Some of these style features include tear-shaped windows that double as butterfly doors, giving access to the interior of the car with no visible door seam. This is just one of the many interesting design features of the Kiyora. Of course, the concept car is just that, a concept, and some of these trendier designs will likely fall by the wayside if the car goes into production sometime this year. The compact Kiyora was designed in Europe and features a direct-injection, four-cylinder engine. What makes it so economical for fuel efficiency is its stop-start system. When you are idling, the engine will automatically turn itself off, and then it will start again when you begin to drive. This is a common feature in European vehicles, but it is still fairly rare in North America. The name Kiyora means clean and pure in Japanese, and is a tribute to the desire Mazda has to make more and more fuel-efficient vehicles.
While small, the Kiyora has a very modern, streamlined design that may appeal to younger buyers more than the boxy look of Smart Car alternatives. As a concept car, it also has a wide range of almost whimsical design features in the interior, including a steering wheel to rival any superheros getaway car. If the concept becomes a reality, it may not have quite as many of these unique features, but the interior will still be modernized to help it appeal to younger, gas-conscious drivers. Will this concept car ever hit the market in North America? At this point, it does not look promising. It appears that the little car is designed more for the European and Japanese markets. But, if North American interest in gas-efficient vehicles continues to rise, and the manufacturer continues to focus on gas-powered vehicles rather than electric vehicles, some of the designs of the Kiyora may make their way to American soil. Only time, and future potential sales of whatever vehicle comes out of this design, will tell. If you do want to get your hands on this pint-sized vehicle, you probably will be able to by simply crossing the ocean to buy it in Asian or European markets.
Air flowing through the front grille to cool the engine usually accounts for up to eight per cent of total vehicle air drag. To reduce this effect, a shutter in the lower front grille automatically closes to prevent air entering and causing turbulence. For cold starts, an additional advantage is a faster engine warm-up, which also helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Whenever the engine needs air for cooling, the shutter opens automatically. These changes help the new Insignia ecoFLEX (120/140PS) achieve class-leading CO2 emissions of 99g/km and 76.3mpg on the combined cycle. Or put another way, an ecoFLEX driver could travel from London to Budapest on one tank of fuel! Source: Department of Transport’s UK Travel Survey 2012 and based on a combined 76.3mpg for an ecoFLEX model fitted with 2.0 CDTi 99g/km engine. The new Insignia range’s powertrain line-up has been broadened still further with the addition of an all-new petrol engine and new derivatives of the existing 2.0 CDTi unit.
Across the New Insignia range, there have been improvements including dampers, roll-bars and steering, which result in improved noise and vibration behaviour and even higher levels of comfort. Completely new suspension control arms and carrier housings were built into the axle architecture to improve driving comfort. Electronic Power Steering (EPS) is standard in all but the VXR models and has been reprogrammed for improved feel. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels have also been reduced for enhanced occupant comfort. Vauxhall’s FlexRide adaptive damping chassis system, with its real-time driving style recognition, is also used in the new Insignia. This innovative chassis networks all driving dynamics systems and features electronic damper adjustment, as well as speed-dependent power steering. The driver can choose between three driving modes: Standard for driving comfort, Tour for an even softer, more comfortable drive, and Sport for a more direct, sporty driving experience. The New Insignia range comprises eight trim levels starting with Design, and going up to Elite. There are also two trims - Energy and Limited Edition - which package generous equipment levels popular with retail buyers.
