Mazda Ryuga Concept: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 8/Jan/2007

Detroit, USA — Looking  very much like the recent Mazda Nagare concept that was released at the L.A. Motor Show in December 2006, the second concept car to emerge from the top secret Hiroshima design studios in Japan shows has a very similar character. It's almost uncanny.

If you didn't have an eye for detail, you could almost be forgiven for confusing the two models; their profiles are close matches, they have fancy lighting systems and extroverted gull-wing doors.

Mazda's global design director, one Laurens van den Acker, is actively pushing his new design agenda, with the consent of the Mazda's top brass in Japan, of course.

To put it neatly, this second concept car from van den Acker's design team takes the previously swoopy and highly aerodynamic design of the Nagare and adds more user-friendly touches.

This is how Mazda's chief of global design, Laurens van den Acker, described the new 4.28 metre long concept: "To put this in fashion terms, if Nagare is haute couture (a custom designed and tailored garment), Ryuga is prêt-a-porter (ready-to-wear, not one of a kind)."

Mazda has revealed that, after months of brain storming, hundreds of sketches and thousands of discussions, meetings, arguments and revisions, the first part of the answer to the question "What is the Zoom-Zoom spirit?". 

"The Ryuga concept we're presenting in Detroit is our next step in the evolution of Nagare. It's an exploratory design study that's more realistic than Nagare and therefore more useful in gauging reactions from those who see it," said van den Acker.

The Ryuga concept (pron: ree - yoo - ga) "...celebrates refined and controlled motion," van den Acker continued. "Nagare is a dream or an emotion that's just beginning to take shape; Ryuga extends that idea by adding definition. To draw this new surface language closer in time to a car Mazda will produce for sale, we've added interior and powertrain details that were purposely absent from Nagare," van den Acker revealed.

It sure does have a dream quality - it's very swoopy and smooth and almost has a Japanese sports motorcycle sensibility about it.

Mazda points out large wheels that are placed at the far corners of the Ryuga concept's exterior give it a highly stable, balanced stance and that the aggressive wedge shape imparts motion even when this sports coupe is parked. Volumes that are small in front, larger at the rear, wrap around and over the wheels to give the exterior tension and direction.

"After we began studying natural phenomenon for inspiration, Mazda designers were initially hesitant to apply their findings, but I encouraged them to blend artistic and sculptural beauty to see where it led," admitted van den Acker. 

"Once we did, the results were both original and instantly appealing," he continued.

"While this initiative began with textures inspired by nature, it goes much deeper than that. We're looking at grand gestures that wrap all over the vehicle's exterior and throughout the interior. Some of the proportions are dramatically wind-swept. There’s drama at every turn. There are no square corners."

Powertrain

Mazda has revealed that it is working on various technologies to deliver what it calls "Zoom-Zoom driving" in the future, including Earth-friendly environmental technologies and people-friendly safety technologies. As part of the initiatives, an E85/Gasoline FLEX FUEL engine which runs on sustainable bio fuel could be used in Ryuga, akin to the Ford Interceptor concept.

This 2.5-litre MZR engine delivers torque and power, balancing driving and environmental performance. Other important features that will support safe driving are the Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) cameras installed for the rear monitoring system and the blind-spot monitoring system. According to Mazda these help ensure safe driving while changing lanes while allowing easy identification of potential obstacles.

Mazda explains that in order to ensure the car provides a Zoom-Zoom driving experience, an open top steering wheel is employed with highly sensitive settings to respond to the driver's smallest input. The car also features steer-by-wire technology and gauges and instruments that deliver superbly clear information to the driver. 

The dramatic 21-inch wheels with Toyo PROXES tyres sized at 245/35 R21 complete the new Ryuga concept, and the sophisticated original tread pattern perfectly suits the Ryuga's design concept.

