Nissan Nuvu Concept

Nissan Nuvu is a concept vehicle with unique 2+1 seating.
Nissan Nuvu is easy to drive, even easier to park. it is the key solutions for tomorrow's city car."
Nissan Nuvu is described as a moving oasis, a haven of green tranquillity in the urban jungle. To underline this message, Nissan Nuvu incorporates a witty representation of its green credentials: across its all-glass roof are a dozen or so small solar panels. Shaped like leaves on a branch, the power they generate is fed to the battery using a 'tree trunk' within the car as a conduit. Nissan Nuvu also uses natural, organic and recycled materials within the cabin.
Nissan has already announced plans to introduce an all-electric car in Japan and the US in 2010 and to mass-market it globally in 2012. Nissan Nuvu is not that car, though it does share some of the technology that will feature in the planned production vehicle. Rather, it is a concept of how a Nissan EV might look in the near future.
It built on a unique platform, it's just 3 metres long and sits on a wheelbase of 1980 mm but is 1700 mm wide and 1550 mm tall to create a large and airy cabin.

Natural materials
Many of the materials used inside Nissan Nuvu reflect an increasing concern for the environment. The floor is made from wood fibres pressed into laminate sheets and is studded with rubber inserts made from recycled tyres for grip.
To create a light and bright interior, the windscreen and roof merge into one extended panel running virtually the entire length of the car. But undoubtedly the most unusual feature of the interior is the 'energy tree' which rises from the luggage compartment floor to the roof behind the driver's seat.

Solar panels
The energy tree is shaped like a thin trunk. As it reaches daylight it branches out under the glass roof providing occupants with protection from bright sunlight… just like a real tree. And providing a visual reminder of Nissan Nuvu's green credentials, covering the branches are dozens of small solar panels shaped like leaves.
The panels absorb energy from the sun which is then fed back down the energy tree and used to help recharge the battery and provide an extra power boost for the electric motor. As well as being genuinely green energy, it is estimated that the power generated via the solar panels will save the equivalent of one full overnight charge from mains electricity each month.

Driver controls are as simple as possible. All the major functions - steering, braking, transmission and throttle - are 'By-Wire' while the steering is controlled by an aircraft-style steering yoke: with just one turn from lock to lock, the steering is very direct for agility and manoeuvrability in the city. Nuvu's turning circle is just 3.7 metres. Thanks to its wide track and the use of 16 inch 165/55 tyres mounted on lightweight, almost transparent, wheels, ride comfort, stability and agility is of the highest order.
There are two pedals - for stop and go - stalks for minor controls and a digital instrument panel with dials for speed, distance covered and battery range.

Rear view/parking monitor
Two screens on the dashboard display the view behind the car - there are no door mirrors to disturb the airflow, but small cameras - and double as monitors for the Around View Camera which give a bird's eye view of the car when manoeuvering or parking.
Saving energy was the guiding force behind the use of low-energy LED head and tail lamps, while Nissan Nuvu's heating and ventilation system filters and cleans the city air as it passes through the vehicle. Not only does it produce no emissions at source, but Nissan Nuvu actually helps clean up the city environment.

Exterior and interior design
Nuvu's design is further clear evidence of Nissan's continued desire to challenge convention and to explore all the possibilities that the EV could bring us. In many ways it was inspired by our two most extreme EVs of recent times: Mixim and Pivo 2.
Significantly, though, Nuvu delivers a more realistic interpretation of two of the most important aspects of its forerunners - the 'Friendly Innovation' found in Pivo 2 and the 'Sports Dynamics' central to Mixim
Matching the ecological values of an electric vehicle, the moulded plastics and synthetic elements found inside a typical production car have been replaced by natural materials and organic alternatives, such as the wood fibres and rubber from car tyres used for the flooring. The result helps create a relaxed, warm atmosphere within Nuvu's cabin.
During the design development stage, key targets were to develop an EV that encompassed obvious modernity with engaging ambience and a playful aspect - hence the energy tree. "You don't need to be a car lover to fall in love with Nuvu," adds Bancon.

EV drivetrain
Nissan Nuvu is more than a styling concept of a future EV. It is a fully working mobile test bed for much of the technology that will be used in Nissan's production EV to be launched in 2010. For this reason elements of its technical specification are being kept secret for the time being.
The electric motor used in Nissan Nuvu is mounted at the rear of the vehicle and drives the back wheels, though neither its exact specification nor the power and torque figures are being released at this stage. A driving range of 125 kms and top speed of 120 km/h are being made public, however.

