Mazda’s MX-Crossport is “a pretty serious attempt to show how we would interpret the crossover,” according to chief designer Moray Callum.
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But, because it is a Mazda, it is more of a cross between a sports car and a saloon than an SUV and saloon. “This means it’s overtly sporty and although designed for the North American market it could easily go to Europe, Japan and the rest of the world,” said Callum.
The Scotsman, who has been based at Mazda’s main design studio in Hiroshima, Japan, since September 2001, says that the Crossport, as a production model, would challenge vehicles like the Nissan Murano – which comes to Europe this year.
“Initial sales of Murano in Japan have been very good so that shows that the Japanese would look at this size of vehicle, too,” he said.
The Crossport is the most successful show car Mazda has produced for years. “I think we are getting more confidence within Mazda Design and J Mays (Ford’s design chief) seems pretty happy with what we’re doing and he is someone whose judgement is really valued when you need feedback.”
Moray, 46, who joined Ford in 1995, admits that it took time to “tone down the Ford in me and build up the Mazda.”
Now, Mazda had established its design DNA with a high degree of flexibility. “There is a lot of difference, for example, between a 3 and a 6 and an RX-8 and MX-5, but all are recognisable as Mazdas,” said Callum.
The relationship with Ford was producing benefits in shared technology and engineering rather than parts sharing. Mazda’s priority is to produce vehicles that are “practical and sporty” but to do it in small steps rather than big jumps to give a much wider range of product.
During his time in Hiroshima Callum has discovered one of the main differences between Japanese design and Western design. “The Japanese tend to stand much closer to a car which is why you get so much detail, while in the West we tend to stand back and get more of an overview.”
This possibly also explains why there is more of a blur in Japan between automotive design and general product design. “The Nissan Cube is a good example – it’s a great product design, but is it automotive design?”
Callum’s career in car design started in 1982. After six years with Chrysler UK then Peugeot-Citroën, he worked at Ghia before joining Ford in 1995 where he was chief designer, Ford North American Operations, before taking up his current job with Mazda.
