Mazda is a firm that pays special attention to the beauty, connection and spirit of its machines. He talks about them as if they had a soul, a tradition inherited from his connection with Japanese culture. The Hiroshima brand, known for its innovations in the world of mechanics, tries to transmit its Jinba Ittai philosophy to any of its models. This almost perfect relationship between the human being and his car would not be possible without a cabin capable of making the passenger feel at home. This essential section has been taken over by Maria Greger as director of colors and materials of the European design center of Mazd a. This 2021 is the year of his retirement but, before saying goodbye to the offices, he wanted to review the evolution and development of the rooms. Greger makes an analysis of more than a quarter of a century on color trends and the materials used , something that gives us some clues about the path that Mazda will take for the future.
A future in which comfort and a feeling of welcome will continue to be the fundamental objective of the firm. To this end, Greger highlights “the emphasis traditionally placed in Japan on labor. It’s about meticulous attention to detail. ” The increasing presence of screens and large infotainment systems has made the designers’ job quite difficult. She defends Mazda’s choice to keep the traditional aerators and buttons, despite granting them new functionalities such as optical or haptic touch.
What is Mazda’s vision?
Since 2010 Mazda has shared a key element in all its vehicles: the Kodo design philosophy. As Maria Greger explains, ” Kodo means” soul of movement “in Japanese, it represents the power and beauty of movement”. However, from the Japanese firm they are aware of the magic and purity of the human being, so they do not try to relegate the right hand of a craftsman to the mass production chain of a factory. Hence, clay models are still used for early vehicle development. Through the hands of a master Takumi , silhouettes are created like that of the Mazda3, awarded for its beauty and the ability of its body to interact with lights and shadows.
Access to new materials and innovative treatment on some noble pieces have opened the range of possibilities for interior designers. This new framework, packed with options, complicates the job of directors like Greger but certainly improves the end-customer experience. Essential to this has been the establishment of Mazda Research Europe in Frankfort , the headquarters that helps them learn about European trends first-hand. When developing a new vehicle these centers, which are also located in the United States and Japan, present their options for materials and interiors. The Mazda CX-30, for example, was conceived in Frankfurt in its entirety but, on other occasions, proposals can be mixed.
What is to come?
During the interview prior to his departure, Greger wanted to highlight the work of Li Edelkoort and his ability to capture and reveal the trends that are to come in the world of automotive and design in general. Regarding the future, the former Mazda director certified that white will still be a recurring color in the automobile fleet . On the boring of these tones, Greger insisted that white, black and silver are the best tones for resale, hence the predilection of the European public for these colors.
Luckily, Mazda went its own way with red, creating an iconic palette for Kodo designs. “I’m proud to say that we were a trend, starting a red renaissance , and not just for sports cars,” he commented during Greger. As for the future, she sees a clear preference for warmer, silver tones. Something that will be intrinsically linked to the evolution of propulsion towards more ecological models. A plan in which hydrogen has a place for Mazda.
