<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Although Mazda took the wraps off the Shinari concept prior to the Paris Motor Show, the Japanese automaker skipped that venue, making the Los Angeles Auto Show the first opportunity for the public to see this handsome show car in person.   It&amp;#039;s also an important car for Mazda because this work, designed by Ikuo Maeda, Mazda&amp;#039;s relatively new head of global design, turns the page on the flowing Nagare design language that is seen on the new Mazda5. Maeda is the son of Matasaburo Maeda, also a former chief of design who penned the first RX-7. Like his father, Ikuo is responsible for another iconic Mazda, the RX-8. With the Mazda Shinari concept, the younger Maeda is pursuing a new more dynamic design lexicon called Kodo. Future Mazda products will likely incorporate this concept&amp;#039;s strong character lines and powerful look.   Traditional Mazda design elements will be retained, such as the five-point grille and the prominent front fender shape, but the 4-door Shinari embodies a new dynamic that blends sharp character lines with sculpted body shapes to convey a sense of power and elegance.   Although the Shinari does not use a current Mazda platform, its underpinnings are envisioned to be a C/D family car platform slightly larger than the current Mazda6. This pure design exercise is intended to point the Japanese automaker in this direction rather than represent an actual model in the production pipeline.   The attention to detail is remarkable for a show car, however. For instance, the satin-finish metal trim that frames the bottom of the grille splays out through the headlamp openings. This strip seems to travel through the wheel arch and re-emerges as a side vent accent. The piece of metal is also indirectly lit when the headlamps are turned on, giving the car a distinctive look in the dark.   Crisp character lines, sculpted body panels and a pronounced cab rearward proportion give the car the look of a powerful animal crouched and ready to spring. The powerful rear haunch and long hood and dash-to-axle ratio imparts a sense of speed. The designers&amp;#039; intent is to make the Shinari look like it&amp;#039;s moving even when it&amp;#039;s standing still.   The cabin features a cockpit-style layout for the driver with a layered instrument binnacle that sweeps down into the center console, separating the driver from the passenger. The center stack is essentially an open space in which additional controls and the shifter are located. Atop that stack is an auxiliary navigation screen and entertainment systems. Even though the main binnacle in front of the driver is tall, the rest of the cabin has an open, uncluttered appearance enhanced by a glass roof that lets in a lot of light.   Overall, the new Kodo design philosophy is very Italian in its execution, capturing the kind of passion and energy seen in exotic car designs. It&amp;#039;s a look Maeda believes can be used on both passenger sedans like the Mazda6 and future replacements for the MX-5 Miata and RX-8. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/los-angeles-auto-show/news/a16675/mazda-shinari-concept-1/>