Mazda CX7 Docking At A Motor Show Near You
With over 46,000 sales of the Mazda CX7 - US & Japan - in the bag, Mazda UK are hoping this weeks 12th annual MotorExpo at London's Docklands will attract equal interest for cash strapped UK buyers.
New car sales figures for May show some manufacturers are suffering badly, with falls as much as 23%, although Mazda only showed a modest dip due to timely launches of several limited edition's of its MX5, 3 and 6 derivatives. However, it's understandable considering recent interest rate hikes and Gordon Brown's timely kick in the nuts for the 4X4 market.
So it's with great interest that Mazda should bring the CX7 Sports Crossover vehicle into its showroom's in time for the September rush, or stroll as may be the case.
Delivering 260PS from its 2.3 DISI Turbo engine, shared from the 3 hatch & 6 MPS saloon, and a gut wrenching 380Nm's of Torque, the Mazda CX7 isn't your everyday 4 wheel drive SUV. In fact early buyers from Mazda's pre-order website (www.cx-7order.co.uk) are going to get a treat that their US and Japanese cousins didn't.
In the quiet town of Oberusel, near Frankfurt, Mazda boffins have been tweaking the engine, suspension, ABS, ESP, braking, steering and just about everything else you care to think of to cater for the demanding UK & European driver. It's no secret that the American's love big engined cruisers that handle like trucks when cornering, a trait that the British driver just wouldn't tolerate.
The testing has been done on the German Autobahn's, the famous Nurburgring, twisty mountain passes, as well as extensive winter testing in Northern Europe. The result should be a Mazda CX7 that doesn't suffer the compromise of body roll and numb steering found in many SUV's meaning you can push on with confidence, just like a sports car.
Power flows through a sporting close-ratio 6 speed manual gearbox, delivered to the road through Mazda's advanced active torque 4-wheel-drive system, offering controlled take off under acceleration, enhanced stability on the road and improved traction in adverse conditions.
Also making its UK debut at the free-to-enter show is the all-new Mazda 2, which is 100 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, making it one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in its class. Production has recently been started at its Ujina Plant No.1 (U1) near Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima.
The all-new Mazda 2 European model was greeted with great acclaim at its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007 and again at its Asian debut during the Shanghai Motor Show in April. No prices have been announced for the UK, but should be inline with the out going model.
June 14th, 2007