Mazda CX-7 has it all, looks and performance

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Mazda's CX-7 crossover features turbo power, six-speed auto
Source: www.autoweek.com

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LOS ANGELES -- Mazda executives have declared that the CX-7, unveiled at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, has the "soul of a sports car."

Then again, they said the same thing about the middle-of-the-road Tribute crossover and MPV minivan. But there might be a bit more truth to the declaration this time around.

The CX-7 has the same turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine as the revvy MazdaSpeed6 - although the CX-7 version is detuned to 244 hp. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard traction control and dynamic stability control systems keep the wheels from spinning. The CX-7 seats five; there is no third-row seat available.

Other shared parts in the CX-7 include the front suspension design from the Japan-market MPV and the rear suspension from the Mazda5 minivan. The rear differential, active torque coupling, and prop-shaft components are similar to those from the MazdaSpeed6, although they are not the exact same design, said CX-7 program manager Shunsuke Kawasaki.

It took 17 months from program approval until Job 1, which Kawasaki says is a record development time for a Mazda vehicle done from scratch.

The CX-7 also features sportier styling than most SUVs. The windshield carries a 66- degree angle, more akin to coupes than trucks. Interesting touches include a reversible floor in the cargo area to place soiled items on a plastic flooring, as well as a two-level dashboard, designed to hide the vast expanse of plastic that comes with a fast windshield.

Mazda expects to sell 40,000 units annually. Pricing will be announced at the Detroit auto show, although it is expected to be competitive to the Nissan Murano. The CX-7 will go on sale in the spring.

Blazin's Note: I'm impressed so far, looks really good, has a good motor in it and carries a 6-speed, which I really like. It's basically a Mazdaspeed6 in SUV form, what's not to love about it?
 
Not too bad, for a Mazda that is. Hopefully it should increase Mazdas falling sales just a bit, but you cant expect just one car to turn the company around (wait, didnt Ford do that?).
 
I'm sure the CX-7 has some Ford influnce in it, so I'm sure it will be a decent SUV. Probably has some Escape influnce if I had to guess.
 
BlazinXtreme
[Mazda expects to sell 40,000 units annually. Pricing will be announced at the Detroit auto show, although it is expected to be competitive to the Nissan Murano. The CX-7 will go on sale in the spring.
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Oh, no. Not the Murano! Sounds very expensive. :guilty:
 
In a design move that surprised nobody:
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I guess the question we should be asking is this: Does Mazda need an SUV? Sales say yes. I say no. All this is is a jacked up, slow MazdaSpeed 6. Granted, it looks better than the MPS does (what with with the MPS' hood that is 4 inches higher than the normal Mazda 6), but still. The question is also if this is any better than the Nissan Murano or the Toyota RAV4, which I sort of doubt. It's already going to be slower than them, so it has to outclass them or undercut them in price. And it will be easy to do with the Nissan (which starts at $27,600 for the 2WD one with 245 BHP) but difficult to do with the Toyota (which starts at $22,335 for a 2WD V6 with 269 BHP).
 
I wouldn't doubt it would be expensive, I mean the Mazdaspeed6 is pretty pricey isn't it?
 
BlazinXtreme
I wouldn't doubt it would be expensive, I mean the Mazdaspeed6 is pretty pricey isn't it?
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Yeah. I mistakenly thought that CX-7 was going to be in $22,000 - $27,000 range. Closer to Ford Escapes. :ouch:
 
I don't get why the used a detuned version of the MS6's engine...Would have been cooler with 280hp. About the slow Mazdaspeed 6 comment, those things aren't that slow heck, they get to 60mph in 5.7 seconds and run the 1/4 in 13.8 at a 100mph.
 
Auto Show Reporter... eh, Blazin? Well, let me sound off, because that's what we're permitted to do with something like this.

