Jalopnik

Posts Tagged “

Taiki

beijing motor show

Chinese Customs Search Mazda Taiki Concept, Looking For 'Nam Grass?

On the way from Japan to Beijing for next weeks' auto show, the Mazda Taiki was stopped by Chinese customs at the border for what we're told was nothing more than a random customs check. We're not buying it. We're assuming it was really to have their dogs try to find any psychedelic drugs that may have been used to create this multi-folded concept car exhibiting the "Dave's not here" design language of Ford's Japanese brand. Fortunately for the design team, the Taiki survived the check — with one of the designers, a Mr. Anthony "Man" Stoner, expressed what we can only assume was the team's obvious relief, saying "What's the Immigration Service doing here, man?"

[xinhuanet.com via autohome.com.cn]

beijing motor show

Mazda Announces Beijing Motor Show Lineup Including Taiki Concept, Mazda6

Mazda has announced its duds for the Beijing Motor Show that will be taking place towards the latter half of April. To be unveiled at the show is the new revision of the Mazda6, which will be known as the Mazda Atenza in Japan. Also set to be shown off is the Taiki Concept, which looks like something even Batman wouldn't drive. More »

tokyo auto show

Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda Taiki Concept

Mazda's latest in a string of radical concepts that express organic themes, the Taiki is more than just a highly stylized sheetmetal sculpture that'll never see production. It's also the forum for Mazda's next-generation Renesis rotary engine, introduced here in Tokyo. Facing down heightened emissions requirements and competition among engines that don't consume gas like we've been consuming cans of Japanese coffee — like the rotary does — Mazda made some changes to its venerable tri-corner mill. The new pride of Wankel has been lightened, by way of an aluminum side housing, and given direct-injection tech for better burn efficiency. It's also gotten a displacement increase to 1.6 liters for a much-needed torque infusion. More »

tokyo auto show

Mazda Taiki Design Concept

Count one more styling concept among Mazda's latest series. It's the Taiki, and it's set for debut at this month's Tokyo auto show. Taiki is the fourth in a string of concept cars Mazda designers say represent a design theory inspired by organic shapes and patterns of natural motion — sand across a shoreline, water along the ocean floor and lava from a volcano, to cite three examples designers have mentioned in the past. The first three, Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze, debuted at LA, Detroit and Geneva, respectively. The Taiki, the press kit goes, was inspired by the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend. Thus the use of sheetmetal to create a kind of rolling effect, and the multithreaded crease lines that run into a novel, semi-open rear-wheel treatment. Obviously, it's a fashion-forward way of seeing the Mazda brand, which has yet to incorporate these styles into a street model. Just wait, designers say. The Taiki is also sporting Mazda's next-gen RENESIS rotary plant 16X. Click through for official text. More »