The new Mazda Mazda5 is the latest of the Mazda range with the already “old” wave” design theme prominently featured all over it. This includes the overal wavy design as well as the specific waves decorating the sides of the car. In itself it does make the Mazda5 stand out from the crowd with that, it is well executed and harmoniously integrated in the overall; design of the car. If it can stand the test of time, or if it will fade to dated really quickly only time will tell, and is also dependent on Mazda’s next design language theme, and how much that breaks with what was built up in this Wave language. Continue Reading…
We had experienced the Mazda Mazda3 already in July 2009, but the arrival of this MazdaSpeed3 version to us seems like the epitome of the flowing design language Mazda has been carefully sculpting under previous design director Laurens van den Acker. As you can clearly see in the pictures with this article, the flowing treatment has been applied everywhere, and not in a bad way at all, thankfully. It would have been so easy to go overboard and create something vulgar, but instead Mazda have been able to create something unique, very powerful, very in-your-face, and desirable.
The Mazda Mazda2 came to us in an in-your-face bright green metallic, which, during the course of our driving experience, caused for several impromptu reactions from onlookers, who were very charmed by the car and its color. We had more reaction to this little green frog than we had with many of our other recent test vehicles. Of course the color makes people look, but what they see after the color is apparently interesting enough for them to strike up a conversation. What more could Mazda want?
We first drove the Mazda CX7 just after it had beenbrought out onto the market back in 2007, and at that time we were thoroughly impressed with the car. We felt it was time to see if our feelings had changed since it was quite a long time ago.
The CX7 in its current guise has had a face lift to align it better with the the current Mazda design philosophy, but thankfully the noticable face lifted parts do not detract from the solid design base we found originally. The front fascia has been the one part that was impacted the most, now displaying the bold Mazda grille and big air intakes surrounding it.
The Mazda CX9 together with its little sibling CX7, has been a big move for Mazda into a new segment. With many common Ford underpinnings, the CX9 thankfully remains unique, retaining its Mazda DNA instead of being forced to be a re-badged Ford Derivative much in line with CM philosophies for its Suzuki brand at the time.
Of course the Mazda design language has evolved since the CX9 first came out, but we were nicely surprised how well this design still maintains its modernity. Largely due to lack of gimmicky design elements, but rather relying on a very dynamic shape, executed well and with much care for longevity, the CX9 remains a modern car. Continue Reading…
The new Mazda3 shows the new design DNA that Mazda adopted under direction of Laurens van de Acker.. who left a few months ago to take up Patrick LeQuement’s position at Renault in France later this year. A good design DNA should not go to waste, and what we were shown here on a relatively small car lets us hope that Mazda sticks with this direction for a while and manages to massage it to perfection.
In 2008 I had the pleasure if driving a 2008 Mazda 6 as a rental car. I had it for a month. It was a base model and didn’t have an auxiliary for my Ipod. I normally decline cars that don’t have this feature, especially when renting for so long. I’m not a big fan of everyday radio stations. The Mazda 6 was so much fun to drive, that I couldn’t bear to return it. I was very impressed with how it cornered. Combine that with the manual shift mode and let the fun begin.
Now enter the 2009 Mazda 6 S Grand Touring. Much better than the base model rental I drove last year. 2009 brings change to the 6. It has been redesigned to fit Mazda’s new design DNA. It’s much more sculptural than before. Front end cues are sleeker and give the car a definite feel of motion. The lit Interior display of blue and orange is an eye pleaser. Mazda’s claims of bigger, faster, smarter are certainly true. The overall size has increased. There is an extra 4.5” added to the wheelbase and width has gone from 70.1” to 72.4”. This makes for a slight increase in interior as well as luggage space. Continue Reading…
Fresh on the heels of the news of Steve Mattin leaving Volvo for an as yet unknown destination, being replaced by his Volvo Predecessor Peter Horbury, who in turn will be replaced within Ford by Moray Callum (Pheeewww. what a lot of info in one sentence), comes word that Mazda’s General manager Design Division Laurens van den Acker will leave his function within Mazda on April 10.
We spoke with Laurens who said that he had a fantastic time at Mazda working with a superb team, and that further anouncements would be made on April 10.
Fresh on the heels of the news of Steve Mattin leaving Volvo for an as yet unknown destination, being replaced by his Volvo Predecessor Peter Horbury, who in turn will be replaced within Ford by Moray Callum (Pheeewww. what a lot of info in one sentence), comes word that Mazda’s General manager Design Division Laurens van den Acker will leave his function within Mazda on April 10.
