Concept Car: Mazda To Launch Furai Concept At 2008 NAIAS

Mazda Motor Corp. will launch its Furai concept sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show set from Sunday, January 13 through Sunday, January 27, 2008. Aside from the said concept car, the Japanese automaker will also showcase the heavily redesigned 2009 Mazda RX-8 sports car.

Mazda Furai (read fu-rye), which means 'sound of the wind,' is inspired by the fact that there are the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the "Soul of a Sports Car" into everything it manufactures. Additionally, the automaker stressed the future auto technology and the environment through the use of 100 percent ethanol produced in partnership with British Petroleum (BP).

"Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from track cars. Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and street-legal models, commonly called supercars, that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before," said Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda's North American director of design.

Furai takes Mazda's unique Nagare, which means flow, design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. Aside from the efficient Mazda engine parts, the car uses the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.

Mazda's Nagare design language describes the flow of water, air, people or things moving in one direction. Mazda Nagare is flow, with an insightful and spirited styling, which, in Mazda Furai, invokes a raw, unfettered desire to possess everything this car represents.

According to the automaker, the challenge to create "a design that visually expresses the flow of air" was inspired by the image of a pair of Hagoromo, the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend, floating down from the sky.

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is also intended to make an awesome debut. Sporting a freshened design, enhanced handing, acceleration, quality and features, the all-new RX-8 continues to be a "Sports Car like no other," and shows that the rotary engine is still an important part of Mazda's future.

Since its introduction in 2003, the RX-8 has been hailed as a genuine sports car, but with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that offers sports car values, comfort and driving bliss. The RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world's first twin-rotor production car.

Additionally, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Hailed as the "Concept of the Show" by a major enthusiast publication at this year's Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda is eager to show the Mazda Taiki alongside the all-new Mazda Furai.

Inspired by Japanese koinobori or the "climbing carp streamers," the notion of creating an Air-tube became the concept word for the interior design of the vehicle. As such, from the dashboard and seats down to the door trim, the interior space of the car creates the feisty sensation that the flow of the wind is being visually illustrated.

The Japanese automaker will have a special display of racecars on its stand at the NAIAS press days. Mazda will also showcase its full production cars lineup for consumers to sample for public days.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

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Concept Car: Mazda To Launch Furai Concept At 2008 NAIAS

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