- Mazda has introduced the new Vision-X Compact concept in Japan.
- It’s a small city car that’s 10 inches smaller than the Mazda2.
- The car is envisioned to have a conversational AI that is your friend.
The Japan Mobility Show continues as Mazda has taken the wraps off the new Vision-X Compact. It’s a stylish city car that looks like a shrunken down version of the Mazda2.
Like the Vision-X Coupe, the Compact has a fully enclosed grille that is accompanied by illuminated fangs and a glowing Mazda logo. We can also see small headlights, digital side mirrors, and clean bodywork.
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Mazda didn’t say much about the car, but it sports black cladding and aerodynamically optimized wheels. They’re joined by a panoramic glass roof as well as a rounded rear end.
The concept is 150.6 inches (3,825 mm) long, 70.7 inches (1,795 mm) wide, and 57.9 inches (1,470 mm) tall with a wheelbase that stretches 99 inches (2,515 mm). This means the car is 10 inches (255 mm) shorter than the Mazda2 and has 2.1 inches (55 mm) less between the wheels.
The minimalist design continues in the cabin, which features a flat-bottom steering wheel as well as a circular digital instrument cluster. Interestingly, the model eschews an infotainment system as drivers apparently use their smartphone instead.
Speaking of technology, Mazda envisions the concept would have empathic artificial intelligence that acts as a companion. The company said this would enable people and vehicles to form an “emotional connection much like a heartfelt friendship.”
Despite sounding a little sci-fi, Mazda says they’re actively pursuing this as they want to create a “genuine connection between people and vehicles.” As they explained, the AI will act as a friend and say things like “Nice merge” or “Hey, remember that cafe you mentioned last week? There’s a fun backroad that will get us there.”
The company went on to say the AI will be able to learn and ‘read’ your mood, so it could serve up the perfect playlist at the right time. It can also be quiet, when you’re not feeling like talking.
While that’s some time off in the future, Mazda is making moves in the near term. In particular, Gemini will be replacing Google Assistant in a future software update. It promises to deliver a smarter and more useful experience as Gemini will be able to understand more conversational commands.
