Let me just say, this thing is damn ugly!
Before Mazda presented the Hakaze concept in Geneva, we had the opportunity to drive this “crossover coupe,” which will serve as the basis for a new SUV in late 2009. The Hakaze is the third in a series of design-related concept cars that began with the Nagare (at last fall's L.A. show) and the Ryuga (Detroit).
The Hakaze — which is Japanese for “wind blowing through leaves of a tree” — was shaped at Mazda's European design center in Germany. It was inspired by the kite-surfing culture, with long “sail doors” that open upward 45 degrees, while the glasshouse cabin gives an exceptional feel of freedom. In a nod to the young beach crowd, the four seats are covered with neoprene, while the dash and rectangular steering wheel are very futuristic looking. The center console does without a single button; instead, a wavy sandpaper surface includes sensor-controlled functions — soft lights indicate their status. This doesn't only look cool, it's also easy to use and, according to Mazda, is cheap to produce.
Riding on a shortened all-wheel-drive CX-7 platform, the Hakaze was fully operational for our drive, its 258-bhp turbocharged 4-cylinder delivering solid acceleration and great sounds. The driver's seating position at mid-car will certainly not make it into production, but Mazda states that the Hakaze's dimensions — and some of its design cues — will be part of that new SUV for 2009.
Mazda Hakaze Concept
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