All-Female Team Develops Special Edition of Mazda MPV
To the rest of the world, corporate Japan is dominated by males and females are often perceived as not having significant roles in most companies. However, while their demure disposition often leads foreigners to think that way, Japanese women actually do have important roles in many companies and even in the auto industry, there are many in significant positions.
This is evident in the new Mazda MPV Special Edition Sports F 2300 which was developed by a female project team. The team was established to add more owner-friendly and convenient features to the minivan and is said to have been involved in the entire development process from planning to mass production.
Among the objectives of conceiving this special edition was to make it a convenient, functional minivan that satisfies every family member, and the development team worked from a female perspective to incorporate a variety of easy-to-use, convenient features into the new model. Mazda adds that although the MPV Sports F was developed by women, it is designed for everyone.
From their perspective, the team members introduced some new features and modified others. Some examples:
– The sliding door assist grips are thinner in the lower sections so that children and the elderly can grip them firmly when they enter and exit.
– A small sliding section has been added that slides down from the normal sun visor, so that shorter passengers can also shield their eyes from bright sunlight.
– Both left and right seats in the second row are now side-sliding, which was previously only available for the left seat.
The fuel lid opener was also moved from the floor near the driver’s seat to the instrument panel switch area, preventing hands and fingernails from getting dirty by touching the floor. There is also a convenient logo to clearly indicate that the fuel inlet is on the left side of the car.
The rear air conditioner is now fully automatic with a remote control (like a TV’s) for easy operation from the back seats. When the remote control is not being used, it can be kept in its special pocket on the back of the passenger seat.
A removal box with a handle is located under the instrument panel. It can be easily washed with water and can be used as a trash bin or storage box for small things such as CDs.
From surveys, the team also realised that there are many Japanese owners who are not familiar with the English language. This led them to provide Japanese wording on the defogger indicator – an important item in temperate Japan – to make it easier to understand.
The luggage area is equipped with a package tray, which can be used to store bags or jackets. It is lightweight and easily removable. The third-row seats can be stowed away while the package tray is set up. There are also folding tables on the seatbacks which makes it more convenient for childrens’ toys, snacks, drinks, etc.
Finally, the team chose the key colour as blue with an image of the breeze. The seats are coordinated with a specially-developed denim fabric. The instrument panel and front door trims feature bright wood-pattern panels, creating a pleasant, high-quality interior space.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd plans to import a number of latest Mazda models in the near future but it is not known if this MPV version is on the list.
