Mazda adopts the flowing, wave-like Nagare design language for the 2011 Mazda5 minivan.

Five is apparently a lucky number for Mazda, at least as for as the Geneva Motor Show is concerned.

The automaker used the annual event, at PALExpo, to celebrate both the 20^th anniversary of the MX-5 Miata – and to unveil the all-new Mazda5 people-mover.

The 2011 Mazda Mazda5 stood in sharp contrast to many of the other new products being launche3d at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.  Instead of sharp lines and creases, the 7-seater adopts the flowing, wave-like design theme Mazda has been teasing the public with, for several years, something it has dubbed Nagare.  The look is almost a bit like capturing sand dunes in sheet metal.

The 2011 Mazda5 does maintain many of the basics of minivans past and present, however, including dual sliding doors, and fold-down rear seats.

The 2011 Mazda Mazda5 maintains some minivan basics, including the twin sliding doors and tailgate.

For European buyers, the people-move was shown with Mazda’s new MZR 2-liter DISI direct-injection gas engine.  It’s combined with a six-speed gearbox and i-stop, Mazda’s take on Stop/Start engine technology, which briefly shuts the engine down at a stoplight than automatically restarts when the driver’s foot lifts off the brake.

Mazda also revealed some new details about its eco-friendly Sky Concept powertrain system, which will be launched globally in 2011.  It dispayed both the Sky-G gasoline and Sky-D diesel engines, which promise to improve mileage by about 15 to 20%, the company claims, compared to older technology.  They’ll both be paired with Mazda’s new Sky-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission.

But getting back to the MX-5, which is how most of the world knows the American Miata, Mazda is introducing a special anniversary edition.  Only 2,000 will be built and, unfortunately for U.S. aficionados, they’ll only be sold in Europe.