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Mazda - Taiki Concept.

At the Tokyo Auto Show this month, Mazda unveiled its latest concept car, the Taiki.
It’s the latest addition to the Nagare design theme, following in the footsteps of the Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga and Mazda Hakaze concept vehicles unveiled earlier this year. As the fourth in the series, Mazda Taiki further advances and refines the theme through a fusion of the Nagare (flow) design concept and real-world technologies, such as a next-generation rotary engine and enhanced aerodynamic performance.

Mazda Taiki sets a new ideal for the front-engine rear-drive sports car of the future. It’s one possible direction for a future generation of Mazda sports cars aimed at helping create a sustainable society. The basic proportions begin with the stretched coupe form of a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, the short overhangs, and the liberating feel of an all-glass canopy. From the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space creates the dynamic sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually depicted.

Technologies introduced for the Mazda Taiki include the next-generation RENESIS (rotary engine 16X), which sets new standards for environmental and driving performance, a front-engine rear-drive layout, a unique 2-seat configuration, and Mazda’s rotary sports package.

The Taiki follows the flow design concept, incorporating real world technologies. The design is said to represent a theory that has been inspired from patterns of natural movement and by organic shapes.

Mazda says the inspiration for the new design of the two-seat Taiki came from the image from the legends of Japan, of a pair of Hagoromo or the flowing robes that allow a celestial maiden to fly or float down from the sky.

The Taiki is a next generation concept two-seater with an under the hood Renesis rotary 1.6 L engine where Mazda is experimenting with rotary engines that run on hydrogen and a rear wheel drive.

The Mazda concept has a stretched cabin with a glass canopy and short overhangs and the name Taiki which means atmosphere is used to describe this look similar to that of a protective cover around the earth.

This car differs from other concept cars. This is evident from the rear wheel structure which, in the Mazda Taiki seems to stick out a little but from behind it looks integrated. The rear wheels are covered by a simulated wheel well which gives an impression that the wheels remain unprotected by the chassis which is not the case in reality.

While the Taiki is a long way from becoming a production reality, the vehicle does give you a peek into probable future designs. The new look grill is being put forth as Mazda’s new facial expression.

The Mazda Taiki echoes a potential path for Mazda sports cars of a future generation and is intended to help build a sustainable society.

In the interior of this concept car you will find that inspiration came from the Japanese koinobori also known as the decorative ‘climbing carp streamers’. The concept word for design of the interior was the notion of creating an air-tube.

Keeping this notion in mind one then sees that from the dashboard to the seats right down to the trim on the door, the space inside produces the vibrant sensation of a visual depiction of the flowing wind.