First look: Mazda evolves the affordable coupe

THE CX-7 was the production car for Australians to take most interest in at the Mazda stand, while the Kabura was the concept car to marvel at.

A compact rear-drive coupe, the Californian-designed Kabura gets its name from the Japanese term "Kabura-ya" – translated as the "first arrow into battle".

Interestingly, the Kabura has a 3+1 (rather than 2+2) seating configuration.

It has a standard driver’s door but the right-hand side of the car features two seats in tandem and a smaller extra door for the rear passenger. At the touch of a button this slides into the car’s body cavity to allow access to the rear seat.

In size it fits between the MX-5 and RX-8 with a wheelbase of 2550mm, length of 4050mm, 1280mm height and width of 1780mm.

Power is provided via a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. Could the Kabura form the basis for a new RX-7?