WHAT: Another innovative design from Mazda, this concept car joins the Nagare and punctuates the exciting trend in alternative fuel vehicles. Forget boring and staid, the Ryuga is a four-seater sports coupe with a 2.5-litre flex-fuel engine that can utilize either E85 or gasoline.
WHERE: Unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, the Ryuga is the second in Mazda’s “new journey” line of concept cars (first is the Nagare). And with worldwide production of the Tribute SUV, Mazda is gearing up to compete in markets driven by alternative fuels.
HOW: The Ryuga is riding in on the powerful wave of the future that combines the ecological choice of flex-fuel plus style: just check out those doors that open up the passenger space entirely—all packed into a smaller lower package than the current Mazda3. It’s a techno-geek's play land with blind-spot monitoring, rear-view cameras and a host of active and passive technologies that give a lounge feel—complete with communications systems at the driver’s fingertips.
WHO: With Mazda’s design inspired by nature (and the Japanese rock garden), the Ryuga’s curved lights and flowing lines tap into state of the art design trends using advanced LED and fluorescent tube technology.
WHY: Ryuga is Japanese for “gracious flow.” And with nature providing inspiration, how can Mazda go wrong with this baby?