After the world premiere of the Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mazda will now unveil the ‘Takeri’ at the Tokyo Motor Show. The 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will run from December 3 through 11, 2011, at the Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center).
Fans of the Mazda Furai will recognize the Takeri is nothing like the Furai. The ‘Nagare’ design language, developed under Laurens van den Acker which was more about surface treatment suggesting fluid flow over the surfaces has given way to ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’. KODO first featured on the SHINARI concept unveiled in 2010.
Mazda says the Takeri is designed to express ‘an intuitive sedan identity’ and ‘an overwhelming emotional beauty’.The Takeri is also to be the latest platform for Mazda’s breakthrough SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. SKYACTIV is a blanket term for Mazda’s innovative next-generation technologies that are being developed under the company’s long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom. The SKYACTIV name is intended to reflect Mazda’s desire to provide driving pleasure as well as outstanding environmental and safety performance in its vehicles. To achieve this goal, Mazda has implemented an internal Building Block Strategy to be completed by 2015. This ambitious strategy involves the comprehensive optimization of Mazda’s base technologies, which determine the core performance of its vehicles, and the progressive introduction of electric devices such as regenerative braking and a hybrid system.
After renewing existing technologies, such as engines and bodies, Step One of the Building Block Strategy is idling stop technology (i-stop), Step Two is regenerative braking technology, and Step Three is electric drive technology. All the technologies that are developed based on the Building Block Strategy will fall under the SKYACTIV umbrella.
The SKYACTIV technologies essentially include SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission, SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission, SKYACTIV-BODY and SKYACTIV-CHASSIS all of which will feature on the Takeri.
Mazda defines the KODO language with three words: speed, tension and allure. The interiors are all that and more. Information on the interiors are sparse, we will keep you posted as we get updates. The display at the center, we believe should be the HMI (Human Machine Interface) and should be a more futuristic version of that HMI seen on the Mazda SHINARI. Mazda, lauded for the quality of materials used in the SHINARI’s interiors, seems to want the TAKERI to feel just as good and from what we can see, the interiors are top notch again.
Mazda claims the TAKERI will provide a supremely comfortable ride feel, thanks to the satisfying power of SKYACTIV-D, Mazda’s diesel engine and new lightweight and aerodynamic technologies. It also features the i-stop idling stop system and Mazda’s first regenerative braking system. The regenerative braking system efficiently converts kinetic energy to electricity during deceleration, stores it in capacitors and then uses it to power the vehicle’s electric equipment, thereby reducing load on the engine and saving fuel.