Exterior Design

First and foremost, the Ryuga is a concept car, and concept cars are built to test public reactions to new designs, to see whether they're accepted by the masses - or at least the million or so people who will grace the NAIAS in Detroit. Working under Laurens van den Acker, Yasushi Nakamuta was the chief designer for this project, and his previous works include the critically acclaimed 2006 MX-5 (Miata). Both Damien Tomlinson and Feann Torr have reviewed the Mazda MX-5 (the tin top and the cloth top) and both Motoring Channel writers praised the car's design.

So, what does Nakamuta think about his newest design after the MX-5 Miata, and a concept car at that? "Ryuga incorporates elegant and refined design treatments which express Japanese concepts of mysterious beauty and intelligence, based on the new design theme that began with the Nagare concept car unveiled at the LA Auto Show," he said.

"Ryuga's side surfaces were inspired by karesansui (Japanese dry gardens). The carefully raked pebbles in these gardens represent peaceful ripples caused by a breeze over a pool of water. The karesansui’s man-made image of natural flow is represented in the Ryuga's surface texture to express simplicity and refinement," said Yasushi Nakamuta, adding, "The headlamp shape resembles the flow of morning dew dropping from bamboo leaves. Advanced LED and fluorescent tube technology will enable such a striking design to be used on a production vehicle in the foreseeable future."

"To impart motion, the 21-inch wheel spokes – different on the left and right sides – are slightly twisted as if they're delivering torque. To convey the feeling of gas turbine blades, the trailing edges of the wheel spokes are accented with a tinge of body color," said Nakamuta san, the car's creator.

"Flowing lava inspired both Ryuga's exterior hue and the tail lamp design," he said. "Depending on the incident light, Ryuga's surface appears to be shades of yellow, red, and blue, exactly like molten, flowing lava."

Nakamuta finished up by saying this new concept car reflects its Japanese origin: "Ryuga is both simple and complex. While the dominant flow theme is simple, the details – such as the side surfaces and the wheels – are intricate. Solidity and fluidity live here together, in harmony."

Interior Design

Mazda reveals that due to innovative packaging, the Ryuga concept is significantly shorter and lower than today's four-passenger RX-8 sports car, yet it too accommodates four passengers in roomy comfort. A relatively long 2800mm wheelbase and two large gull-wing doors provide a wide-open invitation to the interior. And let's not forget that Mazda boldly re-introduced the suicide doors on the RX-8, so these gull-wing doors have a slight chance of becoming a reality, no doubt to the chagrin of Lamborghini owners everywhere. 

As the doors rise to expose the interior of the Ryuga and allow easy slide-in access, the passengers are presented with the fusion of a cockpit - designed to maximise the emotional connection between the car and driver according to Mazda - with the social atmosphere of the rear passenger space, where lounge-like comfort is ensured through expansive space and Nagare-inspired design.

A pair of front bucket seats provide ample lateral support for what Mazda terms 'energetic' driving, and the experimental floating center cluster allows a high level of interface between the driver and the multi-function touch panel without having to take one's eyes off the road ahead. Info that is necessary for safe and dynamic driving is available to the driver with RPM and speed (displayed in analogue and digital formats) being displayed on the same axis.

Flowing upwards, the center cluster dynamically penetrates the front information panel which reflects Zoom-Zoom futuristic and sporty design craftsmanship, as well as an integrated interface between man and machine. Elongated pods give the cockpit depth while bringing information closer to the driver’s eyes. An open-top steering wheel provides enhanced sight lines to the instruments and the road ahead .

Mazda Ryuga Concept Specifications:

Length: 4280mm (168.5 inches)
Width: 1900mm (74.8 inches)
Height: 1260mm (49.6 inches)
Wheelbase: 2800mm (110.2 inches)
Engine: MZR 2.5-litre E85/Gasoline Flex Fuel

Related articles:
- Mazda Nagare (concept)
- Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe (Road Test)
- Mazda CX-9 (2008)
- Mazda CX-7 Adrenaline (2006) SEMA
- Mazda6 MPS (Road Test)
- Mazda3 MPS (2006)
- Mazda MX-5 (Road Test)