Does Mazda NEED an SUV? Well, it depends on who you ask. Maybe Mazda wanted to offer another SUV to their lineup. Perchance a more exciting model to those critical of the Tribute. The front (and even the rear) carries elements of the awesome RX-8. Take a look at the headlights, bottom grill, the two fog lights... it's all there and doesn't extremely look out of place. What you say? 244hp? Do you really need a super-powerful SUV? I think it's just right, plus it looks good with that power.

It's obvious I think Mazda's done a great job styling this machine. It may sell pretty well. I think this will be a pretty hot machine. This CX-7 should be hotter than Phoenix in the summer.
 
Mazda needs the variety. The 3 and 6 gave them decent sales when they came out, but they need to diversify quite a bit to rectify their marginal foothold in the market.

The Tribute/Escape thing was just lazy. At least the 3/Focus/S40 have enough of an identity to co-exist in the same market. I've seen all of them up close and driven two. You wouldn't know the S40 had the same platform unless you looked really closely... and then you still might not get it. The new Focus looks and feels different from the Mazda3 in terms of driving dynamics (both are good for front wheelers, though).

With the Tribby/Escape, everything was exactly the same. Same crappy door handles, same conservative lines. It was a disaster in terms of pirated sales. (self competition, GM style).

I say, Mazda deserves a compact SUV. It deserves its own identity. But the CX7 should come in lower trims, too. I'm betting it'll also come in non-turbo 2.3 form and with Ford's 3.5 V6... which might make more sense financially.

With a proper compact SUV, a people carrier, a sportscar, a convertible, a compact and a midsize sedan, Mazda should be in its comfort zone. But if they attempt to go too far upmarket, it'll only end in disaster... anyone remember the Millenia?
 
JohnBM01
Auto Show Reporter... eh, Blazin? Well, let me sound off, because that's what we're permitted to do with something like this.

Does Mazda NEED an SUV? Well, it depends on who you ask. Maybe Mazda wanted to offer another SUV to their lineup. Perchance a more exciting model to those critical of the Tribute. The front (and even the rear) carries elements of the awesome RX-8. Take a look at the headlights, bottom grill, the two fog lights... it's all there and doesn't extremely look out of place. What you say? 244hp? Do you really need a super-powerful SUV? I think it's just right, plus it looks good with that power.

It's obvious I think Mazda's done a great job styling this machine. It may sell pretty well. I think this will be a pretty hot machine. This CX-7 should be hotter than Phoenix in the summer.
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Meh I just try to bring all the Auto News I can to this forum, something I wanted to do for GTP8, also I'm going to school to be an automotive journalist.

But yes I think Mazda needs an SUV to be competitive against Nissan and Honda.
 
An SUV that looks like a bloated RX-8 with a name that's one letter off from Mazda's out-of-production flagship sportscar.... :odd:
 
Okay, Blazin.. it's all good.

Why doens't this interest you, Poverty? How can you not like the sharp looks and ample power? Sure, 244hp isn't a speed demon, but considering what kind of vehicle this is and what it's capable of, it's more than enough without overkill. I may have gone on a tangent of calling it an RX-7 in an SUV's skin, but I'm sure it's still going to be a hot model. To me, this is one to watch. It may not be a Nissan Pathfinder Armada, Chevy Tahoe, or any other all-business SUV, but it's still sporty, capable, and good-looking to boot. It's a sexy beast. An angellic devil. Any other oxymoron you want to come up with.
 
I'll point out a parallel most of you wouldn't be familiar with,... the Mitsubishi Airtrek (Outlander) Turbo. Almost exactly the same formula, though not as good looking. 0-62 times in the sevens. That's outstanding for a compact SUV. It's basically an EVO on stilts.

It's a wonder Mitsu never brought the formula to the US. The CX-7 will probably pioneer this formula in that market.

250hp in a compact SUV is more than enough for anybody, and it should be plenty exciting. Worryingly, word is, it'll also be plenty of money for anyone who wants one.
 

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