The Mazda Kusabi Concept features a short overall length (3800 mm), a wide body (1750 mm) and substantial wheelbase (2490 mm). The extremely short front/rear overhangs and 17-inch wheels further emphasize its low and wide stance and give the car a strong road presence. The basic proportions of its exterior design result in a short, emphatically contoured form that immediately communicates an aggressive, sports-car look and give it a unique exterior design. Overall, it looks rather aggressive, particularly with its rearward slanting, flat roof. In fact, many Mazda designers referred to the project as ‘The Flattop’ at an the early stage in development, a reference to the popular early 1950s haircut in the US. The front end features a wider, more intricate update of Mazda’s signature five-point grille. The headlamps with high-luminance LED’s are located within slit openings and lend a sharply sculptured expression to the front end. Press lines extending from the bonnet through the body sides to the rear end have prominent edges which, combined with large 17-inch wheels and pronounced fenders, visually express a feeling of driving excitement.

The name Kusabi also means “wedge” in Japanese and perfectly reflects the wedge-like design of the upper sections of the car. The roof has pronounced edges and slopes down to the rear end in such a way that, when combined with the side and rear windows, forms an "X" shaped C-pillar in the shape of two wedges. This creates a simple yet unique design that achieves an aggressive sports car personality that truly stands out from the crowd.

The Mazda Kusabi Concept’s interior features a unique design that integrates the instrument panel with a highly rigid annular aluminium frame around the foot wells. The rear strut tower stiffeners in the luggage area also have a sturdy aluminium design. The interior is unified by a simple, geometric design that combines cool metallic elements with soft-textured materials, for a refined, contemporary feel.

The Kusabi Concept’s front seats feature swing seatbacks for easier access to the rear seats of the 2 + 2 cabin. A hinge mechanism fitted between the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat permits turning of the seatbacks toward the inside in a way similar to a house door, making it easier to get into the back seats. Also, the centrally located hinge mechanism is aluminium with a geometric design. Together with the seats’ metallic-look outer frame and the aluminium frame of the instrument panel, it contributes to the powerful, contemporary ambience of the cabin as a whole.

As an added feature enhancing everyday use, the aluminium frames running across the bottom of the bulk head trim and door trim have built-in lighting that is linked to door opening and closing.

The Kusabi Concept is equipped with a new 1.6-litre MZ-CD diesel engine with diesel particulate filter (DPF). It is mated to a six-speed Automatic Shift Manual transmission, optimised to allow the driver to get the most out of the engine’s torque and power. The 1.6-litre MZ-CD powertrain not only achieves sporty performance but a high level of environmental compatibility as well. It features a highly-rigid block and ultra-high pressure common-rail fuel injection, and is equipped with a DPF system for excellent emissions performance, especially important in urban centres with lots of traffic. It produces 80 kW/110 PS of power—with low levels of noise, harshness and vibration—and 240 Nm of torque on demand. The result is a powertrain that delivers sharp acceleration and ensures that the Mazda Kusabi Concept is agile, responsive and fun to drive in city traffic.

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