Anders Bekeken

LA Auto Show 2010 Design Challenge 1000 lb Car: MAZDA MX-0

The LA Auto Show, November 19-28 2010, is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Every year the LA Auto Show kicks off with two press days full of activity for journalists, designers and industry representatives alike.

Each year for the past seven years, a topical theme is chosen and the major Southern California automotive design studios are invited to compete in the Design Challenge. For the first time studios from Germany and Japan will join the competition adding an international dimension to the contest. The highly anticipated challenge allows studios to flex their creativity and explore new ideas in automotive design.

The theme this year addresses society’s shift toward minimizing consumption of the earth’s resources. The objective is to envision an efficient, light-weight, four passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1,000 lbs.), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand.

Mazda’s long-time commitment to low weight is driven by the belief that effortless cornering and acceleration should be at the heart of every car we design. Our featherweight icon — the MX-5 Miata, tipped the scales at a little over 2,300 pounds in its first generation. Starting with the MX-5 as a benchmark, the design team has carried out a systematic process of reduction and consolidation. In this process, we have redesigned each component in the MX-0 to carry out the functions of several MX-5 components, effectively replacing a multitude of MX-5 parts with fewer, simplified ones. Innovative lightweight materials have been used extensively to obsessively lower weight.

Aimed at the global market of 2020, and with projected volume of 500,000 units annually, the MX-0 would have positive effects on the world’s environment and economy by way of less energy consumption and minimized use of raw materials. High-volume, automated manufacturing of sustainable, inexpensive composites coupled with clean-running drive trains are the key to both low weight and high-volume production.

At the heart of the Mazda MX-0 is its purpose as a driving beast. Its ultra-light mass is pushed by high-torque electric motors. High power-to-weight is where a Mazda comes alive. Impossible acceleration and instant cornering is the result. It’s more like flying than driving. Zero hindrance. Driving bliss.

2 Reacties

1. Erik van Erne zegt:

   17 november 2010 om 20:30 | Permalink

   Mazda SHINARI Concept

2. Erik van Erne zegt:

   12 juni 2019 om 15:20 | Permalink

   Mazda First All-Electric Car Comes In 2020

   In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto commented on the upcoming plans. Marumoto was asked how Mazda will hit tougher emissions targets in Europe in 2020 and 2021, and as part of his answer, he revealed: “…the first Mazda battery-electric vehicle will hit the market next year. Finally, we will introduce plug-in hybrid models from 2021 or 2022. So we will eventually achieve the target, although we will have some difficulties in 2020.”

   There’s no information about what kind of model the electric Mazda might actually be. There’s also no indication of where Mazda may release the EV — will it come to the US, or just Europe, considering the publication, and the subject of EU emissions?

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