Mazda Taiki Set for Tokyo

Special Coverage

Tokyo
Auto Show

Mazda Motor Corp. will debut the fourth in a series of design-oriented concept cars at this month’s Tokyo auto show.

The Taiki follows the Nagare (Los Angeles 2006), Ryuga (Detroit 2007) and Hakaze (Geneva 2007) concepts, building on their windswept theme of “flow.”

Taiki builds on “flow” theme established with Nagare.

The stretched, rear-wheel-drive, front-engine sports coupe concept features an all-glass canopy and an instrument panel inspired by Japanese climbing carp streamers, called koinobori, with a wind-flow feel present on interior parts, Mazda says.

Powering the Taiki is Mazda’s next-generation Renesis rotary engine, with a longer stroke and increased displacement (800cc x 2), as well as a direct-injection system and aluminum side housing to reduce engine weight and size.

The latter two elements are borrowed from Mazda’s Hydrogen RE mill, to be showcased in Tokyo in the Premacy minivan hybrid-electric vehicle.

The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid gets 40% better output than Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE model, and is able to go 124 miles (200 km) before refueling, twice the range of the RX-8.

Mazda revised the engine’s layout from the RX-8, from longitudinal to transverse, as well as improved intake/exhaust resistance and combustion efficiency to provide high output over a wider range of engine speeds, the auto maker says.

Further upping the Premacy HEV’s green credentials is its Biotechmaterial plant-derived plastics and fabrics, used in the interior so Mazda can “accelerate research and development for commercial use.”

The auto maker says it plans to begin leasing the model in Japan next year.

Mazda also will feature the Atenza (Mazda6), which recently debuted at the Frankfurt auto show, on its Tokyo stand, as well as a variety of technologies, including its next-generation clean diesel and 2.0L I-4 direct-injection gasoline engines.

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