SLEEK AND BOLD
Mazda’s acclaimed “Kodo – Soul of Motion” design language has evolved to express an elegance that’s rooted in Japanese aesthetics. Meet the new MAZDA CX-30.
ased on Mazda’s “Sleek and Bold” design concept, the new SUV crossover’s proportions combine the supple, flowing beauty of a coupé with the toughness of an SUV that transcends the segment.
Inspired by the brushwork used in Japanese calligraphy, the Mazda CX-30 body design is based on the idea of “Charge and Release”. Overall, it portrays the release and diffusion of energy, built up from the nose and the front fenders to the rear tyres, in a single sweep, and conveys a sense of strong forward motion.
“At first glance, this appears to be quite a simple design,” says Yuta Takanashi, lead clay modeller at Mazda. “But the body sides give off a completely different look depending on the angle from which they are viewed, the surrounding
Benvironment and the weather, making it an endlessly appealing design that you never tire of looking at.” The Mazda CX-30 reflects scenery in its body sides in a shimmering S-shape that changes with time, the seasons and the movement of the car. Light becomes art as small ripples of it move in harmony with the car’s surroundings, creating larger waves that are then scattered. Instead of using physical body lines, this look is created solely through the movement of light on the CX-30’s surface.
As the eyes move along the side of the car, the flow of power towards the rear tyres creates a powerful stance that accentuates the CX-30’s impressive width. Blackedout cladding on the lower region of the body also makes the vehicle appear sleeker and more coupé-like.
“We didn’t want it to be an awkward, practical vehicle just because it’s an SUV,” explains Ryo Yanagisawa, chief designer on the project. “Cladding is usually used to protect a car – but the turning point in the design process of the CX-30 was the idea that we could use it to black out the entire lower body.”
By employing the “Sleek and Bold” concept, the designers were able to combine power and grace in one vehicle. It is a creative pursuit first and foremost, designed to inspire a creative spirit in the vehicle’s owner. If these two elements can work together in harmony, anything is possible.
“My desire is for this beauty to stimulate our customers’ creative sensibilities, encouraging them to exercise more creativity in their lives,” Yanagisawa says. “Far from being art that is appreciated only occasionally, the CX-30 promises to enrich the lives of all who choose it – by bringing a work of art into the everyday.” mazda.co.za