Mazda Kiyora to be Shown in Paris
Mazda is set to unveil a car in Paris next month, the Kiyora. It’s smaller than the Mazda2 minicar and is being labeled a “city car” with “bold, futuristic styling.” It could possibly be labeled the Mazda1, in fact, and would be competing with the comparable Volkswagen Up and Toyota iQ.
Whereas compacts were once “the” small cars of the day, minicars are rising in popularity, especially for city driving. The need isn’t just to cut emissions, but to get a form factor people can park more easily in crowded environments. If you’ve had the chance to stand by a Smart ForTwo yet — with room to plant corn in the space left in the parking spot — you’ll understand how mini a mini really is.
The Kiyora, still technically a concept, is powered by a four-cylinder, direct-injection engine and utilizes a start-stop system to up fuel efficiency. In Japanese “Kiyora” means clean and pure.
For other Mazda offerings in Paris, be on the look out for new exterior styling on the Mazda MX-5 roadster as well as a Mazda6 with a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel.