Mazda Magic

LESS IS MORE and empty space is prized above all else. While that may sound like the mantra of a chi chi interior decorator, it is actually the essence of Japanese culture and it is being applied to the upcoming range of Mazda cars.

This new direction is the evolution of Mazda's "Kodo - Soul of Motion'' design philosophy. When it was unveiled in 2010, Kodo was supposed to imbue a car with dynamism and emotion. In other words, it had to look more exciting than just a block of metal with an engine to move it.

And it was, with sharp lines and distinctive creases of each model from the sub-compact CX-3 crossover to the mid-size Mazda6 saloon conveying movement and vitality.

But Kodo is evolving from energy to elegance. It will be a style that is restrained, with nothing over-emphasised and any extraneous elements removed. It is a typically Japanese aesthetic, one that…