Mazda · 2006–2007
Mazda Nagare
Nagare (流; flow) is an automotive design language created by Franz von Holzhausen and Laurens van den Acker for Mazda. Incorporated into a number of concept cars, starting with the car of the same name, the Nagare design lineup was intended as a showcase of what Mazda's cars may have looked like in 2020. It was abandoned by Mazda in 2011 in favour of the Kodo design series, starting with their Shinari concept car.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All Mazda Nagare data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Motif and examples
The influence of the designs are wind and flow. These can be seen in the cars' design, where areas of the cars contain flowing lines. Production cars in Mazda's late-2000s lineup, such as the second-generation Mazda3 and Mazda6, could easily be identified by swooping leaf-shaped headlamps, while the third-generation Mazda Premacy had flowing lines sculpted into the bodywork. Nomenclature. All concept vehicles have names in which represent Nagare's "wind and flow" theme in one way or another.
Concept cars
=== Nagare === The Mazda Nagare is the first car built under the Nagare design language, and shares its name with the language itself. The car debuted at the 2006 LA Auto Show. The Nagare takes the form of a long-wheelbase Kammback sports car. The futuristic interior is very irregular, with the driver placed front and center under the roof's highest point, and three additional passengers seated behind in a "wrap-around lounge". The Nagare also has butterfly doors that span nearly the entire wheelbase. The Nagare's engine is non-existent, as it is not a running prototype. Designer Franz von Holzhausen mentioned during an interview at Autoblog that he took inspiration from nature and applied it to the Nagare concept. Some of von Holzhausen's words are typed below:"We began by studying motion and the effect it has on natural surroundings: how wind shapes sand in the desert, how water moves across the ocean floor, and the look of lava flowing down a mountainside. Natural motion registers an impression in your brain and that's what we hoped to capture with the new Nagare surface language. Once we started sketching our ideas, we weren't surprised to find similar quests underway in other product design disciplines. We found examples of motion influencing the shape and surface of furniture, architecture, apparel, and artwork. Nagare undoubtedly proves our confidence in identifying a new and exciting visual language for Mazda as we lead the way in defining the interaction of motion and flow in automobile surfacing." Ryuga. The Mazda Ryuga is the second vehicle built under the Nagare series. The name Ryuga (流雅; gracious flow) references the purpose of the design. The car features gull-wing doors and a futuristic interior, hinting at Mazda's planned future in design. It is power
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- Nagare
- Manufacturer
- Mazda
- Production
- 2006–2007
- Designer
- Franz von Holzhausen, Laurens van den Acker
- Class
- Concept car
- Related
- Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga, Mazda Hakaze, Mazda Taiki, Mazda Furai
- Engine
- Mazda MZR engine, Mazda Wankel engine
- Successor
- Kodo design language
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30611955CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Nagare_(car_design)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1341379346 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.