Mazda CX-9 production begins
Mazda celebrated the production kickoff of its new CX-9 crossover by holding a "line-off" ceremony at the Ujima plant in Japan, where this new product for the North American market is being manufactured. We weren't sure what a "line-off" celebration entailed, but it apparently involves a red carpet, signage bordered with gold Christmas garland, one "Zoom-Zoom" reference (see press release), and executives holding giant housekeys.
The CX-9 is Mazda's new seven-passenger CUV. It was unveiled at the NY Auto Show this past April and will hit showrooms in early 2007.
(Photos, press release after the jump)
[Source: Mazda]
Mazda CX-9 Production Line:
PRESS RELEASE:
Mazda Starts Production of the CX-9, its Second Crossover SUV for the North American Market
- Line-off ceremony held at Hiroshima's Ujina Plant No.1 -
HIROSHIMA, Japan--Mazda Motor Corporation today held a 'line-off' ceremony for the CX-9 crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV) being built for the North American market at the Ujina Plant No.1 near its global headquarters in Hiroshima. Hisakazu Imaki, Mazda's representative director, chairman of the board, president and CEO, along with approximately 450 staff-comprised of several senior executives, union representatives and employees-attended this ceremony. The Mazda CX-9 will be arriving in North American showrooms in early 2007.
"The CX-9 will be the latest addition to Mazda's product lineup in the all-important North American market, joining the Mazda CX-7, which went on sale there in May", said Hisakazu Imaki. "CX-9 is a key model aimed at raising the visibility of Mazda in North America and will be an integral part of building the brand. Furthermore, to keep on providing the best Zoom-Zoom products that will exceed our customers' expectations around the globe, we must continue our efforts as 'One Mazda' to build even higher-quality vehicles."
The Mazda CX-9 is a seven-seat crossover SUV designed and engineered specifically for the North American market. The CX-9 showcases Mazda's unique design and strong, dynamic driving performance as well as an up-market interior with class-leading space and unmatched versatility. The CX-9 debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April 2006, earning high marks for its versatility and remarkable styling that makes a clean break from traditional medium-sized SUVs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John 4:10PM (10/30/2006)
That is just so sexy-lookin'
This segment is about to get HOT, what with the Outlook and Acadia coming to play too.
Will there be a new Pilot?
Can't wait to compare.
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Accordsforall 4:27PM (10/30/2006)
Oh YAY (turns and gags), the one answer to the question.. NO ONE ASKED. Bad enough they have the Tribute (rip off of the Escape / Mariner), ask them why the B-series isnt selling? They need.. basically the exact same vehicle.. with an extra row of seats LITERALLY stuffed in there. Yeah.. thats gonna do off roading and w/e else. Its a mommy mobile.. to r un to the mall and the bank with.
As for the PILOT... thats even larger. And as much as I do love Honda.. the only comparing thats worth anything is, 1 curb weight, 2 engine size, 3 safety features, 4 abilty to get out of its own way when GAS hits 3.50 a gal. And dont forget.. MAZDA is majority owned by Ford.. so count on Ford quality (haha).
And dont forget to keep up those stupid ads for the little woman and her mommy mobile.
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Accordsforall 4:29PM (10/30/2006)
Oh yeah.. dont forget Acadia and Outlook and there is 1 more.. yeah the gruesome threesome from GM.
SAME DAMN VEHICLE!
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John 4:36PM (10/30/2006)
What is your problem?
Do you have socialization issues?
Exactly what, in hindsight, have you offered to the discussion here?
Run along and play now...
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RC 4:48PM (10/30/2006)
"MAZDA is majority owned by Ford.. so count on Ford quality (haha)."
So just buy being owned by Ford makes them have bad quality? This is a very immature and uneducated statement. Have you seen the Mazda 3 or 6, very nice vehicles.
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blitzkrieg79 4:50PM (10/30/2006)
I don't know what is up with Mazda. They come up with a nice looking vehicle in Mazda3 and then enlarge it and call it Mazda6. Now there is CX-9 which looks like an enlarged CX-7. And I bet that CX-9 will sell just like Mazda6 is selling (not too good). I think that their cars should have resemblence to each other but for gods sake don't make them the same and just enlarge them, that is as boring as it can get when your entire line of cars looks the same.
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CS 4:50PM (10/30/2006)
...but the rest of his statements were mature and educated...?
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retsel 5:02PM (10/30/2006)
Jaguar needs a ride like this...
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James 5:02PM (10/30/2006)
OH MY GOD BILL FORD is SHORTER than a JAPANESE MAN!
Is he also shorter down there?
