Press Release Source: Mazda North American Operations


Production Version of Mazda MX-Crossport Concept SUV to be Launched in 2006
Wednesday May 25, 4:00 am ET
- All-new model to be named Mazda CX-7 -


IRVINE, Calif., May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced that the vehicle shown as the MX-Crossport at January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., will formally move from concept to production vehicle. Mazda also announced that the vehicle will be named Mazda CX-7, fitting into the company's global naming strategy.

"The addition of the CX-7 to the Mazda lineup is a critical step forward for us in terms of our ability to grow Mazda's business in North America," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "In order to succeed, we have to be true to our core values and for any vehicle to wear the Winged-M logo on the grille, it must have the soul of a sportscar."

In Mazda's new global naming strategy, crossover-type sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) will carry the CX designation (CX-7); core vehicles will continue to carry the name MAZDA and a number, based on vehicle size (MAZDA2, MAZDA3, MAZDA5, MAZDA6); rotary-engined sports cars carry the RX designation (RX-8) and piston-engined sports cars carry the MX designation (MX-5, as will be seen on the all-new Mazda MX-5 Miata in the United States). Tribute, MPV and B-Series Truck will continue with their current nomenclature.

The production Mazda CX-7 will pick up many of the design cues of the concept vehicle, and will be built solely in Hiroshima, Japan. More information about the vehicle will be available as the year progresses.

Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.

 

Looks like another SUV that's more sport than utility. Should be a worthy entry in this segment though.

 

that "thing" is UGLY!

 

somewhere somehow Buick comes to mind ???

 

Just realised I forgot to link this : more pics here

 

I dont like the design much but I bet it will be quite popular.

 

Text by Brian Potter
08-26-2005

Mazda of North America announced in May the MX-Crossport Concept (debut at Detroit Motor Show in January) will go into production and be called the CX-7. This new nomenclature designation for Mazda represents crossover/SUV type vehicle(s) in the model lineup just as MX(5) refers to piston sports car, RX(8) refers to rotary sports cars and MAZDA(#) refers to their core passenger cars.

The CX-7 will be almost identical in appearance to the MX-Crossport Concept but the interior will be much more sedate. Engines include 2.3 liter turbo with front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive, 3.0 liter and 3.5 liter V6 engines. The CX-7 will be exclusively built in Hiroshima, Japan. Expect production version debut at Detroit 2006.

source : japanesecarfans

 

Why is Mazda disguising it with tape when UN-taped versions have already been shown?

 

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how SUVs are slowly reverting back to being station wagons?

 

Yes and no. Certainly not the station wagons I remember.

 

Didn't Lexus did the same with the new IS a while ago ?

 

Yeah....Lexus did almost everything imaginable with the IS prototype.
If it wasn't for flip and Liz we probably STILL wouldn't know what it looks like.

 

Pics were probably released at different times.


That looks like a Tribeca to me

 

look so much like Murano

 

I actually took shots of this car in heavy black camo (w/ Mazda 3 taillights) on the 55 south in Tustin a few weeks ago...i guess heading back to Mazda HQ in Irvine. I'll post them up when I get a chance.