Mazda’s North American unit will publicly unveil the new CX-7 crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV) at the Los Angeles motor show on Tuesday (4 January).
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The new model will also be displayed at the Detroit show next week.
Due in US dealerships this spring as a 2007 model year vehicle, the CX-7 is the first of three completely new vehicles Mazda has designed and engineered specifically for North America.
The automaker claims the CX-7 “is a clean break from the fleet of traditional SUVs currently offered”.
In a statement, programme manager Shunsuke Kawasaki said: “There is no doubt this SUV… skillfully blends sports car verve with SUV practicality. It is a vehicle that brings together performance and design like never before and this deviation from the crossover norm is inviting to look at, entertaining to drive, and fun to use.”
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By GlobalDataMazda said the CX-7 is built entirely on in-house-derived platform architecture which, according to some recent US reports, will also be shared with two new Ford and Lincoln SUV models due out in the next year or so.
The CX-7 seats five and is powered by a variant of the turbocharged and intercooled 244hp 2.3-litre four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine launched recently in Mazda’s Speed 6 model line (called 6 MPS in Europe) but tuned to deliver 258 lb-ft of torque at a relatively low 2,500 rpm for strong throttle response.
The main change from the Speed 6engine is a new turbocharger with reshaped turbine inlet port to enhance throttle response at low engine rpm and reduce boost lag.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard and the crossover is estimated to deliver over 23 mpg (US) in combined driving.
Fully independent suspension, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with standard four-wheel anti-lock, dynamic stability control (DSC) and traction control system (TCS) complete the mechancial specs.
As with most US-market SUVs, customers will be able to choose between two- or four-wheel drive. The so-called active torque-split all-wheel drive has a computer controlled coupling feeding up to half of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels as needed.
The cabin has a three-dial instrument cluster, high-mounted gear shifter, and firm-fitting front bucket seats. The instrument panel consists of a claimed “unique ‘double-roof’ structure, in which a small ‘roof’ over the meter cluster is positioned just in front of a large ‘roof’ that extends across the entire instrument panel”.
The 60-40 split rear seat carries three people and folds to extend the 29.9-cu. ft. cargo hold to 58.6-cu. ft. The cargo floor is claimed to be “significantly longer than competitive models” at approximately 70-inches with a flat load surface and a lip to prevent luggage from sliding forward. With the rear seats in use, the cargo length is 39 inches long and can accommodate three full-size golf bags. One side of the reversible trunk board is made of plastic, enabling the owner to carry soiled items without staining the load floor carpet.
Mazda North America is aiming the newcomer at young couples with active lifestyles and said it did research into what personal possessions they are most likely to carry. This has resulted in large glove box, floor console, and door pocket storage spaces and a lockable centre console that can swallow a compact laptop computer whole, as well as space for coins and sunglasses. There are also numerous bottle and cup holders and front seatback pockets.
Meanwhile, Mazda Europe has given conflicting information about whether or not the CX-7 is destined for the continent.
Pre-release information issued in mid-December said European specifications would be announced late in 2006 but a Mazda UK spokesman subsequently stressed to just-auto that no other markets had been confirmed for the CX-7 and the model was officially US-only till further notice.
However, it’s worth noting that the MPV minivan introduced as a ‘US-only’ model in the late 1980s eventually found its way into other markets – though not Europe – with both left- and right-hand drive.
It’s also worth noting that Mazda Europe recently launched a close equivalent to the CX-7 called the 5 which is a mid-size, five or seven seater minivan with flexible seat layout and engine specifications closely matched to rival models: 1.8- and two-litre petrol and a couple of two-litre turbodiesels. Unlike in North America, only manual transmissions are offered.
The 5 is also sold in other markets outside Europe – including Japan where it is called the Premacy – with a variety of engine and trim specifications and manual and automatic transmissions.
Graeme Roberts
New Mazda CX-7 crossover (left) is destined for the US only so far; other markets get recently launched 5/Premacy minivan (right) instead |
