Chassis trends

Technologies in development by Japanese companies include lane keeping, steer by wire, and dynamic stability via hybrid-electric drive.

The BMW 3 Series must be the most popular-or feared-benchmark car among several Japanese manufacturers. Nissan prepared a delightfully agile Euro-spec, blueprinted (by Nissan's development team) 328i for AEI's Asian editor to pitch against its own new pride-and-joy, the Nissan Skyline/Infiniti G35 in the latter's first outing. Mazda's Philip Martens (now Vice President of product planning and development in Dearborn) included a BMW 318 among European and Japanese benchmark cars when his team developed the new Mazda6 and its Japanese-market twin, the Atenza. Nobuhiro Hayama, Mazda's Director-Powertrain, aimed at surpassing the 318's smooth and powerful inline four with his new MZR engine in performance, smoothness, sound quality, and, more importantly for the affordably priced Mazda, in cost.

The conception, design, and development of the Mazda6 platform are an interesting and significant case in point. Seita Kanai, Senior Chief Engineer in charge of the mid-size platform, confided, “The car could not have happened if not for the two ‘car guys’ who came from the parent company but are not typical of their pragmatic culture.” Martin Leach was the Senior Managing Director in charge of product planning and development when Project 56 was kicked off. Leach is now President of Ford of Europe. Said Chief Engineer Seiichi Omoto, “The management's initial reaction was, ‘How much component carry-over can you achieve?’ It was Martin Leach who advocated and got a completely new platform and chassis.”