Despite the popularity of their cars at race tracks and autocross events on any given weekend, Mazda had a problem. The company's design language decreed that all cars have a toothy grin, and the fleet looked too damn happy—not what you'd expect of a vehicle angrily charging a corner. With Kodo—what Mazda refers to as "Soul of Motion"—that has all changed. Instead of a silly smile, there's a smirk belying the Mazda's wrathful nature.
Glittering under the lights of the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, the new Takeri concept exemplifies Mazda's new Kodo styling. While it's not the flagship sports coupe we've been patiently pining for—cough, RX-7, cough—the concept vehicle boasts aggressive styling for a sedan. The athletic front and rear haunches, sloping hood, defined center grille and squinty headlights all have our mouse reaching for the Like button.
A technology making its debut on the Takeri concept is i-ELOOP. Short for "Intelligent Energy Loop," Mazda says it's the world's first passenger vehicle equipped with regenerative braking system utilizing a capacitor instead of a battery. Capacitors are able to charge and discharge more rapidly than a conventional battery and are more durable.
The i-ELOOP consists of three major components: alternator, capacitor and DC/DC converter. Upon vehicle deceleration, a 12-25V variable voltage alternator starts to convert kinetic energy into electricity at up to 25V, which is stored in the capacitor, an Electric Double Layer Capacitor to be exact. A DC/DC converter then steps the voltage down to 12V for use in the vehicle (audio system, climate control, etc). Under heavy traffic conditions, Mazda estimates the technology can improve fuel economy by up to 10 percent.
The i-ELOOP is the intermediary step for Mazda's efficiency technology strategy. The first step was i-stop idle start/stop technology. The future will feature electric drive technology such as hybridization. The Takeri concept is equipped with i-stop as well as a range of SkyActiv technologies for the engine, including the diesel version, SkyActiv-D. Technology aside, the Takeri concept is perhaps most important because it serves as an intermediary step toward an angrier-looking fleet of Mazdas that will soon be on its way. While only a concept, the Takeri has many styling cues that will make it into the next generation Mazda6.