About 2 months ago, Mazda confirmed that it will be dropping its Nagare design theme, which was created by former design chief Laurens van den Acker. While the theme was only applied in full to one production car, the Mazda5, you saw the big “smiley” face influence all over Mazda’s lineup. Mazda’s new design chief, Ikuo Maeda, previously said that he is aiming for a more “Japanese Alfa Romeo” look and that means no smiley faces. (more…)

Mazda plans to make much greater use of its Nagare design language on the lighter next-generation MX-5, due in 2012.

Mazda has been undergoing a ground-up rethink of its sports car strategy after concerns that the current MX-5 has become too heavy to stay true to the original car’s ethos. (more…)

One of our favorite sporty CUVs — the Mazda CX-7 — is due for a refresh and Mazda plans to take the wraps off the 2010 model at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. In addition to receiving Mazda’s familiar “happy” family face and some new brightwork, the Euro-spec model gets a 2.2-liter turbo’d oil burner, as opposed to the US-version’s 2.3-liter turbo petrol plant. The MZR-CD 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, which makes a “meh” 170 hp and a “yowza” 295 lb-ft of torque, complies with the stringent Euro Stage 5 emissions. Still not quite as tough as US diesel standards, but getting warmer. (more…)

The Mazda 3 hatchback family is being replaced in November’s Los Angeles motor show. It’s a four door for the non hatchbacks-obsessed, but we’ll see the five-door Euro-style Mazda 3 hatch a few weeks later at the 2008 Bologna motor show.
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The Mazda Kiyora takes rain water collected on the roof and channels it through a carbon filter. It then takes that water and fills a purification bottle designed by Lifesaver. This bottle can then be used for drinking water.

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