Li-Ion battery
Similarly although it can be revealed that the batteries used are of the latest laminated lithium-ion type and have a capacity of 140 Wh/kg (watt-hours per kilogram), the total capacity of the batteries and number of modules are not being disclosed at this stage.

Unlike a conventional lithium-ion battery with its bulky cylindrical cells, the laminated Li-Ion battery as used in Nissan Nuvu has thin laminated cells and fewer components overall. This boosts its power by a factor of 1.5 at the same time as halving its physical size. It also remains twice as efficient as a conventional cylindrical Li-Ion battery even after five years or 100,000 kms of continuous usage.
Its compact size allows the batteries to be mounted under the seats and the vehicle's flat floor, thus helping to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.
A quick charge from empty to full should take between 10 to 20 minutes while a full charge should take between three to four hours from a domestic 220V socket.

Interior package
The dimensions provide all the interior room needed for the vast majority of city journeys. Nissan Nuvu has two regular seats and a third occasional chair that can be folded down when required. But, unlike some two-seater city cars currently on the market, it is a thoroughly practical proposition with an integral luggage area providing sufficient space for a typical supermarket or shopping expedition.
The packaging is designed to give priority to driver comfort with C-segment levels of space and the flexibility to invite one or two passengers on board. Cabin layout places the regular passenger seat beside but largely behind the driver's seat, allowing the passenger to stretch right out. Ahead of this seat is a third occasional chair which, when not in use, is folded away into the dashboard assembly.
But even when the third seat is in use, there remains sufficient legroom for both passengers.
In the interests of saving both weight and space, the third seat has a centre section made from hardwearing yet comfortable netting. This hammock-like approach also has the benefit of allowing cool or warm air to circulate around the occupant's body for extra comfort.
Shopping bags, briefcases and smaller items of luggage can be stowed behind the driver's seat while if the driver is travelling solo, larger items can be stowed in the passenger footwall.

Toyota FT-EV Concept

The Toyota FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new Toyota iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image.
Toyota FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 50 miles between home, work and other forms of public transportation, such as high-speed rail. Although, for now, the Toyota FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents a natural pairing of product strategies.
Though BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology.

Last year, Toyota announced that it planned to sell one million gas-electric hybrids per year sometime during the early 2010s. To accomplish this, Toyota will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by the early 2010s, in various global markets. The new third-generation Toyota Prius and all new Lexus HS250h, both debuting in Detroit, are the first two examples of that effort.
Last year, Toyota announced that it would roll-out a large number of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to global lease-fleet customers in 2010. That schedule has been moved up.

Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius PHVs powered by lithium-ion batteries. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers.

The first-generation lithium-ion batteries powering these PHVs will be built on an assembly line at Toyota's PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company, LTD) battery plant, a joint-venture production facility in which Toyota owns 60 percent equity. During its development, the new Prius was designed and engineered to package either the lithium-ion battery pack with plug-in capability, or the nickel-metal hydride battery for the conventional gas-electric system.
The 500 PHVs arriving globally in late 2009 will be used for market and engineering analysis. Lease-fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process.

Scion Hako Coupe Concept

The Scion's Hako Coupe was developed by Tokyo Design Division, which studied global, youth-inspired trends. Japanese and American youth cultures often influence each other and are interpreted with a unique twist. The Scion Hako Coupe Concept was inspired by the iconic xB and the emergence of American vintage style among young Tokyo trendsetters.

"Scion's Hako Coupe Concept embodies a distinct global perspective on today's youth," said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. "This type of forward thinking complements the Scion philosophy of intently listening to our customers and being willing to take risks to help us see where our brand should be. We took the xB's iconic boxy shape and explored something more vivacious, yet just as emotionally appealing. This concept is the sporty version of a box."
Tokyo Design developed the Scion Hako Coupe with classic American coupes in mind. The car's geometric profile conveys a powerful stance in a compact and bold package. Its trapezoidal LED headlights lie parallel with a large and aggressive, rectangular upper grille. The lower rectangular grille anchors the front fascia and continues to communicate the Hako's aggressive attitude. Round fog lights, symmetrically placed high on the front bumper, have integrated turn signals.

The Hako's silhouette is accentuated by slim, race-car-inspired side mirrors that also feature integrated turn signals. Powerful, flared fenders add dimension and contrast to the concept's boxy shape and smooth surface planes. The Hako concept hugs the road with custom 18-inch deep dish five-spoke wheels and tires with a "Scion" custom tread.

