2007 Mazda CX-7 Crossover Production Begins
The Nissan Murano can be said to be the very first crossover – combining the practicality of the SUV with the sportiness of a coupe. This is Mazda’s offensive at the new North American automobile market’s thirst for crossover SUVs, the Mazda CX-7.
The Mazda CX-7 began as a concept called the Mazda Crossport Concept back in 2005. The sporty crossover SUV obviously takes it’s styling cues from the Mazda RX8. I can testify whatever made the RX8 look so hot still looks delicious in a SUV form factor.
The 5-seater crossover SUV features a turbocharged 2.3 liter 4-cylinder direct injection engine making 244 horsepower. Three trim levels are available – Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. All trim levels come with the turbocharged engine, 6-speed sportshift transmission, 18 inch alloy wheels, vented disc brakes on all 4 wheels, ABS, Dynamid Stability Control, traction control, and 6 air bags.
Mazda Motor Corporation held a ceremony yesterday to mark the start of the Mazda CX-7’s production at Mazda’s Ujina Plant 2 in Hiroshima. Approximately 700 staff attended this event. Targetted at the North American market and specifically engineered for it, the Mazda CX-7 will arrive in North American Mazda dealerships in Spring 2006. We should be seeing grey imports by Naza soon after.
But one cannot help but wonder if Mazda’s offensive is too late, as even Nissan is cutting down it’s truck and SUV production in the face of a sales slump in the USA. Maybe that’s why the ‘crossover’ formula has been adopted here.
It’s not an SUV – it’s a crossover! 
Related Posts: Mazda Crossport CX-7
February 21, 2006 @ 9:11 am
murano’s younger brother? but murano looks meaner. cx-7 reminds me of rx-7, lol
February 21, 2006 @ 9:50 am
Is it using the same engine as the Mazda 6? From what I’ve heard, the Murano runs on the X-Trail’s engine. Can anyone confirm?
February 21, 2006 @ 10:46 am
the aircond vent looks el-cheapo…. but sigh… who am i to complaint? wait till we get it here in bolehland first!
February 21, 2006 @ 11:00 am
The 2.5 Murano likely runs the 2.5 X-Trail engine. The 3.5 Murano runs the Nissan 350Z’s engine but with different tuning.
February 21, 2006 @ 11:22 am
looks nice…an rx8 mpv i would say..wonder how much it would cost us to have one?
February 21, 2006 @ 11:40 am
Wahlaueh,
what a mean machine… it is equally sexy as RX8… P1, when u can produce one like that… wait….’mang mang tang lah’ (cantonese)…
February 21, 2006 @ 11:56 am
Looks like a stretched up RX-8 lol.
February 21, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
Looks small and practical. More so than the Murano.
I also wonder about the fuel consumption, what with the high price of petrol nowadays. Maybe a diesel option would be wiser?
Anyways, it looks great and I want one.
February 21, 2006 @ 4:40 pm
this CX-7 shared the same platform as Ford & Lincoln new Crossover.
how much it would be??? i will consider one.
February 21, 2006 @ 8:05 pm
It looks great. Got a back view of that car? How much would this cost and will it ever be here?
February 22, 2006 @ 9:10 am
that’s a sleek ‘crossover’ man.. just what murano needs.. a niche competitor
February 22, 2006 @ 4:35 pm
250k if it ever hit our shores…
February 23, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
i really hope tis car would come in soon n hope the price range is about 180k – 200k it gonna blow off murano n harrier…i juz feel the interior abit too simple…
February 28, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
I like Mazda..hope they will bring in M3 and M5 soon..
June 5, 2006 @ 6:13 am
[...] This artist’s impression reminds me of the Mazda CX-7, one of the sleekest crossover SUVs around in my opinion. And we all know the connection between Ford and Mazda. [...]