Jo Stenuit on the Mazda6e exterior design

Mazda, hitherto the last redoubt of big displacement engines, has electrified its enduring model, the Mazda 6, renamed as the Mazda6e. Head of design for Mazda Europe, Jo Stenuit, spoke to Car Design News about evolving the Japanese OEM’s established Kodo design language to fit with an electric powertrain.

Car Design News: What was the original brief for the Mazda6e?

Jo Stenuit: To develop Mazda’s next generation of fully electric vehicles for Europe, while staying true to the brand’s human-centric approach. The goal was to evolve the “Authentic Modern” design concept within a BEV platform, ensuring the car retained the clarity, balance and sculptural purity associated with Kodo – Soul of Motion. 

At the same time, the package needed to support everyday usability, including a versatile five-door hatchback layout, a calm and open interior shaped by Ma (the Japanese principle which celebrates negative space) and the refinement expected from a new core model for the European market.

CDN: How is Mazda’s Kodo design language translated for EVs?

JS: The Kodo – Soul of Motion design language intensifies its foundational principles of purity, simplicity, and restraint. This approach directly draws upon the Japanese aesthetic concepts of Ma and Komorebi (the delicate play of light and shadow). The application emphasises proportion and form that creates emotion through restraint, ensuring that even as technology evolves, the vehicle remains human-centric, calm, and inherently beautiful in its clarity.

CDN: How did electric powertrain packaging requirements influence the exterior design of the 6e?

JS: The requirements for the fully electric powertrain package significantly influenced the vehicle's form factor. This packaging enabled the design of a practical five-door hatchback silhouette, which we refined with a sleek, coupé-inspired profile. 

This design successfully integrates innovative technology while maintaining the essential versatility and comfort that drivers expect from a Mazda, showcasing our commitment to keeping form and function in tune. And although we are using the typical lay-out with a floor-filled-battery, we managed to create a sleek silhouette that looks light and elegant.

CDN: How did the team balance the exterior aesthetic with aerodynamic performance?

JS: The Mazda6e’s exterior design integrates visual clarity with functional elements that support efficiency. The clean, simplified body surfaces contribute to a cohesive expression of speed, while features such as the 19-inch aluminium wheels, with range-boosting aerodynamic properties and the electrically extendable rear spoiler, enhance stability and performance. Form and function were developed together to maintain Mazda’s sculptural identity while supporting the requirements of a battery-electric vehicle.

CDN: How has the grille evolved for the 6e – both aesthetically and functionally?

JS: The Mazda6e introduces a new front expression defined by the illuminated signature wing rather than a conventional grille. This signature wing features dynamic illumination that creates a fluttering effect and also communicates charging status. The surrounding front elements are shaped with sharper edges and simplified surfaces, giving the vehicle a modern identity while maintaining continuity with Mazda’s established design language.

CDN: How did you develop the 'Melting Copper' colour and why was this an important colour choice for the 6e?

JS: “Melting Copper” is a new nuanced colour inspired by melted copper [readers might have guessed!] that was originally designed to complement the CX-80's smooth body sides. It imparts a modern, sophisticated impression while accentuating clarity and movement.

Adopted for the Mazda6e, an upper-mid-size sedan, it enhances elegance and modern design, further accentuating the beauty of its smooth, dynamic bodywork. The colour's inherent modernity perfectly complements the expression of the new BEV category.

CDN: Can you walk us through the headlight and rear light designs?

JS: At the front, the illuminated signature wing is the defining visual element, incorporating dynamic lighting that also functions as a charging indicator. At the rear, the design centres on four cylindrical light elements – two within each lamp cluster which reference Mazda’s design heritage. These cylinders sit within a horizontal light bar, creating a clear and recognisable signature that balances modernity with tradition.

CDN: Which single exterior detail best captures the essence of the 6e’s design, and why?

JS: The illuminated signature wing best captures the essence of the Mazda6e’s design. It introduces a new visual expression for Mazda’s electric era, combining a clean, modern aesthetic with functional dynamic illumination that reflects both identity and purpose. Its presence reinforces the balance between Mazda’s design heritage and the evolving needs of electrified mobility.

CDN: What were the key learnings from the design process – working with engineering, aerodynamics, and production – that shaped the final form? 

JS: It shows that the relationship between Mazda designers and engineers is at such a strong level that we manage to combine the restrictions of production engineering and aerodynamics and our Kodo design philosophy into one beautiful final product. Without this strong co-creation activity, Mazda’s could never be so uniquely designed and attractive to our customers from an emotional and practical point of view. 

CDN: Looking ahead, how do you see Mazda’s exterior design evolving as electrification, autonomy, and sustainability continue to reshape the industry? 

JS: Mazda’s exterior design will continue to deepen its focus on purity, proportion and emotional clarity. As electrification and sustainability evolve, forms are expected to become even more simplified and intentional, guided by Japanese aesthetic principles such as Ma and Komorebi. 

Mazda will maintain its commitment to human-centric design, ensuring that new technologies support vehicles that feel quietly alive and crafted with purpose. For our future vehicles, you will see the implementation of the authentic design elements that shaped Kodo over the last 15 years, with modern elements that will make our designs and brand fresh and contemporary.