Mazda Prepares Classic Red MX-5 and Custom SUVs for 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon
Mazda brings a retro-themed MX-5, Custom Style kits for CX-3, CX-5 and Demio, and subtle bodywork updates to the 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, opening 13 January.
Mazda will showcase a retro-themed MX-5 and a line-up of Custom Style SUVs and hatchbacks at the 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, which opens its doors on 13 January. The company’s display leans on subtle bodywork changes and a nod to its roadster heritage rather than the wilder concepts expected from some rivals.
MX-5 Classic Red leads Mazda’s stand
The centrepiece is a special MX-5 painted in Classic Red, a shade that recalls the first two generations of the model. Mazda’s design team has kept changes restrained, opting for a subtle body kit and minor trim updates to highlight the car’s heritage. The approach contrasts with the more radical show cars previewed by Toyota and Honda for the same event.
Custom Style kits for SUVs and hatchbacks
Mazda’s Custom Style range will also be present, with the CX-3, CX-5, Demio and MX-5 RF all receiving body kits and lowered suspension to create a more aggressive appearance. The modifications are largely cosmetic, including beefier bumpers and side skirts, with interior updates such as deodorising floor mats. The Demio, known as the Mazda2 in some markets, joins the SUVs in offering these mild aftermarket enhancements.
- MX-5 Classic Red: Heritage paint and subtle body kit
- CX-3 Custom Style: Lowered suspension, body kit
- CX-5 Custom Style: Lowered suspension, body kit
- Demio Custom Style: Lowered suspension, body kit, interior tweaks
- MX-5 RF Custom Style: Mild exterior and interior updates
Mazda’s approach at the Tokyo Auto Salon is more restrained than some competitors, but the focus on heritage and accessible upgrades is likely to appeal to fans of the brand’s design language. The show will also see other Japanese manufacturers presenting more radical concepts, including Subaru’s BRZ STI and Toyota’s Prius Camper Van.
For more on Japanese manufacturers’ preparations for the Tokyo Auto Salon, see Subaru Prepares BRZ STI, Prova BRZ and G4 STI Concepts for Tokyo Auto Salon.
