Mazda MX Micro Sport Concept

The MX-Micro Sport concept is Mazda’s latest effort in its ongoing pursuit to further remake and strengthen its line of Zoom-Zoom vehicles. Far from being just a 3D version of a design study, this is actually going to become a production model later this year.

The MX-Micro Sport presents Mazda’s sporty and athletic Zoom-Zoom design language in a small, compact package. Immediately apparent in this concept is the ‘freshness’ of the exterior design which communicates a look of tension and high contrast. The highly sculptural build quality is clean and simple, yet also very modern and overtly sophisticated.
“This concept pursues the sporty and modern tastes perceived as “cool” by our target customers – younger people who are particular about maintaining an active lifestyle. With this design, we have not forgotten the company’s Zoom-Zoom spirit, but we have very clearly tried to push that spirit in a new direction and to advance some of our familiar Mazda design cues,” said MX-Micro Sport’s chief designer Kunihiko Kurisu.

The A and B-pillars and window sashes are finished in high-gloss black and create a highly integrated appearance with the glass area of the side windows. The vehicle’s dark greenhouse provides a strong contrast to the specially formulated, deep-gloss ZZR red paint.

The pronounced shoulder line that runs the length of the vehicle, combined with the bold front and rear fenders, express a tension of form that communicates strength. In particular, a visually pronounced edge is used to lend sharpness and a sense of volume to the fender design. Riding on 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, the overall forward-leaning stance and solid shape of the concept is sporty and aggressive, a personality found in many Mazda models.

Also keeping with Mazda family design DNA, the MX-Micro Sport concept maintains the family face, yet offers a fresh interpretation of the company’s well-recognized five point grille. A large air intake in the front skirt and bold vertical slits at either end of the front bumper have been added to emphasize the aggressive look of forward motion.

Large headlamp units feature clear lenses and reflectors with a unique curvature to lend expressiveness to the front end; the finely detailed forms in the headlamps are characteristic of Japanese esthetics.

In a similar fashion, the rear end of the MX-Micro Sport concept features combination lamps that echo the design of the highly sculptured headlamps. The concept also includes a racing-inspired rear air diffuser, vertical slits at either end of the rear bumper and centrally located dual exhaust pipes. This methodical construction of the elements that dominate the rear view of the MX-Micro Sport further emphasize the concept’s modern, purposeful and sporty personality.

Great attention was paid to the spaciousness and comfort of the interior. An ability to make more room from less space is a skill Mazda’s design and engineering teams have mastered during years of developing small space-efficient cars.

To assure ample headroom, the A-pillars and side windows feature relatively upright angles and the instrument panel is void of uneven surfaces and parting lines, resulting in a clean cut, spacious design. In all, the interior’s highly-tangible quality, the individualistic colour scheme and key design details are used to appeal to a target customer that most certainly recognizes high quality and sophisticated design.

The front seats have been specifically developed to provide exceptional side support-much like the seats used in the all-new Mazda3. The rear fold down seats have a sporty bucket look and are designed to provide excellent lateral support and ease of vehicle entry and exit. Both front and rear seats have generous thickness in the shoulder area, and assure firm and comfortable seating.

At 3980 mm in length, the MX-Micro Sport concept is a full 505 mm shorter than the new Mazda3 hatchback. At the same time, it is nearly as wide as the Mazda3 and 85 mm taller, so the cabin feels open, spacious, and offers room enough for four adults. The luggage compartment comes equipped with a detachable partition for flexible stowage arrangements. Fitted at floor level, the partition allows use of the area beneath the floor as a sub trunk. Fitted in the upper position, the partition can function as a rear shelf and a cover to conceal luggage from view.

Originality is often expressed in design through the use of colour and shapes. In the MX-Micro Sport, the interior is crafted with an elegant balance of black and brown leather, and highlighted with a subtle red pin stripe. This warm design theme helps create an appealing, inviting atmosphere that is distinctly modern and also sporty.

The instrument panel’s central section incorporates a highly reflective silver finish that works to complement the large, black-on-white instruments. To the right of the steering wheel is a large, multifunction display. Positioned centrally between driver and front passenger, the central display is visible and easy to operate by both, adding to the high functionality of the cabin.

As with the instruments, the center display is trimmed with a high reflective silver finish. Bright silver is also used to give a satisfying tactile quality to the steering wheel spokes and inner door handles, while meters and horn buttons have chrome-plated rings.

The black and brown, two-tone leather seats are highlighted with red pin striping along the outer seam, expressing a simple, modern, well tailored appearance, and complimenting a similar striping treatment on the instrument panel. The colour coordination, including the continuous black/brown/red leather trim running from the instrument panel to the door trim, is a clear expression of the individuality and active lifestyle that characterizes the target customer. Key design details include air conditioner louvers and audio tweeters stacked vertically together at either end of the instrument panel, which are combined to create a clean, sophisticated appearance and a visual expression to the audio system’s dynamic potential.

An additional feature of the MX-Micro Sport concept is Mazda’s keyless entry system. The system works with a “credit card” that contains personalized information about the driver. When inserted into a receiver in the instrument panel, information such as common destinations for the navigation system and preferred audio sources are automatically set by the system. In addition, the card activates the engine start switch mounted on the instrument panel. The engine is started with a simple push of a button, and can be shut down just as easily.

The MX-Micro Sport concept has MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension tuned to provide the lively driving response and natural balance. Good straight-line stability, progressive steering with sharp turn-in feel, and extremely linear brake response are consistent aspects of all Mazda products-the Zoom-Zoom driving experience that can be felt while driving quickly on an open road or even while slowly motoring through congested traffic.

The MX-Micro Sport concept is fitted with the MZR 2.0-litre 4-cylinder 146 ps/148 bhp engine. Resting on liquid-filled engine mounts for improved NVH performance, the 16-valve engine benefits from a variable-length induction system, lightweight pistons and low-friction cams and tappets. The exhaust manifold has been specifically tuned to provide a pleasant, sporty engine note. A 6-speed manual transmission is fitted in the prototype.

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