Mazda Ryuga concept

According to Laurens van den Acker, the Ryuga concept is the second in a series of Mazda concepts that we'll see this year culminating at Tokyo in the Autumn, all of them exploring the new 'Nagare' [or 'flow'] theme. "The Nagare concept at the LA Show introduced the new theme and this Ryuga concept adds a full interior to show how we're developing our ideas" he told Car Design News. There's a consistent theme of slim, delicate graphics running throughout this car that clearly demonstrates the 'flow' idea to great effect. The most obvious one is the use of multiple recessed strakes which break up the bodyside but other areas include headlamps shaped like three bamboo leaves [or even calligraphy strokes], rear lamps said to be inspired by lava flow and pencil-slim vertical DI lamps at the front that read like a subtle highlight on the vivid red paintwork of the fender crease. Lead Exterior Designer Yasutake Tsushida explained more of the thinking behind this highly original concept. "Ryuga shows a more controlled flow compared to the Nagare concept" he said. "The side strakes remind me of rake marks in a Zen garden".

The interior, accessed by vast gullwing doors, comprises a flowing, curtain-like IP form and an abrupt intersection with the center console that produces a 'high energy feel', according to interior designer Kobe Kobari. A further aspect of the flow theme is represented by graduated tones of leather across the seats and door linings. Designed and built in Mazda's main Hiroshima studio, there seems to be a different level of creativity and sophistication at work here from Ford Group's other designs and many designers that we spoke to felt that, in many ways, Mazda appear to be leading the pack at the moment.

Design Review coming soon...

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Designer interview: Laurens van den Acker

Lincoln MKR concept

The MKR concept materializes the future of the Lincoln brand's design strategy. It was just about time for Ford's luxury division to make a bold statement to rejuvenate its image and clarify its identity. So, a team lead by Peter Horbury dug in Lincoln's past to extract the essence of their most iconic cars and they came up with seven formal traits, all of which are used on the MKR: clean and uncluttered side surfaces, a powerful and dynamic beltline, a chamfered surface running parallel to the beltline, thin horizontal taillamps, a significant C-pillar smoothly transitioning into the cantilevered roof, and a powerful cantrail [or roofrail].

But the most striking feature is certainly the MKR's bow-wave, double-wing grille opening inspired by the 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet. This grille will be used on all new Lincoln products from now on. However retro this approach may seem, the result is resolutely modern and effective, maybe because it avoids nostalgia and reinterprets the brand heritage in a contemporary way. Horbury says: "We took the 41's unique grille one step further and split it entirely so we have this almost double wing look with the badge on the painted surface in the middle."

One of the main themes behind the MKR is 'guilt-free luxury' so its twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 runs on E85 ethanol. The sustainability issue also motivated the interior design and materials choices: chrome-free leather, re-engineered oak, soy seat foam and mohair carpet. Another innovative touch is the four high-gloss, ceramic-looking seat shells that look like they are suspended in air.

Acura ASC concept

The big news today from Acura was the announcement that they would open a dedicated design studio for the brand in Torrance, California, under the leadership of Jon Ikeda, a long-time veteran of Honda R&D Americas studio [HRA]. While this was positive news, the same cannot be said of the ASC concept, which debuted today as a hint towards the next-generation NSX. If production Acuras are all about restrained sophistication then this car just feels raw, especially compared to Toyota's impressive FT-HS concept, which follows a similar front-engined supercar format.

While the 'sheer machined surface' form language is a nice idea it seems unevenly applied, with some areas such as the lower bodysides, rocker panels and rear bumper appearing surprisingly plain. Above the shoulder, things get more interesting: the rising shoulderline kicks up over the rear wheel with the two surfaces of the front fender gradually fading out through the door to become a single concave surface at the rear. The front end is unusual in that there's no central grille: instead a pair of thin blade-like headlamps sit above two large intakes on either side. On the other hand, the rear end sports a full five-point grille set within the elaborate taillamps - a bit odd for a front-engined supercar with a new V10 engine.

The concept was shown as a hard model with no interior and the satin silver paint didn't add any feeling of refinement to the design. The Honda Remix and Acura Advance concepts shown at LA Auto Show a few weeks ago were criticized for lacking harmony and resolution, this second concept from HRA appears to repeat this failing - a pity.

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Acura Advance concept
Honda Remix concept