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July 25, 2007

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Mazda gets the sports crossover SUV CX-7 in Europe on the road

Mazda is about to shake up the European SUV segment with the Mazda CX-7; a crossover vehicle that combines high- performance power, a sporty design, SUV functionality and comfort in a single, fun to drive car.

Add a long list of standard equipment, and the Mazda CX-7 is the ideal vehicle for a sporty and active lifestyle. Developed out of the acclaimed MX-Crossport concept car shown at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show, the CX-7 was launched in spring last year in the USA and last December in Japan. It now comes to Europe and enters the booming SUV segment, which has seen sales increase by 108 percent since 2001 (compact non-premium SUV segment).


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The Mazda CX-7 has a truly sporty character with a large lower air intake and a small upper grille framed in powerful press lines that rise up and over the bonnet for a strong and sophisticated look.

The silhouette is dominated by an aggressively raked windscreen angle , that (at 66°) is sportier than many sports cars. This is combined with a sweeping roofline, kick-up belt line and large, powerful fenders over 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/60 R18 tyres , for an aggressive road stance.

This sporty and athletic exterior design also delivers superior aerodynamic performance that contributes to straight-line, high speed stability and low wind noise . The side shapes of the front bumper, the rear side corner, the A-pillar, the door mirrors and the roof’s rear-end lip have forms that reduce aerodynamic drag and control air swirl along the sides and at the back of the vehicle. Underbody airflow is optimised as well, with a front lip spoiler, front and rear flow deflectors ahead of each tyre, a large undercover for the engine bay, a side sill garnish, and an optimised position for the rear silencer. The result of these numerous measures is an excellent Cd value of only 0.34 .

On the inside , the Mazda CX-7 is a mix of sportiness, SUV roominess, comfort and practicality , carried out with craftsmanship and quality. Large, specially designed seats and a flexible rear seat/boot configuration deliver SUV comfort and practicality. A sporty driving position, ergonomic cockpit and centre console-mounted shift lever for the six- speed manual transmission (Europe only) make driving the CX-7 and exploiting it’s high-performance 2.3 litre DISI* turbo petrol engine, easy and fun. A sporty feel is delivered by various interior design features including a flowing line in the trim extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle that integrates the whole cabin visually, a double-roof instrument panel design, a speedometer scaled to 240 km/h and a standard leather steering wheel and shift knob.

Under the bonnet of the new Mazda CX-7 is the high- performance MZR 2.3-litre direct-injection turbo petrol with intercooler , which is also used by the sporty flagship models Mazda6 MPS and Mazda3 MPS. In this latest guise, it produces maximum power of 191 kW/260 PS at 5,500 rpm and a maximum 380 Nm of torque at just 3,000 rpm, resulting in a 0-100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds , one of the segment’s best, and a top speed of 210 km/h . With its light, stiff body shell, plus Mazda’s Active Torque-Split All-Wheel Drive system for superior traction and a specifically adapted six-speed manual transmission for Europe, the Mazda CX-7 delivers levels of Zoom-Zoom driving fun not usually found in an SUV this comfortable and practical.

* DISI = Direct Injection Spark Ignition

July 16, 2007

Photos: Mazda

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