The Scion Hako Coupe features a vertical windshield as the concept sits upright and ready to attack the road. A high linear beltline along with a blackened and chopped greenhouse seamlessly wrap around the rear to provide a mysterious profile. As an example of potential personalization, the concept is equipped with a flat, panorama roof that features a random, barcode-like pattern that can be seen on the exterior and from the interior.
The rear features LED taillights that echo the shape of the headlights. To complete the package, the rear bumper has an integrated fog and back up light on the left and exhaust on the right.

Inside, the Hako is accented with orange and metallic detailing that exudes a modern environment with entertainment possibilities. The front and rear seats are covered with urethane and rubber-like upholstery for easy cleaning. The contemporary front bucket seats flow to the floor and incorporate a geometric design on the seatback. The seats are separated by a center console that features a large storage crevice for storing magazines, cell phones, and other small items. Two cockpit-like rear seats also share a storage crevice.
The orange driver's seat has a gaming theme. Instrumentation and warning lights cascade from the art inspired instrument panel to the steering wheel. The shifter, located on the center console, resembles a large joystick. On the steering wheel is a simple button to start the engine and a track-ball type control for the Hako's entertainment system located on the passenger dash. The entertainment system consists of two video monitor screens mounted on the dash for radio, video, and music capabilities. Users can upload their videos and music through a Bluetooth® connection. The front passenger controls the system using a large rollerball mounted on the center of the dash. A black seat differentiates the front passenger area.
Video monitors located on each door and on each side of the rear seating area project distorted fish-eye images from orange filtered cameras mounted beneath the A-pillars. While the vehicle is parked the driver and passenger can edit the scenes captured by the cameras to show their friends where they have been and perhaps even post the clip online for others to see.
"As you know, polarizing style fits in well with our lineup," said Hollis. "And of course we love a good box. We'll listen to the feedback from this concept to help us determine how our brand could evolve and grow over the next five years."

Mitsubishi: Concept-CT

The Mitsubishi Motors Unveils Dramatic Concept For Future Hybrid-Powered Small Car At North American International Auto Show.
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) unveiled at the North American International Auto Show the Concept-CT, a groundbreaking concept for a hybrid-powered small car that may influence development of future "Driven to Thrill" Mitsubishi models.

The Designed at the Mitsubishi Motors Design Center in Cypress, Calif., the Concept-CT introduces an innovative hybrid powertrain packaged in an entirely new type of vehicle architecture. The ultra-compact four-door hatchback captures the essence of the Mitsubishi brand while combining practicality, fun-to-drive performance and low fuel consumption.
The key to the Concept-CT's roomy packaging, performance potential and fuel efficiency is the Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric Vehicle (MIEV) hybrid powertrain, which employs an electric motor in each of the vehicle's four wheels.
"The Concept-CT is a breakthrough vehicle that demonstrates how Mitsubishi might interpret its 'Driven to Thrill' core philosophy with the increasing demands for higher fuel efficiency and environmental compatibility," said MMNA President and CEO Rich Gilligan. "We are carefully studying ideas showcased in this innovative concept car."

Mitsubishi Signature Design With An Accent on the Future
Although clearly echoing the Mitsubishi "DNA" also seen in the high-performance Concept X from the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, the Concept-CT's sharp, expressive lines are intended to convey a more casual performance character. The overall design theme was inspired by the sleek high-performance scooters popular in Japanese urban centers - and gaining popularity in the United States.
The Concept-CT's 102.4-inch wheelbase falls between today's sub-compact and compact models. However, the 149.6-inch length makes the Concept-CT even better suited to congested urban environments. The long wheelbase relative to vehicle length, combined with 20-inch wheels that are thrust out to the corners, yields a stable, forceful stance while maximizing interior space. Candy yellow-orange paint, with copper and grey accents, underscores the Concept-CT's advanced powertrain and overall futuristic orientation.
Unique design elements combine high-tech style with function. The LED head lamps and tail lamps are designed to appear as if their light emanates from a single source rather than multiple bulbs. A large, wraparound panoramic windshield provides excellent front visibility.

The rear doors open butterfly-style without a center pillar to provide maximum interior access. Also contributing to the design's practicality, the rear hatch is split horizontally, featuring an upper glass hatch and a lower tail gate for ease of loading.

