Mazda is currently going through a design makeover, with the company preparing to adopt a new design language that will define its future vehicles.
The Japanese automotive producer will drop its Nagare design theme, with the latest vehicle in its line-up to feature this type of design cues being the 2011 Mazda 5. Actually, the multi purpose vehicle is the only production car to have received the complete Nagare treatment, with other Mazda cars only featuring certain influences of the design concept.
“Nagare is done,” said Peter Birtwhistle, Mazda of Europe’s British head of design. “After the 5, it’s highly unlikely that there will be another Nagare car. Mazda has moved on.”
The Nagare design theme, which has been created by Mazda’s former leading designer Laurens den Acker, was also present on the Furai race car. “Nagare” means flow in Japanese and this is exactly what the design language aimed to offer: shapes that look like they have been created by movements of the nature.
Now that the Japanese brand has a new design chief, Ikuo Maeda, it is time for a change - Maeda replaced van der Acker last year.
According to autocar, the new head of Mazda design is almost ready to present the next step in the company’s design evolution.
Maeda is expected to show the world the direction in which he plans to steer the automotive producer by releasing a concept in September, with the unveiling ceremony taking place in Milan, Italy.
The Japanese automotive producer will drop its Nagare design theme, with the latest vehicle in its line-up to feature this type of design cues being the 2011 Mazda 5. Actually, the multi purpose vehicle is the only production car to have received the complete Nagare treatment, with other Mazda cars only featuring certain influences of the design concept.
“Nagare is done,” said Peter Birtwhistle, Mazda of Europe’s British head of design. “After the 5, it’s highly unlikely that there will be another Nagare car. Mazda has moved on.”
The Nagare design theme, which has been created by Mazda’s former leading designer Laurens den Acker, was also present on the Furai race car. “Nagare” means flow in Japanese and this is exactly what the design language aimed to offer: shapes that look like they have been created by movements of the nature.
Now that the Japanese brand has a new design chief, Ikuo Maeda, it is time for a change - Maeda replaced van der Acker last year.
According to autocar, the new head of Mazda design is almost ready to present the next step in the company’s design evolution.
Maeda is expected to show the world the direction in which he plans to steer the automotive producer by releasing a concept in September, with the unveiling ceremony taking place in Milan, Italy.