Mazda hangs out the Washu
09 January 2003: DETROIT SHOW - A new Mazda MPV concept unveiled at this week's Detroit Motor Show could be showcasing a production car that will put the brand straight into the lucrative compact MPV area.
Though larger than European campact, the new concept shows more than a hint of the Focus C-Max unveiled at the 2002 Paris Show.
The Washu concept is a 6-seater, has sliding rear doors, and a tailgate that opens in two sections with the glass hinged upwards in hatchback fashion while the lower panel drops straight down.
The car has a low, flat floor and long wheelbase. The seats are ‘captain’s chairs’, the middle pair electrically-powered which can be independently moved backwards and forwards. They also slide to the side to make access to the rear seats easier.
Using ‘steer-by-wire’ technology means that the steering wheel can be stored out of the way when the car is parked, making it even easier to get in and out of the front seats.
Power comes from an all-new 3.5 litre V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
