Mazda Ryuga concept has awed its audience at this year’s North American International Auto Show. One of the most stunning concept cars presented, photographers and reporters just can’t seem to get enough of it. The Ryuga is actually Mazda’s second concept car and part of the three series of concept cars that Mazda plans to present at this year’s auto show season. The Nagare concept which made its worldwide debut in LA was the first concept car and now followed by the Ryuga which has been unveiled recently at the NAIAS. The third concept car of Mazda is scheduled in March and will be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show. The difference between the Nagare and the Ryuga is the fact that the Ryuga concept is more developed compared to the Nagare which was purely an exterior design study with no powertrain or interior.
The 2011 Mazda Ryuga Concept also expands the “emotion of motion” concept that was previously applied for the Nagare. The sweeping lines found on the doors of the 2011 Ryuga concept were inspired by the raked pebbles in a dry Japanese garden. The wheels together with the spokes that twist near the hub give the impression of the car’s powerful torque ability. The color of the Ryuga just like the rest of its features has a meaning it means flowing lava and is reflected by the varying tones and hue that changes from yellow to blue to red depending on the light that strikes it.
The exterior of the 2011 Mazda Ryuga Concept is considered like a work of art just like its interior. The concept car is loaded with amazing Mazda parts that has long been the mark of all Mazda cars. The audience was left drooling with features like the dash which is adorned by expanses of black leather punctuated with the stark contrast of silver metal, as well as the vehicle’s floating, blue-lit gauge pod and open-up steering wheel and a console that pierces the center tunnel. The Ryuga concept is a sports car that can seat four people with the addition of a wide, comfy bench seat located at the back of the car. This concept car is equipped with two lifting giant gull-wing doors hold in place by very strong struts to keep the doors from crashing down.
2011 Mazda Ryuga Concept Conducting a guided tour of the exterior, Nakamuta points out several key features:
• Ryuga's side surfaces were inspired by karesansui (Japanese dry gardens). The carefully raked pebbles in these gardens represent peaceful ripples caused by a breeze over a pool of water. The karesansui's man-made image of natural flow is represented in the Ryuga's surface texture to express simplicity and refinement.
• The headlamp shape resembles the flow of morning dew dropping from bamboo leaves. Advanced LED and fluorescent tube technology will enable such a striking design to be used on a production vehicle in the foreseeable future.
• To impart motion, the 21-inch wheel spokes – different on the left and right sides – are slightly twisted as if they're delivering torque. To convey the feeling of gas turbine blades, the trailing edges of the wheel spokes are accented with a tinge of body color.
• Flowing lava inspired both Ryuga's exterior hue and the tail lamp design. Depending on the incident light, Ryuga's surface appears to be shades of yellow, red, and blue, exactly like molten, flowing lava. Notes van den Acker: "The hot red finish goes straight to your heart."
• The roof molding tightens up the flowing cabin and gives an accent to the body styling as well. Cameras located at the forward end of each molding convey rear views to a center cockpit display screen. Turn signals are also integrated into these protruding accents.
