Mazda Motor Corporation has unveiled art pieces inspired by its KODO - Soul of Motion design theme in the famed design capital of the world, Milan, Italy. In an exhibit entitled, “Mazda Design: The Car as Art”, Mazda revealed stunning works that feature design cues inspired by its current KODO-derived vehicles such as the CX-5, the Mazda6, the Mazda3, and the recently launched all-new Mazda2 and fourth generation MX-5.

Key standouts in the Milan exhibition are the “Bike by KODO concept” and the “Sofa by KODO concept”. The two artworks are natural evolutions of Mazda’s car design language in that they utilize the same dignified minimalist design and alluring sensuality as found in Mazda’s current lineup.



“Mazda’s recent resurgence is due in large part to the implementation of the KODO design language,” says Steven Tan, President and CEO of Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributors of Mazda vehicles in the country.  “Because of KODO, we have car models that not only express dynamic motion but also elegance and style, traits that make Mazda vehicles standout among its peers,” adds Tan.

The “Bike by KODO concept” is a track racer that seeks to express the innate beauty of the bicycle. Its minimalist structure is composed of the least possible number of parts. The frame was painstakingly formed by hammering a single sheet of steel and the black leather saddle is hand-stitched, featuring the same red thread and stitch design as found in the all-new Mazda MX-5. The bicycle’s mixture of dynamism and allure is evocative of the Mazda MX-5’s styling.



The “Sofa by KODO concept” is a collaborative effort between Mazda designers and Italian furniture makers. It exhibits an exquisite blend of Mazda Design’s refined sensibilities and fine Italian craftsmanship backed by a long tradition of furniture making. The form of the sofa is as honed as the lines of Mazda’s latest car models. It also evokes the strong stance common to the new-generation KODO-inspired Mazda collection.

“KODO has instigated a variety of design collaborations coming from the automotive sphere,” says Tan. He adds, “Mazda Philippines recently collaborated with renowned Filipino fashion designer Mark Bumgarner to create a line of dresses for the 2015 Manila International Auto Show. His interpretations of KODO as presented in the Mazda Collection fashion show have been a stunning visual showcase and they demonstrate how Mazda’s new design language transcends sheet metal and permeates into real world practicality.