The New Vehicle Architecture Shows Future Possibilities for Small Cars
Early on, the Mitsubishi Concept-CT designers disregarded current vehicle architecture and created a whole new type of small car platform that could take full advantage of the MIEV powertrain's numerous benefits. A rear-midship layout places the gasoline engine behind the rear passengers but ahead of the rear axle line. This same configuration can be found in some of the world's best sports cars because it allows for optimum weight distribution, low center of gravity and a small yaw-inertia moment (quick steering response).
With room freed up by the lack of a center differential, driveshaft to the front and front-wheel halfshafts, designers were able to locate vital components to optimize both safety and weight distribution. The rear-midship layout allows for a large frontal crush zone and greatly reduces the potential for engine intrusion into the cabin in a collision. Batteries are housed under the rear floor and in the front of the vehicle. The fuel tank is housed under the front floor.

MIEV Powertrain Hints at High-Tech Mitsubishi Future
Mitsubishi is actively developing its MIEV technology to address future demands for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, without sacrificing driving performance and fun. The series/parallel hybrid drive in the Concept-CT uses a special transmission to harness the 50 kW (67 horsepower) output of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine to drive the rear wheels and the generator. Engine power is 20kW per wheel. A 40 kW (54 horsepower) generator charges high-energy-density, lithium-ion batteries to offer high capacity and long life. Total combined peak power is 100kW (134 horsepower).
The MIEV system provides both economical cruising capability and high capacity power for short bursts of acceleration when needed. A regenerative brake system captures energy that would otherwise be lost as heat through the brake discs and channels it to the batteries.
Each of the Concept-CT's wheels houses an electric motor, effectively providing computer-controlled all-wheel drive (AWD) that can transfer optimal traction independently to each tire as needed. Such individual wheel control opens up new possibilities to enhance vehicle stability and performance.
In addition to a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain featured in the Concept-CT, MIEV technology can be applied to pure battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles to suit a wide variety of world market needs and infrastructures in the future. Mitsubishi is testing a MIEV
powertrain in the Lancer Evo MIEV rally car acclaimed at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show as an environmentally conscious, high-performance vehicle.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States. Mitsubishi Motors currently sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, trucks and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 570 dealers.

Mitsubishi Concept-CT Major Specifications:
+ Wheelbase: 2600 mm (102.4 in.)
+ Length: 3800 mm (149.6 in.)
+ Width: 1700 mm (66.9 in.)
+ Height: 1430 mm (56.3 in.)
+ Engine: 1.0 liter 3 cylinder, gasoline
+ Engine power: 50kW
+ Generator power: 40kW
+ Battery power: 50kW
+ Motor power: 80kW (20kW X 4)
+ Total peak power: 100kW

The Adventurous Yet Practical Interior
The Concept-CT interior design is as adventurous as the exterior, starting with structural elements that also serve as design elements. The main controls take inspiration from motorcycle front forks and controls and are supported by a structure fashioned in parallel strips. For a clean, modern image, the interior features pearl finish, ribbed vinyl and soft-touch surfaces with copper accents.
The Concept-CT instrument panel is unlike anything seen in current vehicles. A wide format "wall to wall" screen displays information for navigation, rear/side-view mirror functions, and entertainment functions (when in park). Flat-screen gauges are placed well forward of the driver for optimal visibility. In addition, a flat screen in the center panel displays climate control and audio information. Reflecting Concept-CT's futuristic theme, the ultra-thin center console houses a fingerprint-reading security key and computer touch pad interface.
A flat floor and "floating" seats for four provide an open feeling and interior flexibility. The contoured bench-style seats are designed for superior support while providing ease of entry and egress. The front passenger seatback and rear seatbacks fold flat to carry long loads. Rear seat cushions fold up with the seatback in the upright position to load tall items through the side doors. Concept-CT provides additional storage under the front hood.

This concept provides a vision into the future of advanced hybrid technology in a fun and futuristic design. Mitsubishi Motors' Lancer Evolution MIEV is currently under testing in Japan - with a goal to bring a MIEV model, built around core technologies of in-wheel motors and high density lithium-ion batteries.

Mazda: Kiyora Concept

The Mazda revealed the direction its new technology development would take when it announced the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan in 2008. In line with this plan, Mazda is focused on making cars that achieve harmony between Mazda's hallmark driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance. Mazda Kiyora demonstrates how Mazda will achieve a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy in the near future and introduce new vehicles that are exciting to look at and drive. Featuring next-generation environmental technologies, Kiyora was envisaged as a fun and cool concept for young European urbanites, and one that only Mazda could produce.

