Mazda announces new CX-7 crossover SUV

Mazda this morning announced its all-new CX-7, a crossover sports-utility-vehicle (SUV) that will be on display at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show in January (as anticipated). Arriving in the North American market in the spring of 2006, the five-seat CX-7 embodies "blend of sports car verve and SUV practicality," according to the company. Prominent front fenders, A-pillars rooted at the body's leading edge, and Mazd's signature five-pointed grille clearly register this new model as a Mazda. Large eighteen-inch aluminum wheels and a sporty interior reenforce Mazda's "Zoom-Zoom" intentions. The Mazda CX-7 is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine that produces 244 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. (Recently we brought you spy photos of a new Mazda crossover, though it was unclear if it was a CX-7 or CX-9). (Click right image for an enlarged view).