Looks like Chinese Customs wanted an up close & personal peek at Mazda’s Taiki Concept. Taiki was on its way to the Beijing Auto show when it was stopped for a “totally random customs search” by border authorities. Which probably translates to “let’s see if Mazda is pulling a John Z. DeLorean on the way to China.” Of course, the vehicle and Mazda representatives all cleared the check point and were back on the road, or sea, in no time. Now how do you say “Papers? We don’t need no stinkin’ PAPERS!” in Cantonese?

You can almost hear Huey Lewis proclaim “Gotta get back in time…” as the gull-wing-type doors lift up like a mighty bird of prey taking flight. This elegant creature is no flying machine but the new addition to Mazda’s Nagare Design family. Hakaze is a “compact crossover coupe” complete with removable roof, high seating and a space age cabin that glows as if it’s breathing.

Mazda already has a few curvy cars on the market (the RX-8 most notably); it will be interesting to see if any of the Flow concepts make it into production…and how the final products will look. With all its glass and detachable pieces the Hakaze offers, one can bet a functional version will morph drastically from this conceptual stage. It is awesomely high-tech with electronic-only automatic doors (yes, sans-handle) and side/rear-view cameras replacing mirrors – probably not very practical for the average consumer. If nothing else, make sure to keep spare batteries for your keychain door opener. No word yet on having to store extra plutonium cells in your garage.

Looks are one thing, performance and the bottom line (i.e.: cost) are another. The DeLorean was both praised and criticized for sleek design and eclectic materials, but we all know what happened to the DMC. Not that we feel Mazda President and CEO Hisakazu Imaki will be caught with a briefcase full of illegal powder.

But the Hakaze Concept stands no bigger than a current favorite, the Mazda3 – which runs an MSRP between $13,895 to $19,895. Affordable, futuristic, eye-catching…looks like Mazda’s Hakaze should fit in nicely with their currently obsessed over design flow.

If only it came with a Hoverboard.

2007 was a banner year for Mazda conceptual design with the introduction of the “Nagare” models (Japanese for ‘flow’). ’08 looks to be shaping up positively as well for the motor corporation. The Mazda Senku (pictured above) was chosen “Most Beautiful Design Concept” by a panel at this year’s Grand Prix du Design at the 23rd Festival Automobile International in Paris. The annual festival honors “beauty, design and art,” focusing on submissions from both major car manufacturers along with small studio designs. Another “Flow” concept, the Mazda Ryuga, recently took home the Louis Vuitton Classic Concept Award 2007. This shows Mazda’s This shows Mazda’s dedication to not only producing safe, affordable vehicles which are fun to drive, but can grab attention on the highway. eye-catching Mazda designs being shown off at major auto events include the Mazda Furai and Taiki sport concepts.

Mazda Ryuga

However, this concept is not all automobile theory – the Taiki features “a next-generation rotary engine and enhanced aerodynamic performance.” Anything from air to wind to fog and rain will literally “flow” through the curves of this beast.

Taiki may look as if she has all her power in the front-end, but this newbie is a rear-wheel drive vehicle. It takes power from the bow’s 1.6L RENESIS 16X engine – the latest in Mazda’s RENESIS engine design.

These machines were built using the same ideas behind hydrogen rotary engines, except RENESIS is gasoline based as well as fuel efficient. Gas is injected at high pressure during intake, causing fuel to evaporate quickly. The fast air-fuel mixture stabilizes temperature in the chamber, raising the engine’s efficiency. It also gives any car wrapped around the 16X an increase in torque without the waste of emissions.

Translation – less gas and harmful emissions with more power and speed while blasting down the streets of Kobe, Japan.

To us, the Taiki is offspring of the Batmobile and Spinner from Blade Runner.

The canopy is wide opened, showing off the driver while the world around flashes by, easily missed at top speeds like tears in the rain. So don’t forget to stop at red lights; not for the threat of traffic violations, but for the purpose of gloating.

Taiki is so beautiful of a concept car it is almost worth not driving at all. Like a work of modern art, one should admire, pace around slowly, debate what the designers were feeling as they created. Of course, that would be no fun. You are forced by sheer attraction to touch, sit and accelerate the Taiki to its limits. One can only hope Mazda keeps Taiki’s grace and efficiency in the final model.