LexFather

[QUOTE]According to Auto Express, Mazda Europe's British design boss Peter Birtwhistle has confirmed that the Japanese automaker will take on a new styling direction. Perhaps the news shouldn't come as a shocker, considering that former Mazda design head Franz von Holhausen, the man responsible for the previous styling direction of concepts like the Nagare and Furai, left Mazda for Tesla Motors back in 2008.

Further, Laurens van den Acker, who styled the latest Mazda5, left the Japanese automaker for Renault. As such, Birtwhistle told AE, "Nagare is done. After the 5, it's highly unlikely that there will be another Nagare car. Mazda has moved on." Apparently, Mazda found it rather difficult to apply the swoopy and flowing conceptual styling direction to production cars, specifically boxier shapes like that of the Mazda5.

We tend to agree with Mazda that the Nagare look is awesome on concepts but tough to translate to production. So, what's next? Apparently, Mazda will attempt to turn itself into a "Japanese Alfa Romeo," with an initial concept based on its new "Thrusting Motion" styling direction. We should see the fruits of this early effort at the upcoming Paris Motor Show./QUOTE]




is now sad

(Cj)

The Mazda6 still looks awesome. More cars in that direction and with looks akin to the original Mazda3 and original CX-9 would be welcome. Some of the best looking mainstream cars out there.

Faymester

Yay new style direction!

(Acura, are you listening?)

IS-SV

Yes, good for Mazda, next Acura and Subie might consider styling direction changes too.

mmarshall

That's about all that Subie has done for the last 10 years or so...make controversial styling changes every few years or so, with each re-design.

Acura, despite a lot of negative criticism and customer/dealer backlash, seems determined to stick with parrot-beak grilles and sometimes ugly rear ends. The upcoming (and rather handsome) TSX Sportwagon seems to offer the best hope for relief.....it IT doesn't get the parrot-beak, too.

gengar

lol, "thrusting motion"... lol. Sorry. Can't control myself.

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

I find it amusing that I'll take the sad Mazda3 over the normal one...

bruce van

I'm a big Mazda fan and this is good news to me. The Furai looks awesome, but some of the Nagare design cues just don't translate to production vehicles....ie...the new Mazda5. Let's get back to not so crazy styling and have Ikuo Maeda get Mazda back to less smiley styling.

Jetfire

iTrader: (3)

lol, me too.




good decision by mazda. the previous mazda3 looked great.

Fizzboy7

Just one time...I'd like to hear a car company admit they screwed up and are making changes for that reason. You don't change styling directions unless you are missing sales.

Mv350

iTrader: (23)

i hate the new mazda3, i loved the old mazdaspeed3

memasterac

I just say this that I am glad to purchase my CX-9 last year (2009 model) before the refreshed LOL 2010 model.

IS-SV

The key is to get it right (yes we are painfully aware of Subie lame attempts at styling changes in the last decade, questionable sense of style to say the least), but at least Subie has reasonably strong sales to support what they are doing currently. What Subie needs to consider is a west coast styling design center, like Toyota.

mmarshall

I don't entirely disagree, but Subarus have always been about their usefullness and mechanicals, not necessarily the styling.

Back to OP, it's interesting that the Madza3, which has arguably the most in-your-face styling of the whole lineup (especially the big smiley-grille), has been the best-selling model in the American market. I suspect, though, that, like with many Subarus, people are buying the Mazda3 for what is under the skin...not the skin itself.

IS-SV

Yes Subaru has often lacked styling. But the leading car makers are capable of combining usefulness and mechanicals, plus decent styling. Styling is important, just like safety, reliability, performance, economy, comfort and most of the top selling cars have a nice blend of all these attributes.

The Mazda 3 (despite the goofy grill), is overall a very attractive car in it's class, so it's no surprise to me than it sells well, combined with the fact that it performs well.