In an unusual departure from industry practices, Autoblog was invited out to Milan to see Mazda's new Shinari concept car, rather than having to wait to see it at an auto show. Check it out:
My initial impressions of the car were of confusion. I'm used to seeing clean, well-integrated designs from Mazda, whether it's their 3 series, the venerable Miata or even their racier RX-8, but this one recalls some of Hyundai's early styling missteps in muscle car territory, i.e. the Tiburon. I realize that most cars these days are designed by committee, but I've always felt the best designs have one powerfully talented designer overseeing the process and instilling a design consistency, but this one just seems all over the map.While Autoblog doesn't share my negative opinion of the car's looks, they do shed a little light on how this design came to be:
While [Mazda Global Head of Design Ikuo] Maeda created the theme for the new stylistic direction, the development of the Shinari Concept was actually a collaboration between three of Mazda's design centers in Japan, Germany and the United States. The goal was to make the exterior a product of Japan, while the interior was left to the automaker's Irvine studio. However, each team had input on the final product.
Sharp and pointy angles on the front, round and flowing lines on the back...it reminds me of a Manhattan city block, where different parts were designed individually with little thought given to the look of the integrated whole.
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To me, the design is evocative of a meteor - fire in the front, giving way to a flowing tail. In this way, it combines ideas of aggressive lines, and flowing elegance into one design.
To me, the design is evocative of a meteor - fire in the front, giving way to a flowing tail. In this way, it combines ideas of aggressive lines, and flowing elegance into one design.
I wouldn't compare this to old Hyundai, and I think the general public would be all over this concept.
The accents are consistent throughout the exterior/interior. I agree with the statement about sharp and round lines, but the transition between the two seems natural and seamless. The headlamps and tail lights are very well done and imaginative. The "face" looks consistent with the rest of Mazda's line, although more aggressive.
It doesn't really matter though, because if this ever makes it to the market, it will be toned down so much no one will recognize it. Then we'll really have something to complain about when we talk about sameness across the auto industry.
To me that isn't merely an unwritten rule. That's the point of a "concept" car: to find and push the boundaries by a process of presenting your design hypothesis and testing it. This design is so derivative that I don't see what useful, *new* information they could gain from it.
I believe that ideally concept is where you take chances, try out experiments, and learn from your successes and mistakes. This looks like they were afraid to make a mistake.
Maeda designed the RX8 and 2 which are by far the nicest, new, road cars Mazda has brought out in the 00s IMHO.
I can see why a more down to earth concept that a chance in hell of looking nice on a real car might not appeal to all. Personally I am thankful to see the back of the Joker Smile.
As for disjointed, sorry but look at the Mazda logo, starts with a point, wings flow out and ends in an oval/arc. Thats what the Shinari is.
http://thepirata.com/the-mazda-furai-concept-car/
Granted, it's a racecar, but still... sexy and original. Not derived and generic. This Shinari looks like a generic rip off of a Aston Martin from a video game.
Ya, the concept is a bit juxtaposed in the curvy vs. sharp angled arena. If they just chopped off the lousy, Mazda ground effects on the front and tweaked the lights a bit it would be much better.
While it may not be as cohesive of a design as some of the other Mazda products, it is at least trying to be a classier car than Mazda's current lineup. Even with it's disjointed design language, I'd still buy it over anything else Mazda makes.
PS: There seems to be an unwritten rule that concept cars should push the boundaries, almost to the point of unattractive.