The Mazda Nagare concept serves to show the direction of the future design direction for the Japanese manufacturer, following in the path of three very well-received concept cars from 2005 (the Sassou, Senku, and Kabura).

According to Mazda's then-global design director Laurens van den Acker, the Nagare encapsulates the company's future design strategy in one word: flow.

According to van den Acker, Nagare examines light and shadow and starts to reveal the global design cues for the following generation of Mazda vehicles. "Nagare is a celebration of proportions and surface language that will evolve into subsequent designs planned for presentation at future international auto shows," he added.

Nagare, a growing expression of the “Zoom-Zoom'' tagline, draws its inspiration from the flow of the elements in nature. It captures motion, energy, and lightness to provide an intriguing and alluring product.

The Nagare design team was led by Franz Von Holzhausen, who was Mazda's director of design at the time, in Irvine, California. A "wonderful language of lines and forms that are robust yet effortless," was how he described the new shape.

Let’s have a look at the 2006 Mazda Nagare Concept

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The Mazda Nagare Gives Experience Of Flow Motion Through Surface Texture

2006 Mazda Nagare Concept side
via: Mazda

Nagare's side surfaces make it possible to picture the air moving beside and over the vehicle as it travels quickly through the atmosphere. Even though the car is immobile, the combination of light and shadow creates the illusion of motion.

The hood, wheel arches, and LED headlamp and taillamp treatments all exhibit similar cues of fluid flow. The Nagare's interior features a consistent surface language; the instrument panel, center console, and door panels all seem to be influenced by flow.

Von Holzhausen made a note of the car, "Beauty is not a blank page." Nagare's dynamic qualities are complemented by its surface texture, which is motion-influenced. Mazda never box up their customers because it prides itself on being sporty.

Mazda’s surface language is focused on cars. They developed Nagare to bridge the two disciplines after examining the architectural method, which is frequently very stiff, and the organic approach, which is very fluid. It is energetic, graceful, and flowing. However, it communicates flow-motion to the observer.

The Mazda Nagare Is A Practically Attuned Vehicle

2006 Mazda Nagare Concept side-open
via: Mazda

It has a modern, aerodynamic form that one would expect from an urban cruiser of the future. For quick steering reaction and nimble agility, Mazda places the wheels near the edges of the envelope. It does not waste a single inch of overhang.

Two double-length doors with butterfly-wing hinges that open up and forward allow access to the interior's four spaces. Like in a single-seat sports racer, the car positions the driver in the center for the best control and sight. The driver seats beneath the highest point of the roof, so there is plenty of headroom and a fully reclined backrest.

As evidenced by the popular RX-8 four-passenger sports car and the intelligent packing in the CX-9 three-row, seven-passenger crossover sport-utility vehicle, Mazda excels at creating innovative seating combinations.

Three guests can unwind in the wraparound lounge located in the back of the Nagare. The center front seat and large door opening make entry into the surprisingly spacious interior easy.

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The Future Of Interior Designs Through The Mazda Nagare

2006 Mazda Nagare Concept interior-front
via: Mazda

Mazda's design efforts were mainly focused on the advancement of the Nagare exterior form language.

The five concept vehicles' apparent design evolution demonstrate this. However, as Laurens van den Acker said, Mazda is paying attention to how to adapt Flow for the interior of upcoming Mazda cars.

The interior takes a different direction, filled with a collection of things. By addressing interior construction with the aim of having a holistic worldview, Mazda is maturing this language.

Three major areas are the emphasis of interior development: driver orientation, lightness (which is crucial to Mazda), and flow.

2006 Mazda Nagare Concept interior-rear
via: Mazda

The aim is that by combining these three elements, Mazda interiors will stand out, and the vehicles will become distinctly Mazda. One may contend that other brands also focus on the driver and might be making an effort to be lightweight. But only Nagare, in conjunction with the other elements, may characterize Mazda.

Driver orientation is a significant priority because the soul of all Mazdas should be the core of a sports car. This is a major brand feature for Mazda. The second is the intellectual interpretation of 'lightness' as a future brand value.

So What Powers The “Design Language Master”?

People expected that the car's propulsion systems would be drastically different since Mazda allegedly planned to introduce it more than ten years after it was first unveiled. According to Mazda, the Nagare's rotary engine would run on hydrogen fuel.

Since no one else was still using rotary engines, it would be exceptional even if hydrogen fuel was gaining popularity.