Mazda and Suzuki to Showcase Concept Vehicles in New York

Anthony Fontanelle
March 23, 2007

The biggest motor show in the United States will be opening its door on the 6th of April and car makers are already announcing that they will be showcasing their concept vehicles at the event. A motor show as large as the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) gives and provides a good venue for car manufacturers to show off their wares.

The amount of coverage and the number of attendees of the said event will surely benefit car manufacturers in their quest to further increase their popularity in the U.S. auto scene. Mazda and Suzuki are just two of the automakers taking advantage of the event. Both Japanese car manufacturers announced that they will be showcasing their concept vehicles at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Mazda, the Japanese car maker based in Hiroshima and partly owned by the Ford Motor Company, will unveil two concept cars at the event. The first of the pair is the Mazda Nagare. The concept vehicle is radically designed to give it a futuristic appeal. The Nagare features butterfly-wing doors which makes it a bona fide good looking car.

Aside from the sports car door, the interior of the Nagare reflects the innovation being developed by Mazda. Its seating arrangement is unique since the cockpit is for the driver alone and the backseat is designed to seat three in a “lounge-seating” arrangement. The concept vehicle is powered by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell drivetrain which shows that Mazda is also on the forefront of exploring technologies to combat the quite popular global warming issue.

Another futuristic concept vehicle from Mazda is the Hakaze. The radically designed vehicle is a coupe-style compact crossover SUV with a familiar roadster attribute. Mazda says that the vehicle is made for the adventurous types. The overall design of the vehicle gives it a muscular look and the rear part of its roof can be removed for that convertible feel. One of the most captivating design concepts present on the Mazda Hakaze is the crease on its side body panels.

Suzuki, on the other hand, also has two concept vehicles ready to be unveiled at the mentioned motor show. The first of the two is the Suzuki Zuk. The vehicle is inspired by the company’s championship-winning motorbikes. It uses the same design structure of the Suzuki SX4 sport crossover. The vehicle is designed to perform at a very high level on racetracks and on the road. The power of the Zuk comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled engine. The turbocharger increased the capacity of the engine to 300 horsepower and this is the kind of power that EBC rotors will have no problem keeping in check. The engine is coupled with a precision engineered five-speed manual gearbox.

The second concept vehicle from Suzuki is designed for those who value entertainment system a lot. The Suzuki Flix as it is called is in itself a mobile theater. Its roof opens up to reveal a 40-inch movie screen on its moonroof. Aside from this, the front roof panel of the concept vehicle hides a high density digital projection system. This capability of the Flix allows it users to watch “drive-in” movies whenever they want.

Source:  Amazines.com