Mazda to debut Ryuga concept and Tribute Hybrid Electric Vehicle at US show

Mazda has confirmed that it will unveil an all-new concept car, the Mazda Ryuga, and the all-new Mazda Tribute Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on Monday, 8 January 2007.

The Mazda Ryuga builds on Mazda’s concept of flow, following the Mazda Nagare (Japanese for ‘flow’) concept which debuted at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show and introduced the company’s new design direction for the future.

Ryuga (Japanese for ‘gracious flow’) is the next generation of this exciting on-going concept theme and will reflect a higher level of sophistication achieved through the use of rich fabrics, engineered fits and hidden details.

“Mazda Ryuga is elegant and refined, but with spirit and edge, portraying unique Japanese beauty,” said Laurens van den Acker, Mazda’s global design director.

“Ryuga is Zoom-Zoom defined. It combines vibrance, confidence, fun and youth all in one ingenious package.”

Offering a far more immediate and real look into its future, Mazda will also debut the 2008 Mazda Tribute HEV at NAIAS. The heavily revised Tribute HEV will be the first advanced?technology vehicle dedicated to clean air that Mazda will sell to the public when it becomes available later in the year.

The Tribute HEV is one of the least-polluting vehicles on the road, yet still delivers the performance required by SUV owners. With a combined power output from its gasoline engine and electric motor of 155hp, the Tribute HEV provides plenty of power yet meets both the strict Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEVII) and the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in California – the world’s strictest emission regulations for a gasoline-fueled vehicle.

Also on display at the show will be the all-new seven-passenger Mazda CX-9 SUV, the five?passenger crossover Mazda CX-7 SUV and a selection of models from Mazda’s exciting 2007 product line-up.