Continuing down their road to recovery following the natural disaster that amounted in the sad loss of over 15,000 Japanese citizen, the spirit to endure from the troubles have seen industrial production return, stabilizing the traumatic experiences of millions. In only a month, many of the Japanese auto plants were operational again with at least some production.
Upcoming in December, the Japanese auto industry will have a moment to shed light on the greatness in their vehicle culture and technology with the biennial Tokyo Motor Show. Always a showcase for creative designs and high-tech innovations, the 2011 edition of the car exhibition will count upon the country’s major automotive companies to refresh some optimism in the population.
Mazda Motor Corporation is one automaker ready to demonstrate there is indeed brightness in the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. Showing off their Mazda CX-5 in the brand’s home country for the first time, the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will perform the world debut of a concept car indicating direction for the next mid-sized sedan. The TAKERI concept embodies the two leading philosophies Mazda is touting as the future for their auto brand.
A concept car assimilating a good deal of production car characteristics, the Mazda TAKERI four-door sedan is said by the auto company “to bring a new level of strength and allure to sedan styling.” The latest vehicle to be crafted on the ‘KODO-Soul of Motion’ design language, loud tones of the Mazda SHINARI concept are telegraphed through the shapely sheet metal of the TAKERI sedan. Like the SHINARI, the front end features a large, upright grille opening complemented with a chrome accent sailing under and towards the headlamp housings. At the rear end of the concept vehicle, the Mazda TAKERI formulates a near fastback profile for what is likely superior aerodynamic balancing.
An elegant use of curves achieves a classically refined yet sporty appearance for the Mazda TAKERI concept which is said to provide a “comfortable ride feel”. While specific details are not provided on the interior accommodations, images of the Mazda TAKERI cabin leaves expectations of enviable comfort a real possibility.
First time being exhibited by Mazda, the TAKERI concept is a regenerative braking system designed to recycle kinetic energy into electrical energy. While the TAKERI is not a hybrid, the electrical energy will be channelled back into vehicle’s electric-powered systems. With the surge of energy into the electrical hardware, the engine will be less burdened to produce the electric power thereby allowing the engine to run with more efficiency. The powerplant attached to the Mazda TAKERI concept car is a diesel version of the engine using SkyActiv technology. The SkyActiv-D engine is a highly efficient, clean diesel powerplant likely to deliver outstanding fuel economy when combined with the benefits from Mazda’s regenerative braking.
Along with the SkyActiv technology undertaking, Mazda says the latest TAKERI concept is part of a three-step “Building Block Strategy” for electrically based fuel savings. With step one being stop/start technology and the second being regenerative braking, the TAKERI possesses two of Mazda’s Building Block Strategy. Full hybrid and other electric powertrain technology are on the horizon as the Japanese auto brand’s third step.
Receiving major retouch in the past 2011 model year, a replacement design to the current Mazda6 is not likely to occur until the 2014 model year in North America. Since the development process for most new vehicles is roughly two years, a production four-door vehicle based on the Mazda TAKERI concept is a likely. Disregarding production questions, the TAKERI concept’s presentation at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Information and photo source: Mazda Motor Corporation
