Mazda Kabura Concept Interior

There's a fair bit of innovation in the materials, as well, courtesy of a partnership with Sustainable Solutions Inc. SSI specializes in transforming high-quality postindustrial waste--notably leather and rubber--into equally high-quality new-tech alternatives. Several of the Kabura's interior surfaces are covered in a "regenerated" leather product made from 100-percent post-industrial waste trim, a medium that offers virtually all the touch and feel characteristics of the original hide but at a significantly lower cost. The durable substrate that lines its cargo area was created in a similar manner, using reground and reprocessed scrap rubber.

People zones for the Kabura's unique "3+1" cabin configuration are divided into two distinct environments: one for the driver, the other for passengers. Defining the command seat is a large piano-black trim element that creates a de facto cockpit where analog gauges are matched with switchable electronic displays. An F1-style multifunction steering wheel with digital speed readout reprises the design theme of the Kabura's wheels, while just beyond the substantial aluminum shift lever you'll find the next big must-have feature, an integrated iPod dock.

Even more revolutionary design thinking lies across the center tunnel. The Kabura's recontoured cutaway dash eliminates the glovebox, buying enough free space in the process to position the front bucket roughly six inches ahead of where it would normally be. This unconventional approach generates sufficient rear legroom to make tandem seating for two modestly scaled adults a realistic possibility. Access to the aft quarters is facilitated by a nifty pocket door that slips into the right rear-quarter panel--another idea currently being explored for possible use in future Mazdas--while the forward portion of the back glass flips up like a spoiler to gain a bit of extra headroom and improve cabin ventilation. Although the jump seat behind the driver remains little more than glorified package space, all three perches fold flat, allowing a bounty of active-lifestyle kit to be loaded into the rear bay via a side-hinged glass hatch.

Concepts being what they are, all of our wheel time was spent cruising at a fairly leisurely pace. But even at this prototype stage, the MX-5's lusty twin-cam four and slick six-speed gearbox are suitable motivators, the basic structure solid, and the packaging plausible, if not perfect. Driving--and listening--between the lines further reinforced our belief that adding an affordable sport coupe with this kind of spirit and style to Mazda's U.S. lineup is an idea supported by friends in some very high corporate places.

Under ideal circumstances, a production version of this engaging newcomer could arrive by 2008. Despite initial talk about dropping a rotary engine under the hood and moving the vehicle upmarket as the next RX-7, the most likely scenario points to creating a stand-alone model that uses the existing mechanicals and slots in under the MX-5, perhaps wearing an MX-3 badge. With the priciest bits of platform engineering complete, the key challenge involves replacing several of the Kabura's costlier signature elements with more affordable alternatives that still remain true to its core values and distinctive sense of style.