Mazda will put the Kodo design language of the Minagi concept into production with the new CX-5.
Mazda’s Minagi concept vehicle made quite a splash at the Geneva Motor Show, earlier this year, which is good news for the maker considering the underlying design theme is set to return in a downsized crossover vehicle to be dubbed the CX-5.
Minagi served to preview an all-new design language Mazda calls Kodo, the soul of motion. It “captures the energy of the moment,” explained Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi, following the show car’s debut.
Back at the preview, Minagi was described as a “pure design exercise,” but while the Mazda CX-5 won’t be an absolute replica, it will carry over many of the basic elements of the concept crossover.
We’ll get a better look when the new CUV makes its formal debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, this coming autumn.
The CX-5 will borrow the Minagi concept's SkyActive powertrain technology.
Along with the Kodo design theme, the CX-5 will pick up the SkyActiv technology powering the Minagi, “including engines, transmissions, body and chassis,” notes a Mazda press release.
The small Japanese maker has been reluctant to embrace hybrid technology, focusing its efforts instead on squeezing out the last bit of power and mileage from the traditional internal combustion engine – with both diesel and gasoline versions of SkyActiv soon to reach the market. The Mazda Minagi show car used the diesel version of that technology.
The production car will be one of the first to make use of the advanced powertrains, which are expected to yield a big bump in mileage and performance while sharply reducing emissions, Mazda promises. The Minagi diesel, in fact, produces about 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer compared with 150 to 170 grams for its competitors.