Mazda Souga Concept

Tags: concept cars, mazda, la design challenge... Published on 7 November 2009 | views

The Mazda Souga is a design study of a two-seater sports coupé for the year 2030, with a design characterized by experimental shapes. The car is created in an imaginary virtual playground called VMAzda and produced through a Direct Digital Manufacturing process.

With the Souga Concept, Mazda's entry for the LA Design Challenge 2009, the Japanese carmaker is exploring new ways of designing and producing automobiles, through the use of web-based design environments and digital manufacturing plants.

Background

The year is 2030 in the city of Los Angeles and 18 year old Max is off to pick up his new Mazda.

Los Angeles has seen a new movement of young entrepreneurs (ages 16-23), and has become a hub for creating personal brands and products on desktop 3D manufacturing software.

Mazda has taken notice and created VMazda - a virtual reality website that acts as a design playground for young people, allowing them to experiment, build, and share their automotive dreams in a virtual world at no cost.

With the help of a virtual design mentor, Max's design is rapidly manufactured at one of Mazda's sustainable Direct Digital Manufacturing plants.

Max pays a low price of $2000 for the physical car, while paying a monthly bill for the energy his electric car uses (similar to cell phone business model).

Max's new car is a minimal, lightweight sports coupe with experimental shapes, ornate detailing, and a dramatically proportioned exterior.

Most digital communication and information devices are now integrated into fashion apparel, eliminating the need to include these systems into Max's vehicle. As a result, his vehicle controls are purely driver focused.