Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

No Surprise: Mazda confirms new small CUV to be named CX-5

In a move that should surprise exactly nobody, Mazda has announced that its forthcoming smaller crossover will be called CX-5. The little 'ute is said to borrow heavily from the Minagi Concept that Mazda unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show, and it will be the first Mazda vehicle to incorporate the automaker's new 'KODO – Soul of Motion' design theme.

The design theme was first introduced back in the fall when the Japanese automaker unveiled the Shinari Concept; a very attractive, luxurious-looking sedan that could park next to an Aston Martin Rapide and still get noticed. The CX-5 will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will go in sale in calendar year 2012.

Mazda says the new crossover will feature the automaker's SkyActiv technologies, which will include engines, transmissions, body and chassis. SkyActiv is Mazda's "sustainable ZoomZoom" approach that includes more efficient powertrains and lower overall body mass for improved fuel efficiency and performance.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/18/m...ver-announced/

mmarshall

I, for one, will be sorry to see the Mazda Tribute go....the vehicle that the CX-5 is likely to replace. I liked the Ford Escape-based Tribute, with its squarish, space-efficient body style, far more than either the CX-7 or CX-9. Ford marketers, IMO, neglected the Tribute, and, outside of California sales, did not allow it to have a version of the Escape's hybrid-system.

mordecai

The Shinari concept car seems to point to Mazda going a little more upscale, similar to what Hyundai has been doing. The Kodo design language is beautiful, the best one in the industry right now and the Minagi concept is an even better application of it than the Shinari. I just hope that it carries down to the production model. I agree with mmarshall that this should have been the next Tribute. It will just be weird to see the beautiful "CX-5" and the weird-looking CX-7 just above it in the lineup.

I hope the Mazda 9/Amati is reborn through Shinari.

chikoo

Learn more about the SkyActiv Technology here

IS-SV

I'm glad to see this segment heating up with potentially desirable product(s). Nice looking concept shown. Thanks Hoovey for this early look.

mmarshall

My point, in the post above, was that I am sorry to see the Tribute go, period. I don't think it really needs to be replaced....and it looks, IMO, a heck of a lot better than either of its CX-7 or CX-9 stable-mates. But, if Mazda and their Ford masters are determined to get rid of the perfectly good Tribute, then, yes, I agree with you.....the CX-5 would probably not be a bad replacement, though I don't care for its front-end styling.

IS-SV

I am expecting the new Tribute to generate something resembling decent sales volume, or at least I'm hopeful. The current/outgoing Tribute is a sales failure by any production automakers standards with sales volume similar to pathetic RL and ZDX volume.

mmarshall

One thing that certainly didn't help the old Tribute's sales was that Ford wouldn't give it the same hybrid-package (outside of CA) that they did for the popular Escape Hybrid (its twin). Here in the D.C. area, at least, the Escape Hybrid sells quite well....dealers can't keep them in stock. Maybe the new CX-5 in the thread will get the hybrid-option that the Tribute never did.

chikoo

Wow.... 14:1 compression NA ENGINE....
http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/sky...kyactiv-g.html

chikoo

Non flash player skyactiv website

http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/skyactiv/