What do you do to get the world’s attention when you’re just one of the numerous automobile manufacturers? The answer is to follow the plan the Mazda Motor Corporation just executed. You unveil one of the most intriguing, innovative, and simply captivating concept cars the world has ever seen. That vehicle is the Mazda Vision Coupe.
To the excitement of most and surprise of some, Mazda introduced a vehicle that is miles ahead of other manufacturers when it comes to its design concept. At the core of the Vision Coupe’s body style is the Japanese design concept referred to as Kodo.
Because of how much the Vision Coupe has impressed everyone who comes in contact with it, the vehicle won the prestigious “Concept Car of the Year” award. The award was bestowed on the Vision at the 11th Annual Car Design Night at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The Vision Coupe was also named “The Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year” at the 33rd Festival Automobile International, held in Paris, France.
Tokyo Auto Show
The Mazda Vision Coupe concept car made its official debut at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in 2017. The Vision Coupe was unveiled to rave reviews. Mazda’s latest concept car has been compared to the Aston Martin Rapide. That assessment alone significantly elevates the Vision Coupe’s status and popularity in the automobile industry for those looking for an upscale vehicle with exceptional style.
According to Mazda, the Vision Coupe is the premier model representative of its next-generation concept for future vehicles. Mazda is moving toward a new focus, positioning itself as a high-end vehicle manufacturer. According to Dino Bernacchi, Mazda’s marketing chief, “The brand is growing up. We can become a premium version of ourselves.”
To begin that process, the company is incrementally reshaping the brand. The new vision is to offer current and future customers a more luxurious experience. Mazda wants to provide a vehicle that highlights the pleasure and relaxation of driving while establishing a sense of class. This re-envisioning of what it means to be Mazda also includes an enhanced customer experience to complement the driver’s newly purchased vehicle. Mazda plans to train staff at local dealerships on how to provide customers with a top-of-the-line experience consistent with the style Mazda vehicles are designed to offer.
Design Philosophy
At first glance, you may not notice that the Vision Coupe doesn’t quite fit the normal coupe design. Coupe-style automobiles are typically two-door vehicles. In the case of the Vision Coupe, however, it’s actually a four-door vehicle. The rear doors are designed seamlessly, to almost hide from notice. This organic sleekness is part of what the Japanese manufacturer refers to as “one-motion form.” So don’t be too upset that you may not have noticed those extra two doors. Though the vehicle has four doors, key components of the design scheme include the coupe-like roofline and sporty look, which no doubt played an important role in how the concept vehicle received its name.
At the core of the Vision Coupe’s body style is the Japanese design concept referred to as Kodo. If “Kodo” sounds and looks familiar, that’s because it is. The Japanese carmaker first introduced the Kodo design concept in 2011. Kodo referred to as “Soul of Motion,” was infused in the Shinari concept vehicle Mazda introduced in 2015.
The Shinari design theme revolved around the movement of an animal or human flexing its body to achieve maximum strength and acceleration. The vehicle was designed so that as your eyes move across and around the car’s exterior, the vehicle’s contours seem to come to life, mimicking the motion of a human or animal during transformative movement.
The Kodo design language has evolved over the years, and in fact, in the last two years, there have been changes. It’s an all-encompassing theme, focusing on infusing the “beauty of living” into a vehicle’s design. The idea is to have drivers focus on what’s important and to be able to appreciate those things.
Design engineers at Mazda have approached their work from the standpoint of a minimalistic process, which you’ll see reflected in the vehicle specs and features. This minimalistic approach allows the manufacturer to highlight key features while minimizing the appearance of other aspects, such as the Vision Coupe’s rear doors. Lighting and shadowing also play an important part in encouraging you to see and to visualize what the manufacturer intended based on the design concept.
Sleek and Stylish Both Inside and Outside
Simplicity is the best way to describe the Vision Coupe’s exterior and interior. Beginning at the front of the coupe, your attention will be drawn to the unique grille with the Mazda emblem as a focal point. Moving upward, your eyes move across a long, sleek hood that slightly protrudes over the grille, connecting like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle as the top component of the grille’s framework. Transitioning upward, your eyes move across the coupe-like roofline, further defining the Vision Coupe’s sleek style.
Moving downward, your eyes roll across the shortened trunk area, shortened to allow the car’s cabin space to be positioned in the recessed area closer to rear of the vehicle. Taking a quick look around the vehicle’s exterior, you notice there are very few lines, and those lines that are present are only slightly noticeable.
Lastly, we turn to the rear area of the concept car. The highlight of the car’s rear area is the quad exhaust system. Though Mazda has not released information regarding the Vision Coupe’s capability specs, the look of the exhaust system should lead consumers to believe that anyone’s need for speed will be satisfied.
This concept vehicle’s interior is just as stunning as the exterior. The interior cabin space boasts luxury seating, as one would expect, embedded in a comfortable driver setting. Interior highlights include a driver dashboard and screens that are only visible when the driver needs to use them. A simple touch to the console awakens the controls. Adding to the beauty of the interior, it is accented in wood and leather.
Currently, Mazda has not released any information as to whether the Vision Coupe will be available for sale. However, the process of refining the KODO design scheme seen in this concept vehicle will certainly continue as Mazda strives to provide its customers with a driving experience that exceeds all their expectations. In the meantime, if you’re looking for your next vehicle, check out the Mazdas available for purchase. You just may find that the Mazda you select was designed with the Vision Concept in mind.
