Top Gear reveals images of burned Mazda Furai concept
Mazda has allowed Top Gear to publish the first photos of the Furai concept destroyed by fire during a 2008 photoshoot in Surrey, nearly six years after the incident.
Top Gear has published the first official images of the Mazda Furai concept after its destruction by fire, nearly six years after the one-off prototype was lost during a photoshoot in Surrey. The release follows Mazda's decision to allow the BBC motoring show to share the aftermath of an incident that abruptly ended the life of one of its most striking concept cars.
The Furai, whose name translates as “sound of the wind”, was unveiled in 2007 and made its public debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Built on a Courage C65 Le Mans Prototype chassis, the Furai was more than a static showpiece. It was a fully functional car, powered by a 2.0-litre three-rotor Wankel engine running on E100 ethanol, and developed as a bridge between Mazda’s racetrack heritage and its future design ambitions.
The incident that destroyed the car occurred during a Top Gear photoshoot in Surrey in 2008. The Furai caught fire while being driven, and despite efforts to save it, the carbon-composite bodywork was quickly engulfed and the car was completely lost. Until now, images of the aftermath had not been made public. Mazda and Top Gear had kept the details and photographs private, with only rumours and a handful of unofficial accounts circulating among enthusiasts.
Mazda’s lost concept and its legacy
The Furai stood out even among Mazda’s adventurous concepts of the era. Its flowing lines previewed elements that would later appear in Mazda’s design language. The chassis, sourced from Courage Competition and previously used in the American Le Mans Series, gave the car genuine racing pedigree. The Wankel rotary engine, a Mazda hallmark, was tuned for alternative fuel and produced a reported 450bhp.
The car’s destruction meant the loss of a unique prototype, with no plans for a rebuild or replica. For Mazda, the Furai’s short life did not stop it from influencing future design studies and remaining popular in digital form. The car has featured in several video games, including the Asphalt series and Forza Motorsport, keeping its memory alive for fans who never saw it in person.
Why publish the images now?
Mazda’s decision to allow the publication of the images nearly six years after the fire brings closure to one of the more mysterious concept car losses in recent memory. The photos confirm the extent of the damage: the once-futuristic bodywork reduced to charred remains, with little left to suggest its former presence. For designers and enthusiasts, the images are a stark reminder of the risks involved in running fully functional prototypes outside the controlled environment of a show stand.