Mazda Kiyora gives an indication where Mazda could go with a small, eco-friendly city car in the near future. It is highly fuel efficient, with a very small CO 2 footprint, delivering Zoom-Zoom driving fun and high levels of safety. The car achieves this by taking Mazda's acclaimed lightweight strategy to a new level by employing an extremely rigid and lightweight carbon-fibre body structure beneath a small, aerodynamic outer skin and a spirited, small-displacement 1.3-liter direct-injection engine. Mazda Kiyora also features Mazda's unique Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) and a newly developed six- speed automatic transmission with direct feel and fuel efficiency similar to that of a manual. With these technologies, the Mazda Kiyora concept would produce CO 2 emission of under 90g/km.

Themes for the Mazda Kiyora concept include cleanliness, health and safety. These key aspects are essential for young city dwellers as well as any compact car in the current global environment. The concept was based on Mazda's sustainable technology vision, which aims to ensure customers can continue to enjoy a Zoom-Zoom experience in the future. Water was also selected as a theme for this concept, due to its association with the aspects mentioned above, and the car was named Kiyora (meaning 'clean and pure' in Japanese) to reflect this. It features next-generation technologies clothed in a friendly and cool design that is as functional as it is beautiful. This is the first concept to express Nagare 'low' in the patterns and colours of water.
Defining the Concept, "Urban Hub" - Advanced Product Strategy

Mazda Kiyora is a redefinition of the small coupe and is dedicated to embody the same fun-to-drive nature as every other Mazda vehicle, combined with innovative ideas that minimize its impact on the environment. This concept is the translation of Mazda's Sustainable Zoom-Zoom philosophy into a lifestyle vehicle for progressive urbanites.
The idea for this car was born from research that identified market opportunities to address future unmet customer needs with innovative concepts and ideas. The very first step taken by Mazda Motor Europe's Advanced Product Strategy (APS) team was an in-depth analysis of the small city car segment in Europe. Having defined several potential customer profiles in this segment, the team focussed on the urban customer with a post-modern lifestyle.

APS found that exterior styling, compact size, manoeuvrability and flexibility were just as important to these young people as high fuel efficiency. European urbanites, then, will continue to commute and use their cars in the city of the future; but they will expect them to use less fuel and produce fewer toxic emissions, while still being fun to drive, easy to park and use. To achieve this, the vehicle must be lightweight and small. Kiyora is even smaller than the new Mazda 2. Reducing vehicle weight is a key concept that is crucial to achieve the goals set out in the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan. Kiyora takes Mazda's 'gram strategy' — that has been used previously to produce new vehicles, all of them lighter and more fuel eficient than their predecessors — to the next level. It should also be flexible, a kind of 'urban HUB' that would allow you to go to university during the day, go shopping in the early evening, and take three friends clubbing at night before driving home, thanks to its lexible interior that can be used as a two-seater with boot, or as a 2+2 seating arrangement. The car should have a next-generation cockpit and be fun to use on a daily basis. And it should be safe and environmentally friendly.

Zoom-Zoom Experience and Environmental Performance Mazda Kiyora supports the active lifestyles of young people with its agility, cleanliness, and excellent economic performance. Mazda's next-generation 1.3-litre DISI petrol engine is an evolution of technologies used for the 2.3-liter DISI petrol engine that currently powers Mazda's sports crossover SUV, the Mazda CX-7. Improved direct- injection technology and newly designed combustion chambers enable more precise ignition control. The engine's efficiency is increased by a combination of advanced dual sequential-valvetiming (S-VT), variable-valve timing and lift mechanism, and optimal valve control. The engine is spirited as well as clean and efficient and, in combination with a compact and lightweight six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control, it would make Mazda Kiyora powerful and cultivated, even at low engine speeds. In stop and go urban traffic conditions, Mazda's newly developed Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) would save fuel by automatically shutting down the engine when the vehicle is stationary, and achieves a quick and quiet restart for stress free driving. The system injects a small amount of fuel directly into the engine's cylinders and ignites it to generate downward piston force which, with the aid of an electric motor, rapidly returns the engine to idle speed. Emissions would be among the lowest thanks to a new catalyst that more effectively removes harmful exhaust materials by employing single-nanotechnology to control catalyst particles that are smaller even than those controlled by conventional nanotechnology. Combined with reduced weight and improved aerodynamics, these insightful technologies would result in CO 2 emissions of 90g/km or less.

