What is it?
Mazda Ryuga Concept
What's special about it? Mazda fans are still reeling from the dramatic Nagare concept car that debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show and the Japanese automaker is maximizing the hype with the introduction of the Mazda Ryuga ("ree-yoo-ga") concept at the Detroit auto show.
Laurens van den Acker, design division general manager for Hiroshima, Japan's Mazda Motor Corporation, says, "The Ryuga concept we're presenting in Detroit is our next step in the evolution of Nagare. It's an exploratory design study that's more realistic than Nagare and therefore more useful in gauging reactions from those who see it."
The four-passenger Ryuga coupe is significantly shorter and lower than the Mazda RX-8 sports car. Just over 168 inches long, the Ryuga rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase. Two large gullwing doors rise up to maximize cabin access. Large wheels balance the Ryuga's four corners and its aggressive wedge shape makes it look like the vehicle is in motion, even when it's not.
Nature is the primary design inspiration, and van den Acker says the Ryuga's side surfaces were modeled after "peaceful ripples caused by a breeze over a pool of water," and the headlamp shape resembles the "flow of morning dew dropping from bamboo leaves." The new LED and fluorescent tube technology will allow this setup to be used for production vehicles in the foreseeable future.
Signaling motion, the Ryuga uses slightly twisted 21-inch wheel designs which are different on each side of the car, accented with body color. Toyo Proxes 245/35R21 tires have an original tread pattern.
Flowing lava is said to have inspired both the Ryuga's exterior color and its taillamp design. Depending on the light, the exterior can appear yellow, red and blue, simulating molten lava. Notes van den Acker, "The hot red finish goes straight to your heart."
Mazda says both the Nagare and Ryuga concept vehicles received exterior styling treatments that will be seen both in the near term on other concept cars and in the long term on production models.
A floating center cluster offers a multifunction touch panel to provide both rpm and speed in both analog and digital formats, as well as additional information. Exterior cameras monitor blind spots, and an open-top steering wheel allows clear visibility of the road ahead and an easy view of the gauges. Front bucket seats are shaped to impart an impression of motion, which is also reflected in the seat fabric.
Mazda says an E85/gasoline flex-fuel engine could be used in the front-wheel-drive Ryuga, along with a six-speed automatic transmission and steer-by-wire technology.
What's Edmunds' take?
With the Ryuga concept, we're getting even closer to seeing the Mazda of the future. Although Mazda assures us that neither the Nagare nor Ryuga are bound for production, its current track record leaves us anxious to see its next auto show debut. — Kelly Toepke
Mazda Ryuga Concept
What's special about it? Mazda fans are still reeling from the dramatic Nagare concept car that debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show and the Japanese automaker is maximizing the hype with the introduction of the Mazda Ryuga ("ree-yoo-ga") concept at the Detroit auto show.
Laurens van den Acker, design division general manager for Hiroshima, Japan's Mazda Motor Corporation, says, "The Ryuga concept we're presenting in Detroit is our next step in the evolution of Nagare. It's an exploratory design study that's more realistic than Nagare and therefore more useful in gauging reactions from those who see it."
The four-passenger Ryuga coupe is significantly shorter and lower than the Mazda RX-8 sports car. Just over 168 inches long, the Ryuga rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase. Two large gullwing doors rise up to maximize cabin access. Large wheels balance the Ryuga's four corners and its aggressive wedge shape makes it look like the vehicle is in motion, even when it's not.
Nature is the primary design inspiration, and van den Acker says the Ryuga's side surfaces were modeled after "peaceful ripples caused by a breeze over a pool of water," and the headlamp shape resembles the "flow of morning dew dropping from bamboo leaves." The new LED and fluorescent tube technology will allow this setup to be used for production vehicles in the foreseeable future.
Signaling motion, the Ryuga uses slightly twisted 21-inch wheel designs which are different on each side of the car, accented with body color. Toyo Proxes 245/35R21 tires have an original tread pattern.
Flowing lava is said to have inspired both the Ryuga's exterior color and its taillamp design. Depending on the light, the exterior can appear yellow, red and blue, simulating molten lava. Notes van den Acker, "The hot red finish goes straight to your heart."
Mazda says both the Nagare and Ryuga concept vehicles received exterior styling treatments that will be seen both in the near term on other concept cars and in the long term on production models.
A floating center cluster offers a multifunction touch panel to provide both rpm and speed in both analog and digital formats, as well as additional information. Exterior cameras monitor blind spots, and an open-top steering wheel allows clear visibility of the road ahead and an easy view of the gauges. Front bucket seats are shaped to impart an impression of motion, which is also reflected in the seat fabric.
Mazda says an E85/gasoline flex-fuel engine could be used in the front-wheel-drive Ryuga, along with a six-speed automatic transmission and steer-by-wire technology.
What's Edmunds' take?
With the Ryuga concept, we're getting even closer to seeing the Mazda of the future. Although Mazda assures us that neither the Nagare nor Ryuga are bound for production, its current track record leaves us anxious to see its next auto show debut. — Kelly Toepke
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