Mazda, the quirky Japanese car maker known for its rotary engines, has revealed a new hatchback concept ‘Kai’. This concept hatchback might turn out to be the next generation Mazda 3, a premium hatchback by Indian standards.
The Kai Concept employs a rather evolved version of Mazda’s Kodo design and ushers in the new generation of Mazda cars along with the Vision Coupe concept. With sharp headlamps flanking a large grille and the flared wheel arches adding muscle to the design, the Kai Concept is a looker by all means.
Just like on the outside, the Kai’s interior is sharp as well. With a minimalist dash dominated by the brushed aluminium line across it and a floor console for the gear-lever and buttons, Mazda ditches the chunky screen from the centre console. It not that it has ditched the screen altogether. The screen is nested in the dashboard recess and blends with the form rather than popping out.
The Kai Concept is powered by the new series of Skyactiv-X engines, the first compression-ignition petrol engines to go into mainstream. As compared to the spark-ignition motors, these mills are expected to generate 10-30 per cent more torque and more than 20 per cent improvement in efficiency as well.
Mazda has been tight-lipped about any further details, including those regarding its journey towards production. But if the next Mazda 3 is anything like the Kai, it should be worth the wait.