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WolfgangNC 5:06PM (10/30/2006)
considering we just bought a CX-7 last weekend and looked/test drove everything from that segment and even larger SUV and crossovers. The CX-7 is by far the class of the field (unless you are talking about a $40-60k SUV or crossover, which is way too much). I'm not sure about the CX-9; but if it is built, priced, feature-loaded better than the rest of the segment like the CX-7 currently is, then I see no problem with the CX-9 doing very well.
As far as, Mazda's quality issues and the ties to Ford....that was very uneducated. You stated their B-series (Ranger clone) and Tribute (Exscape clone) are not selling well. That is because they are direct clones and their quality is quite well thank you. Remember the Ford Fusion is based off of the Mazda 6 and Volvo S60, not the other way around.
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Dave 5:16PM (10/30/2006)
The 6 was out years before the 3 was out. Back then they still had the Protege. The 6 sold very well for the first few years it was out, but is need of an updating.
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DC_1 5:21PM (10/30/2006)
blitzkrieg79,
Check your facts. The Mazda6 is not an enlarged Mazda3. They don't even share the same platform.
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Dave Thomas 5:18PM (10/30/2006)
wow are you guys (commenters) wrong.
Mazda is not majority owned by Ford. 33% is not a majority last time I looked.
The Mazda6 came before the Mazda 3. Both are selling extremely well for being out so long and Mazda has had a hard time meeting production, trying to keep supply in check like another Japanese manufacturer with a big H on the hood.
The "question no one is asking" is actually the biggest question we get. "I want a vehicle big enough for my kids, dog, lifestyle but don't want a minivan or a gas guzzling SUV"
Hence the GM crossovers and the CX-9.
And currently these are all bigger than the Pilot.
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Toy Yoda 5:21PM (10/30/2006)
Hey WolfgangNC, I'm thinking about getting a CX-7 AWD drive car. Can you tell us more about your purchase? Also, I heard it's pickup ain't all that great. I know I can't expect much from an SUV, but I'm wondering if in a year's time they plan to bump up the HP?
thanks.
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yeahright 5:22PM (10/30/2006)
I see the CX-9 "build-it" tool is up and running on mazdausa.com. Question: When this vehicle hits our shores, will it represent the first appearance of Ford's new 3.5-litre V6? It's not yet available in any other vehicle, is it?
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wtf?? 5:45PM (10/30/2006)
Wow, there is some serious ignorance being thrown about here. Thankfully some of you have corrected the more egregious of errors. Yes, the Mazda 6 came before the 3. No, the 6 is not an "enlarged" 3.
33% is a majority stake if everyone else who owns a piece owns less than 33% 1% can be a majority stake as long as everyone else owns .99% or less.
The B-series and Tribute are long in the tooth, and anyway, the B-Series is a pickup truck--it has no relevance to this conversation.
The only one who's made any sense here is #1.
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mojojojo 5:51PM (10/30/2006)
I love Mazda's styling but the front ends of the CX7 and this new CX9 don't look so good. It should be a great seller for Mazda though and its got good competition in GM's three minivans. I wonder what the pricing's going to be, it will probably be in the outlook's price range. One of the things I'd like to see in this CUV is a better way to get into the third row (like the Outlooks middle row). I'd also like to see it built on this side of the pacific... but that doesn't really matter to buyers. Overall it looks like a nice CUV.
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Infinihertz 6:46PM (10/30/2006)
yeahright (#15), it will not be the first such vehicle, as the CX-9 won't arrive until early 2007, and the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX debut in November (Job 1 was a week or two ago). Also, the Lincoln MKZ is out as far as I know.
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James 6:52PM (10/30/2006)
Has no one else noticed how short Bill Ford is?
He looks like a boy.
He looks like he's 5'2".
The big Japanese man is proud of his American son.
「よくできました、ビルくん！」
Bill does not understand the Japanese man, but he nods.
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Michael Karesh 7:01PM (10/30/2006)
Japanese corporate law makes 33% a controlling stake. Hence Ford controls Mazda nearly as much as if it owned it outright.
The Mazda6 has not sold well ever since the Mazda3 came out. At first the Mazda6 was hot, but they largely blew the hot launch by the way options were packaged and the unavailability of the ones people wanted. You had to get the Sport Package to get many things, sucn that there was a $1,500 or so rebate fairly early on without the Sport Package but not one with it. Total mess.
The new 3.5 first appeared, as #18 says, in the MKZ. I've driven that car, and while the top end is okay the midrange is lacking. Toyota's and Nissan's 3.5s feel considerably stronger in everyday driving.
I put pricing data for the Mazda CX-9 into my price comparison site's database a week or two ago. If you want to see how the CX-9's pricing compares, before and after adjusting for feature differences:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/CX-9.php
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