Moving on with the Concept Weekend theme, we have something of a white whale at our hands. It’s the tech-laden 1985 Mazda MX-03, and it’s frankly a stunning piece of design and engineering. Gunning at Toyota Soarer most likely, the MX-03 was a large coupe with every imaginable ’80s tour de force feature.

Pulling Punches is a David Sylvian song, with just the kind of ’80s fretless bass and sketchy guitar you would want to hear play in the background when the MX-03 is displayed on a revolving pedestal. Or I would. I have terrible taste.

The dimensions of the MX-03 are perplexing to say the least. There’s ample rear overhang, nondescript side sheetmetal, a glasshouse that seems to have been mounted a metre too far back, and a rear spoiler that’s almost comically swoopy.

The wheels, though, could have come from any late-’80s Japanese car. They even resemble 4DSC Maxima wheels.

But of course, it wouldn’t be feature-worthy, if the technology behind it weren’t state-of-the-1985-art. Four-wheel-drive, four-wheel steering, tri-rotor wankel engine, 320 horsepower. I’m thinking Mazda were moving the Cosmo forward, as the early-’80s Cosmo was frankly not much more than a 929 coupe with wide quad pop-ups. I’m fine with that, but Toyota were piling on the gizmos on the Soarers behind the curtains.

Then you get to the interior, which is practically unrivalled by everything except the Subaru XT. Pistol-grip gearshift, jet fighter steering wheel, super-gadgety controls. It’s like a cyborg dream in there, with a HUD on top.

I love this shot, since you can make out all the details and descriptions. On the left, you could adjust the front-rear torque split. On the right handle of the steering wheel, you would flick the indicator switch with your right thumb. Then there are the fantastically 1985 digital readouts. And the cabin does look like it’s really tight in there, if you wedge yourself on the seat next to the wide centre console.

It’s a good thing Mazda included a road shot, since hearing the tri-rotor rev on an open road would’ve been an absolute thrill.

[youtube width=”720″ height=”500″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fOWs1rFzJg[/youtube]

[Images: Mazda via carstyling.ru]