Mazda considering CX-5, a Hakaze-inspired crossover
by John Neff on Mar 23rd 2007 at 4:29PM 
Mazda made it clear at the beginning of this auto show season that each of the three concepts it debuted would be more production ready than the last. First there was the Nagare concept that debuted at the LA Auto Show, and then came the Ryuga concept that was shown at the Detroit Auto Show. The final concept, called the Hakaze, debuted this month in Geneva, and according to a report from Auto Express is destined to inspire the design of a production CUV called the CX-5. The naming convention used here is apt, as the new ute will combine the utility of the CX-7 with the fun-to-drive nature of the MX-5. What's more, it appears the CX-5 will be the second vehicle in Mazda's lineup after the RX-8 to sport a pair of rear-hinged "suicide" doors that provide easier access to vehicle's second row of seats.
The rendering shown on Auto Express reveals the CX-5 will share a basic shape with the Hakaze concept, but many cues will be toned down on the production version. Considering that Mazda used an interesting ripple effect on the exterior sheetmetal of all three concepts, we were surpised to see the CX-5's sheetmetal is as smooth as a baby's butt. Regardless, the CX-5 could reach showrooms as early as 2010.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kowell 8:17PM (3/23/2007)
What a surprise.... didn't Ford just announced they're working on a miniature Cx-7 ????
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NoNameDenton 4:51PM (3/23/2007)
I hope this is going to replace the Tribute, because the Escape is nice for Ford, but the Tribute does not fit with Mazda's new design language. This is a pretty nice looking vehicle to slot below the CX-7, and it expands Mazda's line up (good for me because I sell LIncolns, Mercurys, and Mazdas). I am interested in seeing what engines they will use in the vehicles.
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3cubedminus3squared 5:08PM (3/23/2007)
Not only that but the new Tribute is ugly. I saw an Escape last week at Vegas and was suprised it looked as good as it did. I could see them putting a 2.0 Turbo in there.
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Aetius 5:26PM (3/23/2007)
Does Mazda REALLY need a 4th SUV/CUV?
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Mazdas-got--SUVitis 6:47PM (3/23/2007)
"The naming convention used here is apt, as the new ute will combine the utility of the CX-7 with the fun-to-drive nature of the MX-5."
John, either you're halucinating or you've never driven an MX-5 because comparing an SUV and a 2600lb sports car in the handling dept is as brain-dead a comment as I've ever seen.
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Nr9 5:38PM (3/23/2007)
why doesnt mazda focus on excellent handling FWD sedans instead of doing crapping tall CUVs
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Duck 6:05PM (3/23/2007)
Seriously, enough with the CUVs! How about bringing back the RX-7?? I want Mazda to build a REAL sports car again.
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Bryan 7:47PM (3/23/2007)
Mazda has focused on fwd drive cars. Ever heard of Mazda 3 and 6? Having crossovers for every budget is not a bad thing. We just read the auto news everyday and it gets us dizzy by how many new ones come out all the time. The average consumer does not even know whats going on until they are shopping for an auto online. I hope they dump the Tribute it is ugly now.
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NoNameDenton 7:56PM (3/23/2007)
CUVs are fwd with available awd and the CX9 is based on the wonderful Mazda 6 and the CX7 is based on components from the Mazda 3/5 and the new CUVs are great handling vehicles, they are not truck like and fit in with the Mazda image. Not to mention Mazda is suposed to fight other Japanese comapnies, which by the way also have CUVs and Honda even has that ugly tuck van Ridgeline and Toyota has fullzized picks ups, so amazingly, Mazda having crossovers would make sense.
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leo 10:31PM (4/01/2007)
why don't they just sap a Nissan badge on it, casue this is as close a copy-cat to the Nissan Murano as it gets.
even the Chinese have not copied this bluntly
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mk 8:56PM (3/23/2007)
KABURA, DAMNIT!!!!!!!
IF ANY mazda show car deserves production, it is the KABURA!!!
Rear-drive, three real seats (very ingenious, forward set passenger, with tandem rear seat, driver's seat behind front passenger, and a small jump-seat behind it...),
small, and light weight.
quit it with the farking crossover pieces of utter nonsense. IT IS A CAR WITH A TALL BODY, MORONS [directed toward auto industry...]
Build cars, or build trucks. a couple of "crossovers" is understandable... but why so damn many???
If you want a small vehicle, BUY A DAMN CAR! A Crossover just means that it has large frontal area for more drag, a higher center of gravity for more body roll, and more weight to sap what is left of the fuel economy and performance.
Why not just put an inline engine, and a rear hatch/folding seats in the RX8 chassis, and keep it low to the ground? A "CX5" isn't exactly angling to beat out the Jeep Wrangler off-road...
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adub 9:33PM (3/23/2007)
I'm a little confused, is this a rendering done by AutoWeek, or an actually car done by Mazda? It seems pretty cool, and its not just a smaller CX-7, like the 9 is a bigger one. Kind of pointless though, the CX-7 isn't that big to begin with, do they really need a smaller one?
