America’s largest auto show will open on April 6, and automakers are already announcing that they will showcase their concept vehicles at the event. An auto show as large as the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) offers and provides a good venue for automakers to display their products.

The amount of coverage and number of attendees for such an event is sure to benefit automakers in their quest to further increase their popularity in the US auto scene. Mazda and Suzuki are just two of the automakers taking advantage the event. Both Japanese automakers announced that they will showcase their concept vehicles at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Mazda, the Japanese automaker based in Hiroshima and partly owned by Ford Motor Company, will present two prototypes at the event. The first of the pair is the Mazda Nagare. The vehicle concept is radically designed to give it a futuristic appeal. The Nagare features butterfly wing doors, making it a bona fide attractive car.

Aside from the sports car door, the Nagare’s interior reflects the innovation Mazda is developing. Its seating arrangement is unique in that the cabin is for the driver alone and the rear seat is designed to accommodate three in a “lounge seating” arrangement. The concept vehicle is powered by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain showing that Mazda is also at the forefront in exploring technologies to combat the rather popular global warming problem.

Another futuristic concept vehicle from Mazda is the Hakaze. The radically designed vehicle is a compact, coupe-style crossover SUV with a familiar roadster attribute. Mazda says the vehicle is made for adventurers. The overall design of the vehicle gives it a muscular look and the rear of its roof can be removed to give it that convertible feel. One of the most captivating design concepts present in the Mazda Hakaze is the crease in the side body panels.

Suzuki, meanwhile, also has two concept vehicles ready to be presented at the aforementioned auto show. The first of the two is the Suzuki Zuk. The vehicle is inspired by the company’s championship-winning motorcycles. It uses the same design structure as the Suzuki SX4 sports crossover. The vehicle is designed to perform at a very high level on race tracks and on the road. The Zuk’s power comes from a 2.0-liter intercooled and turbocharged engine. The turbocharger increased the engine’s capacity to 300 horsepower and this is the kind of power that the EBC rotors will have no trouble keeping in check. The engine is mated with a precisely designed five-speed manual gearbox.

Suzuki’s second concept vehicle is designed for those who highly value the entertainment system. The Suzuki Flix, as it is called, is itself a mobile theater. Its roof opens to reveal a 40-inch movie screen on its moonroof. Aside from this, the concept vehicle’s front roof panel hides a high-density digital projection system. This Flix capability allows users to watch “drive-in” movies whenever they want.