AIMS: Minagi whacks on new face

Mazda has a new face – and it's a far cry from the cars we're used to.

On Mazda's stand at AIMS, the Shinari showcar and compact SUV Minagi concept are evidence of the new look the Japanese brand is pursuing.

The Minagi (SUV) concept will form the basis for the upcoming CX-5 compact sports utility vehicle which Mazda has confirmed will be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, ahead of its 2012 on-sale date. And it's this car specifically that will define the new face of the brand.

Showcasing the brand's KODO design language, Minagi, its designers say embraces the marque's 'Soul of Motion' design philosophy.

The new Mazda visage's key elements include a chrome-look wing (which is backlit on the concept model), cat-eye-like headlamps and a grille angled slightly downwards.

Following CX-5, the new front will next appear on the new Mazda6, according to the model's chief designer, Ikuo Maeda,

Drawing inspiration from the cheetah, the world's fastest land animal, Mazda's global head of design, Ikuo Maeda told motoring.com.au that Minagi was the perfect canvas for his KODO design philosophy.

"I wanted to convey something different... I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture," said Maeda-san.

Exactly how the new face translates to the remainder of the Mazda passenger range will be revealed over the next couple of years.

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