The striking Mazda MX-Crossport concept, first seen at January’s Detroit Motor Show, will go into production as the CX-7 crossover SUV.
The striking Mazda MX-Crossport concept, first seen at January’s Detroit Motor Show, will go into production as the CX-7 crossover SUV.
In line with Mazda’s new naming strategy, the crossover SUV will carry the CX designation and will be manufactured at the company’s Hiroshima plant in Japan.
The concept was originally designed at the design studio based at Hiroshima, and at the time, Mazda referred to the vehicle as its “new style crossover”. Said to combine the practicality of an SUV with the agility of a sportscar, the production model will reportedly look similar to the very handsome concept vehicle.
Chief designer Iwao Koizumi, who was also responsible for the Mazda6 design, described the concept as “the ultimate style and shape of something that moves”, and with its aggressive-looking, low-slung body, the concept certainly looked the part.
Just over 4,6 metres long, the compact concept had a relatively long wheelbase, which allowed for a roomy interior (aided by a glass roof) with modular functionality. The design also highlighted several design features seen on the RX-8 sportscar.
For those fond of their toys, the concept had a flip-down screen on the inside to monitor the entertainment systems, display images of the instrument panel and even provide views of the road via a camera mounted to the front of the front. It is unlikely that all of these features will be carried over to the production model, though.