Mazda Arrived in Tokyo Abuzz with New Models and Ablaze with Concepts
Well, we've seen all there was to see at the 39th annual Tokyo Motor Show that took place back in late October, and one of the few
companies we have yet to mention is also one of my favourites, despite its annoying "Zoom, Zoom" marketing slogan: Mazda.
Mazda had several vehicles at the show, ranging from a cozy, production-ready MPV, a pair of hydrogen-burning vehicles, and the gem of the bunch, an all-out flaming concept called the Senku.
While I'm itching like a helpless kid with poison ivy to tell you all about the Senku and its flying doors, Mazda has a few other vehicles and technologies on display that deserve some attention.
Let's start with the real and move slowly and progressively onto the more imaginative and surreal. First, Mazda went and quietly did what GM and others spent hundreds of millions trying and pretty much failing to do: build a more stylish
minivan. If anything, GM's foray into the SUV-nosed minivan market with the Uplander/Montana SV6/Relay/Terraza quadruplets seems to me like a giant leap backwards. Accept reality GM, SUVs are SUVs and minivans are minivans, and where the twain meet is neither at Rendezvous nor Aztek. Give it up.
As I was saying, Mazda, on the other hand, followed Nissan's lead (kudos to Nissan for being brave but missing the mark) by stretching its car design language into the minivan form without any regression or denial. In fact, the MPV is long and low enough to bring it almost down to wagon proportions. Mazda signature flared wheel arches and distinctive fenders flowing back from the big, vertically stacked headlights give the front three-quarter view good presence.
Well, we've seen all there was to see at the 39th annual Tokyo Motor Show that took place back in late October, and one of the few
 |
| While I'm itching like a helpless kid with poison ivy to tell you all about the Senku and its flying doors, Mazda has a few other vehicles and technologies on display that deserve some attention. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
Mazda had several vehicles at the show, ranging from a cozy, production-ready MPV, a pair of hydrogen-burning vehicles, and the gem of the bunch, an all-out flaming concept called the Senku.
While I'm itching like a helpless kid with poison ivy to tell you all about the Senku and its flying doors, Mazda has a few other vehicles and technologies on display that deserve some attention.
Let's start with the real and move slowly and progressively onto the more imaginative and surreal. First, Mazda went and quietly did what GM and others spent hundreds of millions trying and pretty much failing to do: build a more stylish
 |
| Mazda went and quietly did what others have spent hundreds of millions trying and pretty much failing to do: build a more stylish minivan. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
As I was saying, Mazda, on the other hand, followed Nissan's lead (kudos to Nissan for being brave but missing the mark) by stretching its car design language into the minivan form without any regression or denial. In fact, the MPV is long and low enough to bring it almost down to wagon proportions. Mazda signature flared wheel arches and distinctive fenders flowing back from the big, vertically stacked headlights give the front three-quarter view good presence.