click on image to enlarge
Loose lips sink ships, and we discovered that Mazda's got a hole in its boat big enough to drive the next generation Tribute through without being caught. Mazda shouldn't feel bad about these leaked photos and computer renderings of the 2008 Tribute and its interior (follow the jump for those), especially considering the Mercury Mariner has already been unveiled and Ford's done a terrible job so far of keeping the next Escape under wraps. So what do we have here? Pretty much what you'd expect, a virtually identical version of the Escape save for the grille, headlights, taillights, front and rear bumpers and side skirts. Unfortunately it's your basic badge engineering job on a vehicle that doesn't even need to exist in Mazda's lineup. This is the brand that's supposed to be sporty (Zoom Zoom, anyone?), so why does it need a boxy, unathletic SUV that looks like the least soulful of the three versions that will be sold to the public? It's place in the world is even more suspect when you consider that the very well-received CX-7 is a swoopy, athletic CUV with the sould of a sport compact. Common sense tells us that this next-gen Tribute probably cost next to nothing for Mazda to develop since Ford was picking up the tab on the Escape and Mariner. In our eyes, however, there are other costs involved with offering a discordant model in your lineup than the kind emblazoned with dead presidents.
Follow the jump for a rear 3/4 shot of the 2008 Tribute, along with computer renderings of the interior.
Thanks to anonymous for the tip!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Talis @ Nov 6th 2006 3:49PM
Once again, there is little (if any) difference between any of these suv's. Ford should really start trying differenct designs for each of its brands.
Kowell @ Nov 6th 2006 3:51PM
Another one jumping out of the COMPACT SUV segment
A Gupta @ Nov 6th 2006 3:53PM
I wonder if this was the hole that caused that ship (the Cougar Ace) carrying a bunch of Mazdas to sink...
sp @ Nov 6th 2006 3:57PM
is this going to be an fleet car? Doesnt make any sense to me...
carmaniac @ Nov 6th 2006 4:01PM
Anyone notice the last shot of the dashboard is the hybrid!? That's probably why Mazda decided to keep the Tribute.
Max @ Nov 6th 2006 4:01PM
On the current generation, the Tribute definetly looks better than the Escape. This time around, it looks like Ford did the better job in restyling the SUV.
Bland doesn't even begin to describe the exterior.
number40one @ Nov 6th 2006 4:04PM
Looks just like the current (ugly) Escape.
Tre' @ Nov 6th 2006 4:08PM
Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the 2008 Tribute suppose to be sold in Thailand only?
TargetFaux @ Nov 6th 2006 4:08PM
well this looks like something straight out of dodge or chryslers lineup.. front end has headlights similer to that of the new durango and the rear end looks very much like the aspen.. to bad. i like the newer mazdas.. not this.
fordman @ Nov 6th 2006 4:08PM
why the hell are those cupholders so high up???
johnny @ Nov 6th 2006 4:11PM
interior seems to have cheap plastics although i cant be sure.
Those middle cupholders are a joke. If they are for the front occupants, then they are too high and to far back. If they are for the back occupants, then too much of a reach. Only person that it works for is the rear middle seat. And two cups for that person?
Dave T @ Nov 6th 2006 4:14PM
I'd expect it to be only a hybrid model.
davegunderson @ Nov 6th 2006 4:16PM
This is Ford not Mazda making decisions here. Mazda is well designed and well made.
I can totally see Ford's fingerprints all over this car.
Robert Brodrecht @ Nov 6th 2006 4:19PM
I think this and the Mazda truck are going to be the two non-Mazda looking vehicles in their lineup. I understand the truck. I don't really know why Mazda bothers with the Tribute when the CX-9 is on the way. What role does this fill for Mazda, other than acting as a wart?
AKI @ Nov 6th 2006 4:23PM
Mazda has CX7 and CX9.
This is pointless and very inferior to those two.
Axe the tribute and instead let ford have the Escape.
Ryan @ Nov 6th 2006 4:24PM
Those cupholders do look strange. Not even the F-150 has a center console that big or that high.
John Neff @ Nov 6th 2006 4:30PM
Good catch on noticing the gauges are from the hybrid model. We've gotten confirmed reports of the hybrid model running around Detroit, and while it would be ballsy if that were the only Tribute model offered (re #12), I doubt that's Mazda's intention. It would take them little effort to offer a range of powertrains from the Escape/Mariner and I expect that's what they'll do.
CJ @ Nov 6th 2006 4:30PM
It is kind of weird they are keeping in the line. But it is a nice option, bigger than the 5 and smaller than the CX-7 (which is actually pretty long). They did a pook job on the nose that's for sure. The current tibute was actually a sportier ride than the Escape, so it did make sense in the Mazda lineup. Now it doesn't have any of the agressive looks... maybe this is the model for Mexico....
DC_1 @ Nov 6th 2006 4:36PM
Well it looks better than the Mercury and Ford version. The cup holder looks like they are for the rear passengers.
champcarfan @ Nov 6th 2006 4:36PM
I use to sell mazda's and these were woefully cheap on the inside. But they were fantastic in the snow. It looks like they upgraded the interior. Should be a nice unit.