July 17, 2007. Copyright 2007, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Mazda CX-7: An SUV disguised as a Òsports crossoverÓ
By Neil Winton

LONDON, July 17, Graphic News:  Mazda of Japan has found a way to produce a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) which wonÕt be an easy target for the environmental movement; it has called its new CX-7 SUV a ÒSports CrossoverÓ, and tried to make it look more like a racy saloon car than a load lugger and a fuel squanderer.

The CX-7 certainly looks like no other SUV on the road today, with its swoopy lines. Some of the bodyÕs design cues are borrowed from MazdaÕs experience of producing sports cars like the high-speed, rotary engine RX-8, and the little MX-5 roadster. The windscreen, angled at a steep 66 degrees, exaggerates the sleek look. The roof line dips early towards the rear, while the body moves upwards to give an athletic impression.

Where most modern SUVs look boxy, van-like and anonymous, the CX-7 might well induce the ÒwowÓ factor.

The four-wheel drive CX-7 is powered by a 2.3 litre, 260 bhp 4-cylinder direct-injection turbo petrol engine. Direct injection engines borrow technology from modern diesels, and produce more economical power at lower engine revolutions than regular petrol motors. This engine, coupled to a six speed manual gearbox, propels the CX-7 from rest to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.0 seconds.

Inside, the design also takes ideas from MazdaÕs sports cars, with a big rev counter and leather, three-spoke steering wheel and instrument cluster echoing the MX-5. The cockpit is designed to feel as though it wraps around the driver.

As this is really a practical, rather than a sporty, vehicle, the five-passenger seat interior can quickly be turned into a load carrying area.

ÒWith the Karakuri seating system, youÕll soon understand why we used the Japanese word for ÔmagicalÕ. A simple flick of a lever is all it takes to transform the rear seats to a completely flat load surface of around 176cm (69in) in length, perfect for bikes and other bulky items,Ó Mazda said.

Ford Motor Co. of the U.S. owns a controlling, approximately one third, interest in Mazda. Ford borrows heavily from Mazda for some of its most important cars. The little Fiesta is closely related to the Mazda 2. The Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6 have much in common under the skin. The CX-7 and the Ford Edge SUV, only on sale in America, are also siblings.

Mazda and Ford are not the only manufacturers to call their cars ÒcrossoversÓ. This simply means that old, heavy gas-guzzling products which were based on pickup truck designs, are being replaced by vehicles using car technology. ÒCrossoversÓ are lighter, relatively more fuel efficient, and handle more nimbly.

If the green movement is fooled, momentarily, by this SUV in disguise, the CX-7Õs fuel efficiency will quickly tip it off. Mazda claims the car manages an average 34.9 miles per gallon (8.1 litres per 100 kilometres), and spews out 243g of carbon dioxide every kilometre. Currently the average European car emits about 160g/km, and the European Union wants to cut this to 130g/km by 2012.

The CX-7 goes on sale across Europe from the autumn.ÊÊÊ
/ENDS