Mazda's Futuristic SUV Breaks Cover

By Motoring Channel Staff - 15/12/2004

Scheduled to be shown in public for the first time at the 2005 North America International Auto Show in early January in Detroit, the MX-Crossport design concept represents a new direction Mazda is considering as it works to expand its line-up of successful new-generation products.

The new design looks to be aimed at cars like the BMW X3 et al, especially with its large wheels and elevated body. Yet the Mazda brand hasn't traditionally been interested in the executive dollar. A change of approach, perhaps?

The MX-Crossport was designed at Mazda's main design studio in Hiroshima; it is a crossover-type vehicle — a very Mazda crossover that combines the strong, sports car styling motif of the company's flagship RX-8 with the more practical packaging of sport-utility vehicle.

It is also a new frontier for Mazda, leading the company into a new segment (the crossover vehicle), expanding the definition of Zoom-Zoom from both a design and packaging standpoint.

"Mazda has momentum right now and one of our immediate challenge is to harness this momentum and create new products that will help us strengthen our results in the major markets around the world," stated Moray Callum, design director of Mazda Motor Corporation.

"We challenged our design team to further evolve and expand our existing design DNA. The result of this challenge is the MX-Crossport, which was designed first-and-foremost with the North American market and style of driving in mind.

"We are always working to expand our showroom in North America and look for opportunities in other key markets as well," said Callum.

Design is an important element of all Mazda products, and as a result of this, the MX-Crossport is first-and-foremost a design concept.

Chief Designer Koizumi, whose previous works include the successful Mazda6, calls this concept an "advanced frontier" for Mazda, meaning the concept merges the speedy and athletic image of Mazda's best sports car with the toughness and practicality of an SUV.

"Our goal was to design a crossover that transcends the existing categories of SUV and crossovers and steps into the realm of sports car. We want to let people experience the world of sports cars every time they get behind the wheel," Koizumi added.

Koizumi expresses his confidence in the design, saying, "Design language in a product like this is very important. No matter what the powertrain is, the design must have the same powerful Zoom-Zoom language. The cockpit has also been designed to perfectly match the powerfulness of the exterior design."

The concept's athletic image is reflected in its overall size. At 4630mm in length, the MX-Crossport is compact, agile and relatively small compared to other key products in the emerging crossover segment.

At the same time, to provide the vehicle with an ideal, confident stance, the design is highlighted by a low and wide exterior measuring 1930mm in width, with short front and rear overhangs and a relatively long wheelbase of 2795mm.

The tires are relatively large as well, fitted to 20-inch alloy rims and measuring 275/45 R20. The emphasis of a long wheelbase and large tires help accentuate the concept's sporty, stable appearance, though if the car ever enters production, don't expect to get 20-inch wheels off the showroom floor.

At an overall height of 1630mm, the MX-Crossport is comparatively low in structure to the traditional small SUV-type vehicles such as Mazda's own Tribute, while maintaining an aggressive off-highway look.

Viewed from the front, key features of the design include the distinct, flowing lines that run down from the A-pillars at a soft angle along the bonnet and down into the grille area; these strong lines neatly contrast with the RX-8 inspired wheel arches.

The MX-Crossport also demonstrates how side windows are becoming an important dynamic pattern for Mazda design. In this case, the flowing roofline is complimented by a stronger beltline that boldly kicks upward as it reaches the rear of the car.

When viewed directly from the rear, the key design highlights are the compact, narrowing cabin, the rich, strong shoulders communicated by the rear wheel arches and the round motif of the tail lamps. An integrated exhaust system is also reminiscent of other Mazda models.

The interior of the MX-Crossport design concept was developed to visually present an athletic theme that is similar to the exterior, with special attention placed on creating an atmosphere of quality and craftsmanship. And like the flagship Mazda RX-8, the MX-Crossport concept features four buckets seats - it is more sports car than family car. The interior presents an overall environment of comfortable driving pleasure, with an emphasis on driving.

From the driver's seat, the view is pure Mazda RX-8, with a three-dial instrument cluster and a thick three-spoke steering wheel. The ceiling of the MX-Crossport is made up almost entirely of glass, which adds to the open, airy feeling of the interior.

This large variable-mist glass roof can be operated to change from clear to translucent white and back again instantly, like the new Ferrari Superamerica. The ceiling of the cabin also features a neatly integrated and highly flexible overhead console running the length of the vehicle and is able to accommodate various attachments such as rear entertainment display and a range of additional storage compartments.

The MX-Crossport features an advanced, multi-use information display and entertainment system that is designed to be intuitive and easy to use.

The 'Three Panel Display' system brings together three important features.

There is a hemispherical monitor which can be used as a touch panel (called the “handling panel”) mounted above the center console and just to the right of the steering wheel; a second “status monitor” mounted above the handling panel; and a third “entertainment monitor” to the right, mounted immediately ahead of the front passenger. The information portion of the Three Panel Display (the handling panel and status monitor) features numerous driving support functions too.

This includes vehicle diagnosis upon engine start-up, safety instructions, monitoring of blind spots, parking guidance, satellite navigation system and emergency information.

Additionally, the system features basic audio and climate controls functions and can be used to send and receive e-mail and reach the Internet, in a nod towards BMW's all-encompassing iDrive. The handling panel and status monitor are carefully positioned within the instrument panel to be easy to use for the driver.

The third element of the Three Panel Display, the entertainment monitor, is designed to help share the driving excitement with the front passenger by providing a “virtual view” from the driver's seat and beyond. Using a unique size of 365mm x 80mm (15-inch) liquid-crystal display screen and five cameras, the entertainment monitor offers four unique views of the road.

Specifically, there are the Driver's Eye View, Front Wheel View, Super Low Angle and the Rear Wheel View. Interesting idea or stupid gimmick? Tell us your opinion in our Letters to the Editor section.

The gearshift lever is a bit different as well, featuring two distinct positions for the two drive modes—automatic and manual.

In automatic mode, the gearshift is tilted forward to lie nearly flat on the center console and gears (reverse, drive, park, etc) can be chosen with the simple push of a button on the topside of the gearshift lever.

For manual mode, the gearshift can be lifted to stand upright and can then be used as a plus/minus tiptronic lever to manually select gears while driving.

There's also a power-retractable tonneau cover neatly covers the rear storage area, which features ample space for approximately three golf bags behind the rear seats.

While Mazda has not yet officially confirmed a production model based on the MX-Crossport, the company has clearly stated that it intends to expand its line of new-generation products for the North American market and beyond and the MX-Crossport is an important step forward in the process.