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Mazda Shinari Concept Unveiled at 2010 LA Auto Show

Although Mazda's latest concept should have made its first public appearance earlier at the Paris Motor Show, the Japanese automaker kinda' skipped that and teased us a little longer, making the Los Angeles Auto Show the first occasion for the public to catch a glimpse of this beautiful car in person.

This is a turning point in Mazda's existence, as the company's relatively new head of global design turned his back on the Nagare design language that is seen on the new Mazda5. The fact that the Shinari was built as a powerful rear-wheel drive luxury sedan suggests that much of the design features won't make their way into Mazda's front-wheel drive cars and crossovers. The car itself looks like a great starting-point for the next-generation RX-8, which will hopefully preserve the concept's proportions.

Traditional Mazda design elements will be maintained, such as the five-point grille and the front fender shape, but the Shinari incorporates a new dynamic, mixing sharp lines with flowing body shapes, expressing strength and refinement. The concept doesn't use a current Mazda platform, but its support structure resembles a C/D family car platform slightly larger than the current Mazda6.

Mazda says the concept is a preview of the company's future design principles. The new design language is called Kodo, which translates to "soul in motion". The Japanese word "shinari" describes the sleek appearance of bent or twisted metal.

The Shinari concept is on display, along with the U.S.-spec Mazda5, at the Los Angeles Auto Show which opens for the public on November 19.
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