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NoNameDenton 11:40PM (3/23/2007)
The CX-9 is not a larger CX-7, they use different platforms and drivetrains, there are similarities, but that is because Mazda is using a cohesive design language on their products. Might as well compare the Mazda 3 to the Mazda 6, just does not work. The CX-7 is related to the Mazda 3 and 5, while the CX-9 is related the the Mazda 6. And the reason they did not do the Kabura is because Mazda wants to be known for more then just their sports cars, which is understandable. The reason for crossovers is because people are not willing to give up their SUVs without a VIABLE alternative, such as a car based crossover, and a car and a crossover, while sharing underpinings, have different responsibilities.
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zigzagz94 11:57AM (3/24/2007)
Right because being known for only your sportscars has hurt other auto makers like Porsche and Ferrari. Speaking of Porsche, they had an extremely popular and capable roadster that they decided to turn into an even better coupe that now rivals their flagship sports car. Mazda could learn something from Porsche. With over 800,000 sold, the Miata is the best selling sports car ever yet Mazda still refuses to make a true coupe/fastback/hatch version. The PRT is nice but it is still an impracticle convertible. The miata-based Kabura coupe would be an infinately more practicle year-around version of the MX-5. I think the first company to come out with an affordable, lightweight, RWD coupe will hit upon an untapped gold mine. Look at how well the mustang sold---the RWD coupe market is there... now just imagine a lighter, more affordable, better handling mazda version with the 2.3l DISI Turbo 4 cyl (or rotary). Mazda wouldn't be able to build enough of them to meet the demand.
But instead the accountants are going to force Mazda to build a 4th SUV/CUV- what kind of world do we live in?
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NoNameDenton 5:37PM (3/24/2007)
#14 you can not compare Porsche and Ferrari to Mazda, that is a really bad comparison. Mazda builds vehicles that suit a family oriented and active lifestyle. Porsche and Ferrari build sports cars for people with the the kind of money to afford them. Mazda builds vehicles to be FAMILY PEOPLE MOVERS not sports cars for people with more money then they know what to do with or men going through a mid-life crisis. Mazda is smart by building vehicles to suit all kind of family needs and that is why they are so profitable.
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charlie 7:01PM (3/24/2007)
Mazda is not doing 3 cars this season- they are doing four. As John points out- each one has been closer to production than the last. The next one according to Mazda's info from the debut of the Nagare :
"Nagare is the first of a series of design concepts – some closer to actual production vehicles than others – that Mazda will showcase this global autoshow season, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo."
is to be shown at tokyo. This one will be more prototype than Concept.
This CX-5 rendering is not Mazda's but an artists conception of what the Hakaze based CX-5 would be like- about 5 years from now. You need to remember the size. Think of it as a replacement (down the road a ways) for the currently Mazda2 based Verisa.
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zigzagz94 7:16AM (3/25/2007)
"Mazda builds vehicles that suit a family oriented and active lifestyle. Mazda builds vehicles to be FAMILY PEOPLE MOVERS not sports cars..."
NoNameDenton:
Is that why Mazda says every vehicle they build has the "soul of a sports car"?
Or why they proudly advertise that on any given weekend there are more Mazdas being raced than any other manufacturer?
Mazda was on the brink of destruction and the only thing that saved the company was the introduction of the MX-5 miata...a highly successful sports car that has allowed the company to survive. What nearly killed the company was when they tried to be like Honda and Toyota offering a huge range of "family people movers". Mazda is a small niche company that doesn't need to emulate those larger Japanese companies. They don't have to sell the most cars, but just make a profit on the small volume they do sell. Another SUV/CUV isn't needed in the line-up and is actually redundant. The Kabura type vehicle would fill a niche that is currently vacant and would slot in right between the Miata and the RX-8. This will allow the RX-8 replacement to continue to battle the more expensive 350Z while offering an affordable entry level RWD sports car.
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ebm14 2:13PM (3/25/2007)
I think this will kill off the Tribute and Mazda5
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NoNameDenton 5:47PM (3/25/2007)
Zigzag, I sell Mazdas for my job, I have a better idea what they want then you do, they do not car if it has the soul of a sports car, they want a reliable vehicle that gets good milage.
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chris-cybercoders 4:14PM (3/26/2007)
To CUV or not to CUV....
... I want an RX-7 AND an update to the RX-8. And how about a Mazda9 (nee 929)? That last 929 was credible, handsome sedan and worthy of a follow-up.
Speaking as a Mazda Nut (1991 Protege, 1999 Protege, 2002 Protege5, 2004 Mazda3 in the past & 2005 Mazda RX-8 is my current) - I'd really like to see them focus on CARS.... as opposed to CUVs.
I understand they need to compete, but there is only so much "zoom-zoom" you can cram into a tall, heavy vehicle.
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