Quote Of The Day: Don't Let The Door Hit Your Character Lines On The Way Out Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Nagare is done. After the 5, it’s highly unlikely that there will be another nagare car. Mazda has moved on

Mazda’s Peter Birtwhistle gives Mazda fans the brand’s best news in a long time [via AutoExpress]: the crazy design language inspired by the Nagare show car of 2006, will die with its first victim, the 2011 Mazda5. Mazda’s new direction?

[Becoming] more like a Japanese Alfa Romeo, producing cars which are great to drive, but crucially that also have the right premium feel, particularly inside.

Great idea. It would have been even better, say, five years ago. Better late than never…

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Mjz Mjz on Jun 24, 2010

    The bad news is that were going to have to look at that hideous new Mazda5 until it gets a restyle. Gack.

  • Snavehtrebor Snavehtrebor on Jun 24, 2010

    I think the first gen 6 and 3 still look clean and well proportioned, without all the clutter of the Nagare-inspired designs. Kinda like how the E39 BMW is still much more attractive than the newer generations. For all the crap Bangle took, he sure did influence design at other companies like Mazda.

  • Beta Blocker Beta Blocker on Jun 24, 2010

    Niky Tamayo .... "And yet, even with that atrocious grille, I think the Mazda6 is the most striking four-door on the road today… bar none." I own a 2009 Mazda6i, and I think personally that the 6's grille -- which is most definitely not a happy face grille -- fits in very well with the other Mazda 6 design cues, some of which are borrowed from the RX-8. The RX-8 is going away, largely because of poor sales driven by consumer doubts over the reliability and performance of its rotary engine. Think about what a two-door coupe version of the Mazda 6 might look like, and how it might perform, if it had a high-tech V6 option mated to a six-speed manual transmission, along with some other selected interior upgrades and some extra handling goodies. One more thing I do really want though: The console is too wide and prevents me from achieving a just-right driving position for my right leg. Trim the console down so that it doesn't interfere with what are otherwise good driver ergonomics. I am thinking about doing this myself, once the warranty runs out. Unless of course there is stuff under that part of the console that can't be repositioned or relocated easily.

  • Just something you have to deal with. Mazda always has intrusive center consoles. I don't think any parts-swapping from previous 6's will help. - That's the funny thing about the grins. You only really notice how bad they are in the typical "sexy-low-angle" magazine photos. In real life, you're not looking at a Mazda from just two feet off the ground (unless you've just been knocked over by one), and the design actually works... somewhat.

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