Mazda has given its clearest hint yet that it is planning to launch an Aston Martin-rivalling grand tourer sports car with the Vision Coupé, revealed at the Tokyo motor show.
The striking four-door coupé features what Mazda has called the next generation of its Kodo design language, with “less is more” styling. Mazda says it draws from the R360 from 1960 and Mazda Luce from 1969. No performance details about the new concept have been revealed.
Mazda is understood to have been considering a new sports car since the unveiling of its RX Vision concept at Tokyo in 2015. It was initially understood to be looking at a new rotary-engined machine, but it could also use a version of the firm’s Skyactiv-X compression ignition technology, which is due in 2019. Mazda officials have previously told Autocar that engine is designed to work with electrified elements, suggesting a hybrid set-up could be used to boost performance.
Mazda recently unveiled its Zoom Zoom 2030 road map for the future. This includes the launch of Skyactiv-X, its new design language and a new customisable vehicle architecture platform. That road map helps pave the way to the firm’s centenary in 2020, which would be a natural date for Mazda to launch a new range-topping sports car.
The Vision Coupé concept features an uncluttered interior design that, Mazda says, reflects the Japanese concept of ‘ma’, using space to create atmosphere. It features an interactive centre console that brings up information on the display when touched.
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