Mazda Furai concept
 

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/m...-breaks-cover/

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...veiledlead.jpg

WOW, I really dig that!! Wish it were headed to a race track near me . . . :hmm:

Would love to see that thing kick some Arse in the ALMS.

umm, looks like Mazda told some extraterrestrials to go and re-style the 787B racecar...

Zoom-Zoom indeed! :nice:

...haha

that thing is pretty wild

Sorry, but a big :bad: on that monstrosity.

Looks like it should be thier Lemanns race car IMO

That front end looks like it was developed by alienware. I'm sure it's stupid fun to drive but **** what the F is up with that front end.

no reason not to try something wild

Except when it's ugly. :yup:

LOL, "Furai-ed" rice!

Rice-a-Roni for sure.

:rolleyes: That concept is not 'rice'! It's a race car concept, built on a race car chassis.

OK, rice-a-racer then.

A rose by any other name.

Lipstick on a pig.

A sow's ear being passed off as a silk purse.

Etc, etc.

Well Hollywood, I'm gonna go aead and guess your New Years' Resolution wasn't to be a more cheery, open-minded guy.

I think it's pretty cool, quite different to be sure and a bit over the top -- it is a styling exercise after all, so they're probing the edges of conceptual envelopes -- but well developed and interesting. What will be more telling is how these general design themes will be translated into production cars. As Bangle and BMW have shown, the results aren't necessarily pretty -- still "interesting," yes, but good looking, no.

Mazda is apparently trying to develop a unique Japanese-based styling theme, based on flowing lines and forms, as opposed to most Japanese designs which tend to be highly derivative of American or European themes, often just a horrible, inchoate jumble of a bunch of themes. This, in general, is a good thing as we already have a bunch of American and European companies doing American and European design themes. In actuality, Japan (and Korea) have really developed precious few indigineous automotive design and stylistic themes despite a rich aesthetic history and heritage.

Mazda does seem to be on a bit of a roll now with some excellent products, so it is nice to see them take this opportunity to move ahead rather than just settle in with tried and true same-old-same-old.

I don't make "resolutions," I make plans.

And my plan for this year is to keep straight talkin' and calling 'em as I see 'em: good, bad or indifferent. :yup:

Happy New Year, by the way! :grin:

:drunk: :roses:

:jester: