At the Beijing Auto Show, which opened on April 25, Changan Mazda brought its first new energy model, the MAZDA EZ-6, which provides two types of power, pure electric and extended range, and has become Mazda's latest work in the field of new energy. This seems to have sparked Mazda's passion for the transition to electrification, and after the world premiere of the EZ-6, Changan Mazda's second new energy concept car, the MAZDA ARATA, was also unveiled.
Mazda said that the ARATA concept car is a product deeply "co-created" by Mazda and Changan Automobile, and is designed for Chinese users who pursue avant-garde. The production model of the car will be released in 2025, and together with the EZ-6, it will open up the domestic new energy market. Mazda President and CEO Katsuhiro Moro said that the third and fourth new energy models will be launched in the Chinese market in the future.
Compared with Mazda's current SUV, the ARATA concept car unveiled this time is more concise in appearance design and full of futuristic technology. The front face of the new car still adopts the Mazda family design style, the polygonal front grille elements have been retained, but the interior has been replaced with a closed decorative panel, the middle is suspended with a light-emitting Mazda logo, and the U-shaped light strip below extends to both sides, connecting with the narrow LED daytime running lights, which is fashionable and sporty, and full of science and technology.
From the side, the lines of the new car are sharp and the shape is simple, and the curved elements that are widely used on the current SUV models are gone, replaced by more flat straight lines and rib lines, and the waist line is also designed as a two-stage type, which increases the momentum and sense of technology. However, Mazda's long-standing elegance has also disappeared, and there are gains and losses in appearance.
It is worth mentioning that the ARATA concept car is somewhat similar to the dark blue S7 in terms of side profile, both have a low front and high rear figure, with a large sleek tail and a shark head front face, with a strong sense of sportiness. But in terms of details, the ARATA concept car has raised the waistline and window line a lot, and it looks more full and imposing.
The design of the rear is also aggressive, with a two-section rear wing at the top of the steep angle, and a vertical high-mounted brake light embedded in the middle, which is easily reminiscent of the dark blue S7. The unique design of the continuous taillights is a narrow semi-circle shape on both sides, and the middle is connected by the illuminated "MAZDA" English logo, which has a bit of the flavor of the Mazda family.
As a new energy model, the ARATA Concept has a very smooth body shape, and also provides hidden door handles, low-drag wheels, and the exterior mirrors are replaced by electronic cameras, which greatly reduces its drag coefficient. At present, the size information of the new car has not been officially announced, and it should be close to the dark blue S7 from the perspective of the actual car.
In terms of power, ARATA will be built based on Changan's EPA platform, and will provide two power forms, pure electric and extended range, just like the EZ-6. Although Changan Mazda did not announce its power configuration, it can also refer to the dark blue S7, which will have a good performance in terms of power performance and endurance.