Mazda’s chief designer and his favourite cars
When we were at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda revealed a redesigned CX-5 crossover with a sleek new look.
With the latest unveiling, it’s clear Mazda is looking to be a global leader when it comes to design. The new CX-5 has a bigger grille with a funky 3D mesh and sleeker headlights. The A-pillars have been swept back and the whole car has a premium look similar to the CX-9. The new car also has the same playful attitude found in the rest of the automaker’s products.
We had the chance to talk to Shinichi Isayama, the chief designer of the Mazda CX-5 and ask him a few questions about his favourite cars and what inspires him. His car: Mazda Miata Of course he drives an MX-5, and not just any version of the iconic roadster, but the first generation of the car. This actually says a lot about him, as most auto execs have company leases of new cars. The Miata he drives, though, is old school and original, showing his true passion for one of the brand’s best products.
His favourite colleague’s car: Last air-cooled Porsche 911
With little hesitation, he pointed out that one of his colleagues’ old 911 was the object of his desire in the company parking lot. He described it as the cool last model of the aircooled Porsches, meaning it was a 993 model.
Favourite Designs
Lamborghini Miura Jota: He then dropped some really deep Lamborghini knowledge on us, pointing out the Lamborghini Jota as one of his favourite designs. What’s funny is that many designers will frequently call out the Lamborghini Miura as one of their favourite cars, but Isayama went one step further and singled out the exclusive Lamborghini Jota, a modified version of the Miura created by Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace. It featured unique body work, aerodynamics, suspension along with a redone engine that made 440 horsepower. It’s a rare beast that no one ever seems to mention, so it’s cool that the Mazda designer brought it up.
Lamborghini Countach: The funky Countach is no huge surprise. The sharp angles and unmistakable body is hard to ignore. One of the wildest cars ever built, the Countach featured a V12 engine placed midship that powered the rear wheels. One of the true supercars due to its performance and designs, it’s practically every designer’s dream car.
Toyota 2000GT: Isayama brings in some love for the supercar, the Toyota 2000GT. Often described as a Japanese take on the Jaguar E-type, this Toyota featured Yamaha-made straight-six engines that made about 150 horsepower, which was a lot for the ’60s. A simply timeless design, only 351of these cars were ever made and some of them are fetching some insane prices at auction, even topping the million-dollar mark.
Ferrari 288 GTO: Now we’re talking, Isayama! This Ferrari from the mid-’80s is a bombshell with an awesome design. Packing a midengine 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8 that made 400 horsepower, this car hit 100 km/h in about five seconds. But forget about numbers for a moment and take in that beautiful body, which turns heads everywhere. Only 272 of these cars were ever made, making them rare, as well.
Lancia Stratos: Another Italian beauty that Isayama pointed out was the Lancia Stratos, a car revered for its rally racing capability. It won the World Rally Championship three years in a row, from1974 to1976. This rear-wheel drive, midengined coupe was designed by Bertone, rather than Pininfarina, whom Lancia typically used for design. It used a Ferrari Dino V6 that made just under 200 horsepower, which was more than enough to power this car on rally circuits. A standard wedge-shape design, the Stratos makes a lot of sense as a designer’s favourite car.
Important Mazdas On the topic of Mazda, we also had the chance to discuss the brand’s history when it comes to design.
Looking at the current crop of cars, it’s clear appearance means a lot to the company and there is no mistaking anything in the lineup for something more mainstream.
The brand uses the term “handcrafted design” to describe their process, and when pressed, Isayama explained that much of the design process is with physical models rather than relying on digital designs. Even as other automakers look to design in a virtual reality setting, Mazda seems to limit its use of that technology.
We asked Isayama about his favourite Mazda designs over the years.
Mazda Cosmo Sport: A unique little sports car with a different type of engine, the Cosmo Sport helped launch the rotary revolution for Mazda. The rotary in this Cosmo is said to make about 110 hp, which was a lot for such a small car in the ’60s. But the real legacy of the Cosmo is its design. A sleek, low slung coupe that packed a lot of personality, you can see the heritage of the Mazda MX-5 Miata here with the Cosmo Sport.
Mazda-RX-7: An undisputed champion of good looks and performance is the third-generation Mazda RX-7. There are almost no hard angles on this car and its design flowed in such an elegant and natural way. Without a doubt, the third-generation RX-7 was the best-looking car in the Japanese sports-car shoot- out of the ’90s. It also could move, sporting a turbocharged rotary engine that is said to make 276 hp. That power is sent to the rear wheels and helped Mazda set a benchmark in not just design but performance, too.
Tokyo Auto Salon Mazda RX-Vision: There is a lot of RX-7 in the last car Isayama-san mentioned: the new RX-Vision. A concept car that debuted at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Isayama clearly is inspired by this gorgeous sports car concept. Although he wouldn’t discuss the potential of the car coming to fruition, Mazda has made it clear there are elements of the concept that will hit production. For example, it’s said to be powered by a next generation rotary engine.
Make no mistake, the RX-Vision is a gorgeous car with a lot of potential, and will clearly be seen as the beacon for future Mazda design.