Mazda Kiyora

The Japanese automaker's latest concept design is influenced by flowing water

Mazda Kiyora

Stuart Schwartzapfel

At this year's Paris International Motor Show, Oct. 4-19, Mazda will take the wraps off the Kiyora concept, a lightweight, urban compact car. (Kiyora means "clean and pure" in Japanese.) The Kiyora is yet another concept to bear Mazda's natural and organic Nagare styling language it has developed over the past few years. Water was chosen as the theme for the concept's design, most dramatically exhibited by its swooping body side and slinky vertical tail lamps that look like gills.

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Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.