For the past 50 years, Mazda designers have explored the concept of ?motion? in their designs.? Starting with their first passenger car, the Mazda R360 Coupe in 1960, the designs have evolved and have become more athletic and sporty.
In September, Mazda revealed the latest iteration of the ?motion? theme, ?KODO ? Soul of Motion?.
“In our work to further evolve the expression of motion, Mazda Design has focused on the strength, beauty and tension found in the instantaneous movement seen in animals. This motion that is so full of vitality that it stirs the emotions of those who see it. We have named it ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’, and our aim is to express movement with forceful vitality and speed as the design theme for Mazda’s upcoming models.” Explained Ikuo Maeda, the head of Mazda’s Design Division.
Maeda continues, “Mazda’s four design studios located in Japan (Hiroshima and Yokohama), Europe (Frankfurt, Germany), and North America (Irvine, California) are currently combining to take up the challenge to achieve a breakthrough in the expression of motion in car design, and incorporate this expression into our future products.”
| The first product of Kodo is the Shinari a four-door, four-seat, sports coupe, which showcases several new design elements that will carry forward into production.
 The Japanese word?shinari describes the powerful yet supple appearance of great resilient force when objects of high tensile strength, such as steel or bamboo, are twisted or bent. It also refers to the appearance of a person or animal as it flexes its body in preparation for a fast movement, and it is these images that form the basis for the name of this concept car.
With images of strength flowing across every panel and part, the Mazda Shinari looks ready to leap at any second. The distinctive front fenders represent the further evolution of the prominent fenders introduced on the RX-8. There is a powerful line of movement originating at the grille and continuing through the bonnet, fender, front lamp modules and bumper. Finally, an aluminum floating bar linking the grille with the headlights enhances the three-dimensional expression of speed.
 In the interior, Mazda Design has created the ‘ultimate athletic space’ focused on linking ergonomics with basic mechanical functions. The interior design offers new ideas for the human-machine interface in cockpit design, enabling the driver to switch between three modes: Business, Pleasure and Sport, to enjoy driving in line with the situation at the time.
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For the past 50 years, Mazda designers have explored the concept of ?motion? in their designs.? Starting with their first passenger car, the Mazda R360 Coupe in 1960, the designs have evolved and have become more athletic and sporty.
