It comes preloaded with...
It comes preloaded with UK and Ireland mapping, and your route will be easy to follow on the 3.5-inch bird’s eye view screen. There’s a clever SmartDetour feature, which enables owners to take an alternative route around jams, while the database is claimed to offer two million points of interest.
The sleek crossover-style...
The sleek crossover-style SUV is clearly inspired by the Japanese company"s coup탩, and the striking front end features RX-8-style headlights. There is also the trademark five-point Mazda grille and logo. Pro-nounced wheelarches give the tall-riding machine a chunky stance, too.
However, unlike with the radical RX-8, power will be provided by a conventional engine - a 244bhp 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission - rather than a hi-tech rotary unit. Jim O"Sullivan, president of the firm"s US operation, said: "This vehicle represents everything a Mazda SUV should be: powerful, stylish, crafted and fun to drive."
Buyers wanting to make use of the model"s increased ground clearance will even have the option of ordering an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive set-up, although a cheaper front-wheel-drive alternative will also be offered.
Expected to make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the brand new CX-7 should go on sale in the UK in mid-2007, complete with a price tag of around í‚á£25,000. Only the 2.3-litre engine will be available at launch, but the Mazda will need a diesel motor in order to challenge top-selling class-leaders. An oil-burner is thought to be under development, and is expected to be added to the line-up later on.