We've already seen stock images of the Mazda Furai, but now that we've had the chance to see it up close, we're thinking of making our pick for "Best in Show" even before the NAIAS press days are over. The Furai Concept is equipped with a three-rotor rotary engine which has been designed to operate on 100 percent ethanol fuel. Mazda's Nagare Concept was the inspiration for the Furai's design. Mazda officials say, "Instead of form following function, the two merge as one."

The Furai's body surface provides ample opportunity to feature core design elements such as agressive headlamps, and the headlamp trim pieces function as guide frames to help cancel aerodynamic lift. The Furai not only probes future design possibilities, it also ventures ahead by using renewable fuels. We personally think that the Furai is remarkably beautiful and would love to see this concept make it into production as a Le Mans competitor.

For the full press release, click through the jump, and click the images below to open a high-resolution gallery.

MAZDA FURAI CONCEPT: THE EMBODIMENT OF ZOOM-ZOOM

DETROIT – As the latest in Mazda’s award-winning and highly acclaimed series of Nagare concept cars, the Furai P2 concept vehicle celebrates 40 years of rotary engine and international motorsports heritage with the raciest interpretation of NAGARE design language to-date.

NAGARE: (pronounced “na-ga-reh