DO you remember the first time you ever rode a bicycle? Can you still recall the thrill and excitement that you felt? In my case, I was around 7 years old, and I was envious of the beautiful bike that belonged to my Uncle Dodi, who was almost the same age as I was.
He would thrash it around whenever he saw me coming, because he knew how badly I wanted to ride his bike, and he made sure that I didn’t get a chance. One day, Uncle Dodi intentionally ran me over with his bicycle. I was hurt, but only just a bit. I ran to my grandfather and showed him the little scratches and dirt on my legs. He got so mad that he whooped my uncle’s butt with a horsewhip. I thought that was the end of it but, a few days later, my grandfather surprised me with a new bicycle of my own.
I was so happy and anxious to ride my first bike. It took several days before I learned how. I found out that I had to control the handlebars and to keep pedaling even while my bicycle was wobbling and quaking. I had to sit on the center of the saddle and move as one with the entire frame in order to maintain my balance. Turning and braking downhill made me so nervous. I had to keep practicing until I became confident. After a while, I was able let go of the handlebars and raise my hands up in the air. It was then that I really had so much fun cruising on my bike. Then, my uncle asked me if I wanted to try his bicycle. I replied politely, but with one eyebrow raised: “No, thanks.” With that, I took off on my new ride!
My bicycle became a part of me. I would wash it and wipe until it was squeaky clean. I rode it almost every day when I came home from school. After four long years, however, I finally outgrew my “buddy”. It was hard to let go of my bike, since it was the first vehicle I ever owned. I was glad, though, that it was well taken care of when I handed it down to my little sister.
So, what does riding my bike have to do with this story that I’m writing?
Steven Tan, president and CEO of Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country, invited me and a few motoring journalists to the 2016 Mazda Asean Forum in Fukuoka, Japan. We also visited the Mazda manufacturing plant in Hofu City, where they manufacture the M3s, as well as other points of interest related to Mazda.
On our visit to the Mine Circuit, a 3.331-kilometer motor-racing track in Yamaguchi, which is also known as the Mazda Proving Grounds, we were shown an awe-inspiring video that reminded me of the special relation that I shared with my bike. It showed young children riding their first toy cars, bicycles and even horses. It then showed how they progressed through their youth until they grew up and eventually drove their first cars. I suddenly remembered my childhood and realized just how much I treasured and missed my bike.
The video demonstrated the principles of Mazda Motor Corp. and Jinba-Ittai (a Japanese phrase that means oneness between rider and horse). Jinba-Ittai is also described as the harmony and union between a vehicle and its driver—just like me and my bicycle. Interacting with your vehicle through a perfect seating position and driving it the way you want to is also Jinba-Ittai. The driver controls the vehicle, as if it was an extension of his or her own body—turning, braking or simply cruising naturally and easily. The Jinba-Ittai driving feel is the result of Mazda’s unique and human-centered development philosophy, under which the company has produced a wide range of engineering advances, including SKYACTIV technologies. This is the pursuit of Mazda and what it aims to achieve for all its customers.
Mazda Motor Corp. was founded by Jujiro Matsuda in Hiroshima, Japan, back in 1920. “To this day, the company’s objective is to offer vehicles that provide driving pleasure and enrich the lives of our owners,” said Mazda Motor Corp. (MMC) Deputy General manager for Customer Care Program Yoshifumi Uneme.
On August 6, 1945, the Mazda plant in Hiroshima was totally destroyed by the world’s first atomic bomb. “The plant was only 6 km away from ground zero,” said Uneme. “But Matsuda rebuilt Mazda from the war’s devastation. The challenges never stopped for us. Our turning point arrived in 1960, 15 years after the war, when the R360 Coupe was born.”
Today the Jinba-Ittai experience is still evolving at Mazda and so is its tireless quest under the sustainable Zoom-Zoom principle, as seen through the launch of its GVC (G-Vectoring Control). It is the first technology in the SKYACTIV-Vehicle Dynamics, which, for now, is only installed on the Mazda 3 and 6. Mazda has always pursued smooth transitions between G-forces when braking, turning and accelerating, because it considers this an essential element of Jinba-Ittai. “GVC results in what we refer to as a unified dynamic performance feel. In combination with consistent feedback and response to the operation of the brakes, steering wheel and accelerator, it enables the driver to control the vehicle easily and precisely,” said Masani Mimori, MMC head of Vehicle Development Promotion Department.
What GVC exactly does is it adjusts the engine’s torque in response to steering inputs in order to control the forces in a unified way and optimize the vertical loading of each tire to realize smooth and efficient vehicle behavior. The vehicle moves exactly as the driver intends—reducing the need for steering corrections, many of which are performed unconsciously. With GVC, the driver feels one with the car. Cumulative fatigue on long drives is also reduced and smooth transitions between the G-forces acting on the vehicle’s occupants reduce torso-sway, which also improves the ride feel and passenger comfort.
“When the driver maintains a constant steering angle, GVC immediately recovers the engine drive torque, which transfers load to the rear wheels—enhancing vehicle stability. This series of load transfers extracts much more grip from the front and rear tires, improving vehicle responsiveness and stability according to the driver’s intentions,” Mimori said. “The effect of GVC is very natural and does not impose any feeling of discomfort on the driver or other occupants. It was developed based on Mazda’s human-centered development philosophy, wherein the reaction rate and amount of control has been aligned with human sensibilities.”
During the Mazda Asean Forum, MMC executive officer Hiroshi Inoue, in charge of emerging-market business, said: “We’re a small player in the auto industry but we want to expand globally, increase hospitality and ownership satisfaction. Our target from 6.2-percent growth in 2015 is 9.1 percent by 2018 in global sales.”
On the day of our departure for Manila, I asked Tan how will Mazda Philippines contribute to MMC’s sales goal? “Keeping our customers happy and giving them the best customer service. We hope to contribute to our global target in 2018 and only then, we will know how satisfied our customers are,” Tan replied. And as we were leaving our hotel, one of my colleagues blurted out: “Congratulations, Steven! According to the 2016 J.D. Power Index, Mazda Philippines is No. 1 in customer service.
Truly, everyone at Mazda thinks about is what’s for the best interest of their customers. The company designs cars to win your hearts. It makes cars that you can’t let go of. It may just be a small player but it builds cars that get noticed and worth driving. Mazda simply put itself into your shoes. Just like my days with my old precious bicycle. There was a special bond between us. I remember the pleasure it gave me. When I drove the Mazda cars in Japan, they brought me back to my childhood. And when you drive a Mazda, this is how you should feel. Drive the way you want it. Trust it. Ride it. Enjoy it.
Image credits: Tet Andolong