Details on Mazda1 revealed
by Chris Shunk on May 26th 2008 at 4:27PM 
High energy costs and growth in emerging markets have automakers scrambling to downsize their product plans, and ultra-small transportation like the VW up! is bound to bring low-cost city cars to the masses. Mazda intends to be a serious player in this burgeoning segment and will unveil the Mazda1 concept in Paris this fall, expected to look like the sketch above and influenced by the Nagare design language.
Mazda promises that the production vehicle will be more "radical" in production trim, though it likely won't carry fuel cells and batteries like the concept. The automaker does plan on offering amenities like navigation, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and the micro will have sliding doors and seats to make getting in and out easier. Mazda engineers are also working hard to make sure the Mazda1 is environmentally friendly, which means low emissions, small powertrains, and low weight. Fortunately, those very same attributes will also help keep costs down, which should help Mazda offer the vehicle everywhere from India and China to more developed regions like Europe and the US.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Guinness 5:36PM (5/26/2008)
I'm very hopeful that cars like this, and others, come to the states. I'm excited for this round of new, small cars that redefine "economy car."
Just because a car is small doesn't mean that it has to look an feel cheap and lack in comfort or amenities. The Mazda 1 and its future competitors seem to be set out to prove that. Hopefully they'll land stateside and start changing minds.
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Ohso Clutch 5:33PM (5/26/2008)
......Looks like the Verve concept.
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The Luigiian 5:43PM (5/26/2008)
Wait.
So Mazda promises the 1 will be "more radical" in production trim?
Damn. That's pretty cool. Er, radical.
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Torrent 6:00PM (5/26/2008)
Mazda1!!??? You mean it's smaller then the Mazda2?
How?
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mikomi 6:20PM (5/26/2008)
Today's Mazda3 is about the same size as a 636 from the early 80s.
Today's Mazda2/Demio is actually bigger than the 323/Protege from the 80s.
And the Mazda1? Well, I guess it's about as large as the Carol (a kei car).
I'm sure there'll be room, I actually found the Mazda2 quite roomy for a small car and fun to drive. The Mazda1 could simply be a replacement for their kei car (Carol), also sold as a rebranded Suzuki, the Altos.
Yago Bal 8:43PM (5/26/2008)
OK, Autoblog, but that sketch has nothing to do with the 1: it's one of 3 sketches made at a workshop with Mazda's design team by journalists, in Amesterdam, a few weeks ago.
The journalists were divided in 3 groups, and each group designed a car, assisted by a Mazda professional. It was just a way of showing them the process... It had nothing to do with the 1.
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John Starnes 11:44PM (5/26/2008)
Well I hope it looks very much like that sketch as I love the Nagare concepts' design language and would love to them expressed in production cars.
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Bryan Riddle 4:26PM (5/27/2008)
so in 10 years from now, theyll make a new one even smaller because the 1 grew larger every model change and will be calling it 0 and there will be no way to market a crappy name like that
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