Holy spinning rotaries! Mazda unveils the Vision X-Coupe and Vision X-Compact, says rotaries are very much alive, and talks about things eco
Tokyo – For any car enthusiast, the Japan Mobility Show is all things automotive waku waku. We get to witness the best and latest from Japanese carmakers and their foreign counterparts.
One of the main highlights was Mazda pulling the wraps off their Vision X-Coupe and Mazda Vision X-Compact concept cars. There is no doubt that electrification is on the lips of every mainstream automaker. And while the Chinese have a clear ecosystem advantage on their home turf, legacy automarkers including Mazda, have embraced electrification with measured caution.
Mazda Vision X-Coupe
The star of the Mazda booth, the Mazda Vision X-Coupe (pronounced Vision Cross Coupe), which Mazda says would be powered by a turbocharged twin-rotary engine, paired with Plug-in Hybrid tech.
The Vision X-Coupe concept is especially important to the Japanese carmaker. Aside from providing an evolutionary blueprint for Mazda’s design language, termed ‘KODO-Soul of Motion’, it also brings to the forefront technologies for clean-burning combustion.
Around 5 meters in length, almost two meters wide, and with a wheelbase of 3,080mm, 85mm longer than the BMW i5 Touring, the Vision X-Coupe is a larger than life four-door crossover, with fastback/coupe styling. Mazda’s ingenious use of negative space plays well into the design. Its frontal light signature leans heavily on the MX-5, while at the rear, lightstrip tail lights that extend into the reaches of the rear windshield.
On the inside, a minimalist approach to the dashboard, forms a stark contrast to the three-dial instrument panel. As for the rest of the cabin, from my viewpoint, its interior is Executive-sized, lounge-like, and with sporty undertones.
In-all, the Vision X-Coupe seemingly borrows heavily from the rotary-powered Mazda R130 Luce from the late ‘60s.
Aside from the twin-rotary engine with PHEV tech, Mazda also debuted their Mazda Mobile Carbon Capture device, which absorbs carbon dioxide emissions while driving. Paired with their biofuel initiative, Mazda claims an overall carbon absorption amount of 110-percent.
Mazda Vision X-Compact
Mazda also unveiled the Vision X-Compact – a supermini hatchback, where being more than just a car, the concept focuses on deepening the bond between people and cars through the fusion of a human sensory digital model and empathetic AI.
The hatch features subtle plays on positive and negative space. Short overhangs hint at making the most of its footprint for interior space. The subtle sloping rear end, which is also found on the CX-5 compact SUV, which Mazda also exhibited here, is borrowed heavily from the current Mazda3 hatch. Since this is a superman, Mazda’s execs on-site did reveal that much of the next-generation Mazda2, could be based on this concept.
Mazda’s President and CEO, Masahiro Moro who was present at the event said: “The phrase, ‘The joy of driving fuels a sustainable tomorrow,’ expresses not only Mazda’s fundamental spirit, but also the core of its future challenges. Under the shared global mission of achieving carbon neutrality, Mazda believes that the joy of driving can be a force for positive change for society and the planet. We remain committed to fulfilling the desire of those who love cars and wish to continue driving forever.”
Text: Clifford Chow
Photos: Clifford Chow & Mazda
