Mazda will unveil a concept at the Paris auto show that gives clues for the Japanese carmaker’s new city car.

Called the Kiyora, the concept has bold, futuristic styling. It previews a car smaller than the Mazda2 minicar.

Neil Warrior, spokesman for Mazda Europe, said: “This is a first look at our sub B segment concept. It is a small city car.”

If the Kiyora goes into production, the car could be labeled Mazda1 and compete with the forthcoming Volkswagen Up and Toyota iQ minicars.

Warrior said minicars are becoming an increasingly important trend with the need to reduce emissions and CO2 and with cities becoming increasingly congested.




“We want to produce a car that is fun to drive but also environmentally responsible,” he said.

The Kiyora has a four-cylinder direct-injection engine and a stop-start system, which improves fuel economy and reduces CO2 emissions

Kiyora means clean and pure in Japanese. Warrior said no name had been decided for a potential production version.

The Kiyora was designed in Mazda’s European design center in Oberursel, Germany, near Frankfurt.