Mazda MV-X Concept Vehicle Makes North American Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show
29 December 1997
Mazda MV-X Concept Vehicle Makes North American Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 -- Minivans are highly useful and
practical vehicles, but they have an image problem -- they are typically seen
as "mommie mobiles." The Mazda MV-X concept vehicle, however, takes this
popular perception of the minivan and gives it a dramatically sporty twist.
The MV-X will be featured in the Mazda display at the 1998 Los Angeles Auto
Show at the L.A. Convention Center, which runs from Jan. 2-11.
"Our goal with the MV-X was to explore a sportier expression of the
minivan," said Tom Matano, executive designer at Mazda's R&D center in Irvine,
Calif., and the man who guided the development of the MV-X. "We wanted to
take this type of vehicle out of the suburbs and move it in a direction where
it appeals to all buyers with active lifestyles."
The interior of the six-passenger MV-X features innovative seats that were
developed in conjunction with noted furniture design company Herman Miller.
These removable captain's chairs sport breathable mesh backs and lower
cushions covered in water-repellent materials. The floor also features a
padded, water-repellent surface.
The second- and third-row seats are affixed to two long rails which allow
the seats to be positioned at various points along the tracks or removed
easily. The seats feature rollers made from inline skate wheels, which
facilitate their movement and removal.
There is an LCD television screen mounted to the overhead panel between
the front seats which allows passengers in the rear seats to watch movies or
play video games. There is also an LCD screen in the instrument panel which
provides route information from the onboard navigation system.
When the rear seats are removed, the rails can be slid out the rear of the
vehicle electrically, making them useful for loading heavy cargo such as a
personal watercraft.
The exterior of the MV-X is more muscular and stylish than the typical
minivan. There are dual sliding doors which feature completely concealed
tracks to maintain the sleek looks of the vehicle. The front of the vehicle
features an easily recognizable Mazda grille shape, which is echoed in the
shape of the rear window. A character line sweeps gracefully upward from the
edges of the grille, peaking along the sides of the cabin before dropping
gently at the rear.
While there are no plans to produce the MV-X in its current form, some of
the design elements may be found on future Mazda products introduced in the
near future.
SOURCE Mazda Information Bureau