Exterior - Fusing Form with Function
"Mazda Design has been working hard over the past two years to develop an exciting new design message with its Nagare series," says Peter Birtwhistle, Chief Designer, Mazda Motor Europe. "Mazda Kiyora is the latest iteration of that philosophy."
The Mazda Kiyora concept car is formed in the shape of a water droplet on its side, as are its two side windows. Its diminutive size and low roofline give it a small front cross-section. This is combined with an elaborate underbody that controls wind swirl, a rear roof spoiler, and specially sculptured body lines for a highly aerodynamic form with a coefficient of drag that is over 10 percent lower that of the current Mazda2. This outstanding fusion of engineering and the Nagare design was a key target.
"The architecture of the car has been rethought," says the concept's lead exterior designer, Mickael Loyer. "The main structure of the car is an 'in and out' frame, like a shell that protects you from the outside environment, and lets you be opened and linked to it at the same time, thanks to the transparency of the top and the side windows, which also gives a lightweight feeling."

About 10 cm shorter than the new Mazda2 sub-compact, Kiyora is also an environmentally friendly city car that is cute and agile, and invites you to climb in for a ride. It uses a soft design language and lowing lines, while retaining an overall style that is really expressive and sporty. Here is the expressive five-point grille first used on the Mazda Sassou concept three years ago - backlit when the car is on with soft, red lighting - but now further developed with Nagare low lines that are carved and more three-dimensional. They are formed to guide air into the interior of the car without the use of fans, which saves weight. Its silhouette features character lines that are sleek and smooth, and move upwards and rearwards, fusing into the rear spoiler. Combine it all with 18-inch alloys and extremely small overhangs, and you have a truly sporty look in a small package.
Though small, Mazda Kiyora has a rear boot big enough to carry a large suitcase, a briefcase and a notebook. It is accessible via a liftgate that opens very high (with a low load floor level) for easy loading and unloading, and it's flexible. When the rear seats are not in use, you can push your luggage forward and stow even more, while the strong yet flexible seat material stretched over the seats holds the luggage in place. This system also has the advantage that it hides whatever is stored in the boot from prying eyes outside the car.

The roof of the new Mazda Kiyora is another example of how Mazda designers were able to combine functionality and design aesthetics. It is transparent, for an open-air feeling on the inside, and has photovoltaic solar cells which provide electricity for the car's interior systems.
"Kiyora is about water fluidity and transparency," says Mr. Loyer. "It's all about layers of perception. You start with a shape and there is a shape behind and another one behind that. It's like water; the deeper you go the more details appear. Nagare low here has different layers lowing into each other. Repeated layers lead you into the car. And because the inside of the car is visible, it becomes part of the exterior design."

The doors and side windows of Mazda Kiyora are fused into a single unit and function as both. These 'windoors' are made of plastic, which provides the same transparency and refraction properties as glass, and the strength of a thin-panel door, but with far less weight. They are also easy to use and practical. Touching the surface of the front tip of the door activates a sensor, which opens the doors up and away from the car, a plus when parking in tight city spaces. They also allow a view into the interior when the doors are closed. But looking into Mazda Kiyora is more than just looking through glass.
"Using various layers of materials, combined with forms and colours on the inside, gives the impression of looking into water with its depths and lowing shapes below the surface," says Luca Zollino, who assisted Mr. Loyer in creating the exterior. "For instance, there is a body shell side member shaped like sea grass that is visible just behind the surface of the doors and, when you look deeper into the car, there are the lowing shapes of the dashboard and centre console."
The design of the wheels also supports the water theme. Its front spokes are convex and shaped like the blades of a boat propeller, while the concave back spokes are joined to the wheel rim and have a reinforcement that seems to grow out of the spoke itself. Kept very smooth, the wheels of Mazda Kiyora give a twirling, twisting surface articulation.

New Liquid-Skin Display IP Concept
This display would be a simple yet very practical type of instrument panel that uses advanced touch-screen technology with tactile feedback. Using liquid-skin display technology, it would mimic the rippling that water makes when you touch it with your finger. When the car is off, the IP looks like ice, frozen and hard. When the car is switched on, the display appears to turn into water. Information icons would appear and float downwards to pre-programmed positions in front of the driver. The driver would be able to move the icons around with his finger and could even organise them however he wished. He could lip through menus, select settings for temperature, and even send an email.

