new mazda since the smiley face showed up on the road. Im glad its dying a quick death and I cant wait to see this new design theme applied to the current production or please please please let them die too and give us something new! I'm American and nothing would make me happier than for Mazda to offer the same Jspec (drivers side adjusted of course) here as in Japan. I wont buy a Mazda thats not made in Japan, no offense American Manufacturing Group but your products are inferior. Sign me up Mazda, Im ready for a Shinari or any good Kono application your ready to offer!
tigz says:
02:38 PM, 11/20/2010
Beautiful concept but looks too similar to the INFINITI ESSENCE COUPE. Even the interior center consol has the same shape.
dstppy says:
12:38 PM, 09/30/2010
I'd say more Quattroporte with a distinct Furai feel ;)
We all like it . . . that means they're going to shove the same pig engine in the prod model with a slushbox, smooth out all of the sexy lines and finally smooth out the front grille into a nice, curved smile.
Then Hyundai can copy it.
:D
exinobel102 says:
12:17 PM, 09/29/2010
Very good looking car. It looks like a good departure form the Nagare design language theme that is currently being used by Mazda, which have I never really liked. It looks almost cartoonish on certain cars such as the 3 and the face lifted 5. I think that Mazda is in a similar situation that BMW is. Although BMW caters to a different buyer, they too are throttling back on contraversial and radical design themes now that Chris Bangle is not designing there cars. We see this on the the 3, 5, and 7 series. Can't wait to see the entire lineup given this design treatment. I peronally think that we are looking at a precursor to the next generation RX-8 or the new RX-7 if the RX-8 is given the axe.
the_enthusiast says:
12:08 AM, 09/29/2010
As much a copy of other cars some are calling the Shinari, i believe it is still a beautiful effort by Mazda. (exterior wise at least).
Now someone mentioned the Karma, in the earlier comments. You know what the Karma's front reminds me of? The Nissan Juke. No, im not kidding. Go look at both car's front end and tell me if you see the resemblance.
Cheers!
k55 says:
11:07 AM, 09/01/2010
can you imagine if they also offered a shorter wheelbase 2 seater that looked this good .....a la RX7?
pmtguy says:
04:00 AM, 09/01/2010
I agree the car is amazing i would love to see a Mazda 5 with this new design direction it does have some hyundai in there I almost see a little Jag in the front end. But either way I love it I hope this is the direction for the next RX-7 or 8 whatever they end up making
eki79 says:
10:56 PM, 08/31/2010
That does look good... hopefully it won't change too much before production.
thejoshdude says:
06:02 PM, 08/31/2010
Man that looks good. And I'm someone who loves the smiley 3.
ocramidajzj says:
02:34 PM, 08/31/2010
good point cmike.