Rediscovering A Lost Icon of The Mazda MX-81 Concept Car

ONE-OFF - Still talking about concept cars from the past, and this time it's about the Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept which was originally designed and built by Gruppo Bertone back in 1981. Reportedly, this Mazda concept car is inspired by the agility of the Mazda MX-5 (NA), which is a nimble little car that at first glance looks like a British sports car but is powered by Japanese engine and reliabilities.

Mazda has restored the first-ever MX model called the Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept to celebrate the arrival of the MX-30, the company's first mass-produced electric vehicle, back in 2021. (Picture from: Mazda)

As quoted from OtoBlitz, for many years, the Italian coachbuilder company Bertone has a good relationship with Toyo Kogyo, or better known by its trademark, Mazda. In 1981, the Japanese automaker commissioned the Italian coachbuilder to build a futuristic prototype car, with the only condition that the car should be based on Mazda's existing models.

The Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept is built based on the Mazda 323 and is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine up front, producing around 126 bhp. (Picture from: TopGear)

This concept car was designed under direction of Marc Deschamps, Chief of Designer of the famous Italian design house, Gruppo Bertone then, based on the by Giorgetto Giugiaro's sketches back in 1960s while work on the first-generation Familia and Luce 1500 show cars. In short, the Mazda MX-81 Aria is built based on the Mazda 323, transformed into a futuristic design coupe.

The Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept's proportions were designed with the mechanical dimension in mind, using a completely new procedure to create a single structure that seamlessly integrates every design detail. (Picture from: TopGear)

Besides that, the Mazda MX-81 Aria also has its own uniqueness, where the conventional steering wheel is replaced with a rectangular 'belt' style steering system in the form of a track of plastic blocks joined together in a flexible way, together with the power-assisted steering system, all around the rectangular instrument panel, with a color display in the center.

The Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept by Bertone made its debut at the 1981 Tokyo Motor Show. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

In the following years, building on its successful partnership with Bertone, the Japanese automaker Mazda drew much inspiration from this MX-81 Aria prototype for the various mass-produced vehicle models that followed. And after its term of service was over, this concept car was left in a warehouse, and luckily the Aria was able to survive. The car was accidentally rediscovered in 2019 by a former ND MX-5 program manager Nobuhiro Yamamoto in a warehouse in the Fuchizaki district, where it was covered in dust and intact.

The Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept by Bertone features the unique rectangular 'belt' style steering system in the form of a track of plastic blocks joined together in a flexible way, along with the power-assisted steering system. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

After that, Mazda decided to send the MX-81 Aria Concept car to Italy, where the real coachbuilder Bertone was located, to be brought back to life like new. Why did Mazda want this concept car to come back to life? 

The restoration process of the Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept by Bertone is being carried out by SuperStile, a Moncalieri-based company that specializes in the restoration of various types of vehicles. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

As quoted from Mazda's official site, besides to celebrate the arrival of the MX-30, the company's first mass-produced electric vehicle at the time (2021), Mazda has consistently proven its ability to defy convention, not simply settling for the norm or status quo but constantly striving to challenge and push the boundaries of design, styling, and engineering.

The SuperStile craftsmen, a company born in 2015 that collaborates with the main design centers, took care of restoring every aesthetic component of the car. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

Considering that Bertone has been gone since 2014, the restoration process this time was carried out by SuperStile, a Moncalieri-based company that specifically works on the restoration of various types of vehicles. In short, then SuperStile redesigned and rebuilt the Bertone's concept car with a symmetrical window surface design. The MX-81 Aria concept proportions were designed with the mechanical dimension in mind and a completely new procedure, in a single structure that seamlessly integrates every design detail.

The interior of the Mazda MX-81 Aria Concept by Bertone is being restored at the SuperStile. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

The Mazda MX-81 Aria's design as a whole looks very refined and sophisticated, featuring minimal lines without unnecessary decorations and maximum lighting intake, which is obtained from the ratio of the height of the wings to the glass parts of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the rear glass plays an important role, with a wide diameter to allow light to enter, which is the result of quite complicated design work.

After completion in 2021, the Mazda MX-81 was exhibited once again in front of Milan Cathedral, recreating the press photos as they were done 40 years ago. And of course, that day it posed alongside the Mazda MX-30, the newcomer at the time. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)

While the MX-81's interior also shows Bertone's extensive instrumentation engineering experience. Meanwhile, in order to create more space for the driver, the conventional steering wheel has been eliminated on the MX-81 Aria and replaced by a unique circular belt steering system that does not require much space, which in turn can improve driving comfort.

After completion in 2021, the Mazda MX-81 was exhibited once again in front of Milan Cathedral, recreating the press photos as they were done 40 years ago. And off course, this Mazda concept car from 1980s also posed alongside with the Mazda MX-30, the newcomer at the time. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAZDA | MOTORTREND | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | TOPGEAR ]

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