"We call Kiyora's IP a liquid-skin display," said Gergory Vera, who designed the interior, "because it is conceived to ripple like water when you touch it. Icons bounce off each other as if they are floating in water. This would be a logical next step in intuitive-feedback, flexible-screen displays and is a natural and easy way to operate the systems of a car."

From this touch-screen display, you could also control a hard-disk drive with advanced sensors that would provide environmental information like how much fuel you used and how many grams of CO 2 you released into the atmosphere on a particular day. It could also calculate how many toxins the car filtered out of the air and water during the same period.

Considerations for the Cabin Environment

Mazda Kiyora concept would be able to filter out toxins from the outside air and use it inside the car. The right side of the dashboard consists of a large, single piece of thick activated carbon, which is a natural resource that has been used for centuries in Asia as a purifying material. The above-mentioned Nagare low lines at the front of the car guide outside air into the car and through this charcoal, which filters out and captures toxins better than most filter systems, without the need for an electric fan or inorganic materials. Taking advantage of rain as a natural resource the roof of the Mazda Kiyora channels rainwater firstly through an activated carbon filter and then into a specially commissioned drinks bottle designed for Mazda by LIFESAVER® systems. The LIFESAVER® bottle citi™ is located between the front seats for easy access, and uses state of the art ultra filtration hollow fibre membranes. With a pore size of 15 nano-meters these membranes remove microbiological contamination including bacteria and viruses without the aid of chemicals, delivering safe fresh drinking water to the user any time.

The bottle is removable so can be taken out of the car and used to gather water from other natural sources such as rivers, lakes and streams.

Colours and Materials - A Triumph of Material Engineering Mazda Motor Europe's Colours + Materials team has distinguished itself in the development of new kinds of materials for its concepts. In Sassou, it was translucent plastic treated in a way to match the body colour and to hide light effects, and in Hakaze it was the brilliant use of surface textures that mimic the feel of natural materials. With the Mazda Kiyora, the colours and materials team faced its greatest challenge yet - to express the theme of 'pure water' in visible and touchable ways.

"Based on the extreme requirements of Kiyora, as a new eco-friendly car with a fully lexible interior, we needed to research in unusual fields," said Maria Greger, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe and head of the Colours + Materials team. "We looked for materials and processes that are not yet used in the automotive industry. We had to find materials that not only work in covering parts, but are directly related to function. The best example is the material used for the floor and rear seats. This is the same textile, but treated differently to best adapt to the function it needs to fulfil."

The exterior of the Mazda Kiyora is blue-green and has transparent, polycarbonate doors, chosen to underscore the purity of water. On the inside you can see forms - like the wavy side member of the body structure - that look like lowing sea grass. These were given a colour scheme that, when seen through the doors from outside the car, makes it seem as though you are looking into water.

"We chose bluish and greenish colours, which is colour of water," said Luciana Silvares, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe. "The deeper you go, the deeper the colour of water gets. We wanted to give this car the feeling of water and ice, sea or lake (from the surface to depth), showing transparency and gradient."

The interior is a masterpiece of materials engineering. The body shell is visible, like an inner skeleton, and supports the water theme with its wavy, lowing shapes, while functioning as a true body structure. And the interior has a colour scheme that makes the front seats seem to float above a floor that looks like frozen water. For the instrument panel and door inners, soft coatings and light metallic effects are employed to enhance this impression.

The rear seats are one of the concept's most interesting features and a perfect example of how to combine material and design to express the theme of water, while saving weight and losing nothing in functionality. They are made of only two components: a seat skeleton that is part of the body structure at the back of the cabin, and a flexible and robust textile stretched over this. This textile allows a person to sit down into the seat and acts as a irm surface to sit on like a lawn chair, and then to spring back to its original shape when the person leaves the car - effectively hiding the seats. This 'hidden seat' is designed for short trips in town, and is far lighter than traditional car seats.

"The material for the rear seats is an extremely stretchable textile that we developed with the Company Straehle und Hess," said Ms. Greger. "It is made of knitted polyester that has the ability to return to its original shape. With a special construction of two laminated layers, this material is, despite its extreme stretch ability, also extremely stable."

The rear seats also work in conjunction with the floor to contribute colour-wise to the overall theme of pure, watery depths. Both the seats and the floor are made of the same materials, but treated differently to maximise their functionality. Two-dimensional printing was employed for the colours and sea grass graphics on the seats, and a unique, three-dimensional (3D) casting process was used for the floor surfaces. The 3D casting process was inspired by the PU micro-injection printing process used on textiles for sportswear. This allowed the team to give the floor surface the durability and abrasion strength needed to function as a real floor, and to create the image of deep and layered surface to express the image of water and ice.

