Mazda Kazamai

The wind of change is blowing across Russia, as Mazda revealed its Kazamai concept car for the first time today on its show stand at the Moscow Motor Show.

The Japanese brand premiered its sporty, compact-SUV crossover at this year’s Moscow Show in response to recent figures showing that Russia has overtaken Germany as Europe's largest car market and the SUV sector represents Mazda’s biggest volume of sales in the country.

The innovatively styled Kazamai aimed at a younger Russian audience, is a good indicator of where Mazda is heading with its SUV crossover vehicles in the near future and at the base of all this change are two of Mazda’s new key-design phrases “sustainable zoom-zoom and Nagare”. The aim of these concepts is to produce a car that is efficient and free flowing, but at the same time sporty and fun to drive.

At 1930mm wide and 4520mm long the Kazamai is only marginally longer than the current Mazda 3, but it offers far greater interior space with room to comfortably fit four a result of the flat roofline and short rear overhang. The only problem though is the lack of a boot.

The Kazamai uses Mazda’s next-generation 2.0-litre DISI petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It will also receive state-of-the-art suspension to help get the most out of the monstrous 22-inch alloy-wheels.

The Kazamai's standout styling features are not just for show though, they have all got duel purposes. The arrow shaped lights at the rear improve the car's aerodynamics around the tail and the whirlwind shaped alloy's improve brake performance. The Kazamai is likely to be the most influential blueprint for the future of Mazda's SUV design so far. The manufacturer also have strong plans for the 'Nagare' flowing concept and will use it as a major design inspiration in its future models.

Mazda have also announced they will be unveiling a new concept car at this year's Paris Motor Show in October.

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