Aug 11, 2003 – Mazda tells us that 'Kusabi' means not only ’wedge’ but also ’making way for something new’. It will also be the name of the Frankfurt concept car from one of Moray Callum’s prolific design studios.

I would not be surprised if it turns out to be the Japanese studios that have created this one – the preliminary sketches, look very like the ones released before the MX-Sportif was launched at the Geneva Show.

But this time the theme is a two door, very compact, very light-weight closed sports car. The wedge theme is obvious from the side window treatment, and the window in the hatch follows it up to such a degree that we will be left in no doubt as to what Kusabi means. Do we see a much more pronounced origami-treatment than we are used to from Mazda here? If this is as close to an eventual production car as the MX-Sportif turned out to be, we might be heading for an even more interesting Mazda future than we have been expecting.

It is very probable that this car, too, is built on the Mazda3 platform (used for the upcoming Focus and current C-Max), and it would not be unreasonable to expect a Japanese ”Capri” on this very flexible platform.

To highlight their new focuses in drivelines, this car is equipped with a diesel engine. And the description of the luggage department and rear door leave us with a feeling that they have outdone both the Vectra Caravan and the E-Class Estate at the same time.