2011 Tokyo Auto Show: First Look: Mazda Takeri Sedan Concept
Mazda has released photos of the alluring Takeri, a concept sedan that will make its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in late November. The car wears Mazda’s new Kodo corporate styling language, features several fuel-saving SkyActiv technologies, and just may preview the styling direction of the company’s next-generation midsize sedan.
Like the CX-5 crossover, which also was styled based on the new Kodo language, the Mazda Takeri wears a rounded pentagon front grille and flowing character lines. The car ends in a pinched, taut trunklid with narrow lights. Its sweeping greenhouse and sloped rear glass create a sporty feeling, while the Takeri’s profile somewhat resembles cars like the Audi A7 and Kia Optima.
Inside the sedan are four bucket seats and a futuristic dashboard replete with a large color display. The three-spoke steering wheel is typical Mazda design, while the flashy gauges and joystick-like shifter are more unusual. The car’s center console also has a collection of buttons and a small joystick, which could be for controlling the aforementioned dashboard display -- sort of like BMW’s iDrive or Audi’s MMI.
Mazda says that its SkyActiv-D diesel engine with i-stop (engine stop/start) powers the Takeri. The car is said to have “lightweight, aerodynamic” components, which presumably hints to further SkyActiv innovations like those seen on the CX-5. Finally, Mazda claims the engine uses capacitors to store electrical energy on deceleration, reducing the load on the alternator at other times and thus improving fuel economy.
The Takeri is slated to mix “excellent fuel economy with vigorous performance and a comfortable ride.” Based on its design, we think there’s a strong chance this concept previews the next iteration of the Mazda6. The company has said that production of the next-generation 6 in Japan could begin as early as 2013. We’ll bring you more once the car is fully unwrapped in Tokyo.
Credit: Automobile Magazine (www.automobilemag.com)
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