“Finesse in Fire, Beauty in Brawn” Inspires Mazda’s SEMA Show Cars [2013 SEMA Show]

Mazda says that the four concepts it prepared for the 2013 SEMA show were inspired by the belief that there can be finesse in fire and beauty in brawn. We thought there was plenty of finesse and beauty in the 3 and the 6 to begin with, but we’re happy to watch as Mazda emphasizes those aesthetics in its Vegas-stationed show cars.

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Club Sport 6 Concept​

Cloaked in Composite Gray, accented by a black roof, and poised on a set of 20-inch wheels, this Mazda 6 is the most sinister-looking example of the breed we’ve seen to date. Piloting the diesel-powered Mazda 6 was a pleasure, so consider us smitten that Mazda chose the oil-burner for use in the Club Sport 6 concept. The 2.2-liter low-compression diesel is in European tune here—its stateside arrival has been slightly delayed—producing 173 horsepower and a healthy 310 lb-ft of torque. The 10-spoke wheels come from Rays 57 Motorsport, and wear 245/35R20 tires; H&R brings a spring kit, Brembo provides the brakes, and Racing Beat the exhaust.

We’re digging the amount of restraint in the Mazda 6 Club Sport concept, and given the opportunity would order one up with the Mazda design aero kit—adds a front splitter, a diffuser, and a rear spoiler—but ditch the red, gray, and black exterior accents to ensure maximum stealth.

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Club Sport 3 Concept​

The treatment for the Club Sport 3 concept follows the same path of the Club Sport 6, but does so wearing a highly visible Slate White exterior finish. The aero kit adds the same splitter, diffuser, and spoiler as comes on the Club Sport 6, and will be made available for all 2014 Mazda 3s sold worldwide. The Metallic Silver, Glossy Light Gray, and Black Mica exterior treatment is a touch boy-racer-ish for our tastes, however.

Mazda went with a 2.5-liter gasoline four-cylinder in the Club Sport 3 concept, but equipped it with 20-percent shorter gearing by utilizing a 4.7:1 final-drive ratio. The six-speed manual is copped from the CX-5, and tweaked for Club Sport 3 duty, and a Wavetrac helical limited-slip differential has been fitted. As with the Club Sport 6 concept, Rays 57 supplies the wheels, Brembo the brakes, and Racing Beat the exhaust.

The interior makeover features generous applications of red aniline leather throughout, and black leather on the steering wheel, armrest, emergency brake, and shifter boot.

• Comparison Test: 2014 Mazda 6 Grand Touring vs. 2013 Honda Accord EX-L
• First Drive Review: 2014 Mazda 6 2.5L
• Instrumented Test: 2014 Mazda 3 s Hatchback 2.5L Automatic

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Vector 3 Concept​

Mazda says the Vector 3 concept offers a different take on controlled aggression, expressed more in a fashion sense than outright speed. Sure. We felt Mazda’s Soul Red was an awfully handsome color when we first saw it applied to the brand’s Kodo design language, and we’re on board with the addition of the slightly contrasting Deep Crimson finish. The combined application of the two results in “vector patterns” that create what Mazda is calling a “fractured line” treatment. Purportedly inspired from the runways of the fashion elite, the Vector 3 is said to “hone its attitude from the world of active lifestyle and performance wear, and fit like a stylish pair of cross-trainers.” We’re not making this up. Rays Volk Racing Original G25 19-inch wheels are encased in road-hugging Yokohama S.drive 225/40R19 performance tires; an H&R spring kit and Brembo brakes finish out the package.​

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Ceramic 6 Concept​

Wearing a coat of Ceramic White beset with Taupe Silver accents, the Ceramic 6 concept takes the Vector 3’s pattern concept to an even more polarizing extreme. In this instance, the treatment is compared to the linear frequency patterns found on the likes of “couture dresses and flowing fabrics,” which ostensibly radiates a presence of serenity and pureness, two things in seriously short supply at SEMA.​

Mazda says the interior resembles something out of a Milan fashion studio, and assures us that where the Club Sport 6 represented motorsports and historical drives, the Ceramic 6 concept is reminiscent of Rodeo Drive, and could easily be presented on a fashion runway. We’re still talking about cars, right? We can, however, confirm that the black leather of the steering wheel, armrests, emergency brake, and center console contrasts the white leather interior bits, and the seats get a stitching pattern that echoes the geometric pattern of the exterior. Burgundy stitching on the seams and door panels offers the final touch.​

As with the rest of Mazda concepts, Rays supplies the Volk Racing Original G25 10-spoke, 20-inch wheels, H&R the springs, Brembo the brakes, and Racing Beat the custom dual exhaust.​

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