Technical Specifications

* Body type: Three-door hatchback
* Dimensions
o Overall length: 3,770 mm
o Overall width: 1,685 mm
o Overall height: 1,350 mm
o Wheelbase: 2,495 mm
* Seating: 2 + 2
* Engine Type: Next generation MZR 1.3-litre DISI petrol with smart idle stop system
* Transmission: Next-generation 6-speed AT with manual shift
* Suspension
o Front: MacPherson strut

o Rear: Torsion beam
* Tires: 215/45 R18

Interior Design - Visualised 'Nagare' Design and an Expression of Lightness

The interior shapes not only provide aesthetic motifs, they also function to stiffen the passenger compartment with minimal weight. Mazda's strategy of shedding excess grams wherever possible in its production cars was taken to a new level in Mazda Kiyora. The visible body structure is a real structural element of the car - stiff and crash-resistant. It is indicative of Mazda's approach to conduct a thorough structural analysis to solve complex issues such as safety and rigidity requirements instead of simply replacing materials with more expensive ones. The rear seats that are integrated into the body framework are also examples of this approach. Lightweight materials such as aluminium and a special resin foam, which is under development at Mazda, would be used not only for interior parts such as the instrument panel, but also for the bonnet, tailgate and sections of the chassis. Their effective usage contributes to improving the yaw moment of inertia and reducing the unsprung mass, and leads to superb handling.

The Mazda Kiyora concept has interior shapes that express Nagare 'low' by looking as though they are floating in a current of sea water that is moving from front to back. The instrument panel starts at a single point and lows around the driver and to the right of the front passenger as if it were several blades of sea grass growing out of a rock underwater. The front seats seem to float above the floor, and the arms of body structure twist like sea weed at the sides and top of the cabin. As well as being an integral design element, the door structure also functions as a side member and, in combination with the side sills, would effectively protect occupants in the event of a side impact.
"Rapid prototyping was used for most of the natural shapes," says Jo Stenuit, Assistant Chief Designer and Project Leader. "We have a very natural design with complex lowing shapes. Normal moulding processes would not have allowed us to produce such elaborate designs."

Kia Soulster Concept

The open-air concept of Kia Soulster is a variation of the highly anticipated Soul.
Kia Soulster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today's buyers - a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends.
A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul'r yellow Soulster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet. The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance. A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.
Kia Soulster has a tough but refined character with a unique face .
The toughness is expressed through details like the anodized skid-pad insert, which matches the fender vents, roll bar header and wheels.
Kia Soulster's attitude incorporates lighting that shines through with an amber glow under the headlamps. The side vents, side-mirror turn signals, unique LED headlamps, fog and tail lamps incorporate blue shades.
The energetic, distinctive look carries from front to rear with dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fiber interior sleeves. The large 19-inch, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels perfect the Kia Soulster's appearance. Regardless of Soulster being viewed from front, back or side, it offers innovative perspectives derived from the original Soul.

Inside Out
Kia Soulster takes even more progressive variations from Soul beginning with the new four-passenger seating design, a diversion from Soul's five-passenger arrangement, lending spacious versatility for long summer weekends. The surprisingly flexible Kia Soulster provides real seating for two in the front with comfortable seating for two more adults in the back. Fold-flat passenger and rear seats combined with ample headroom make this the perfect car for social outings outdoors and on the beach with friends. Making basic features hot, its crank-up windows are a purposefully key interior design element as are the dashboard-integrated audio speakers.
Adding to the edgy design scheme, the non-floor-mounted cantilevered seats project the illusion of being suspended in space when viewed from the side allowing for increased rear legroom. Storage compartments below each of the fold-flat rear seats, offer room for myriad cargo needs. In addition to the spacious cargo area, dual storage compartments also can be found in the rear and underneath the cargo hold area.

All Revved Up
With young buyers in mind, Kia Soulster offers an agile, smooth and spirited ride. As with its Soul cousin, Soulster's can be made available with a myriad of engine choices depending upon each market's needs. A 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which produces approximately 120 horsepower. For those looking for a little more power, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, producing approximately 140 horsepower. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more miles per gallon. Other markets might choose the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 124 horsepower or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel.