Had the Sivax Izana debuted under the bright lights of a mainline automaker or ‘name-brand’ design house in one of the bigger halls, it would’ve been a show-stopper. But as it was, the handsome four-place coupe was tucked away from most of the media, leaving the Japanese stylists who designed it a bit short-changed. It’s a startlingly well-resolved concept that deserves better.
The Izana’s styling draws on both Lexus and Mazda, but it almost strikes as a bit Saab-like from certain views, as well. With a bold matte-finish grille and state-of-the-art L-shaped headlamps, the Izana presents a handsome, confident face. The concept is reported to be named for Japanese god Izanaginomikoto, who is said to have created the country’s chain of islands.
No details yet on the powertrain (if indeed Sivax has fitted one at all), but the interior is as interesting as the outside, with vast expanses of copper trim and unprocessed leather covering the seats. Some details are a bit heavy-handed (the thick-spoke steering wheel with an overly-elaborate airbag boss, for example), but overall it’s a very attractive concept.
While Izana is a Japanese design concern, it established an outpost in Paris in 2001, which goes some way toward explaining their solid (if marginalized) presence at this year’s show.
(Click through to the jump for nine additional photos of this unusual beauty)
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