Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Gracious concepts

The new Mazda Ryuga, Japanese for "gracious flow", is an extension from the Nagare model, which debuted at the Los Angeles auto show at the beginning of this month.

"Ryuga is related to that vehicle except it takes the concept further. says Mazda spokesman, Alastair Doak. "It shows a bit more design language and proportion and those things, that's what concepts are all about." It uses rich fabrics, engineered fits and hidden details.

The other new concept, the Kia Kue. is a crossover utility vehicle. Kia spokesman, Jonathan Fletcher says it has "more focus on performance rather than being a load carrying, off road SUV". The Kia Kue sits on 22-inch wheel rims with a wheelbase of more than 114 inches and an overall length of 186 inches. Fletcher says that although it's purely a concept car, it hints at future styling directions for Kia Motors.

There are no current plans to bring either concepts to Australia. Doak says the Ryuga could be a possibility for a future Australian motor show, possibly the next Sydney one.

"We'll ask for one at some time, but at this stage, there are no plans," he says.

Fletcher says it is still too early to say if or when the Kue will come to Australia. Sketches of both cars have been released ahead of their debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

Ashlee Pleffer
Contributing Journalist
Ashlee Pleffer is a former CarsGuide contributor via News Limited. Pleffer specialises in classic cars.
About Author

Comments