. First North America-Bound Mazda CX-7 Crossover
SUV Rolls Off The Line In Japan
HIROSHIMA,
Japan - Mazda Motor Corporation today held a ceremony to
mark the start of production of its all-new Mazda CX-7 crossover
SUV. Designed and engineered specifically for the North
American market, all CX-7s will be built at the Ujina Plant
No. 2 (U2) located near Mazda's global headquarters in Hiroshima.
Mazda's President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, Mazda North American
Operations (MNAO) President and CEO, Jim O'Sullivan, and
approximately 700 Mazda staff attended this event.
The five-seat CX-7
crossover SUV is produced on Mazda-derived platform architecture
and will begin at $23,750 for the front-wheel-drive Sport model.
Matching its sporty appearance, the Mazda CX-7's performance is
powerful and dynamic. All CX-7s will be powered by a turbocharged
and intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline
engine that produces 244-horsepower.
Photos: Mazda
"The CX-7 wasn't even
a sketch on a cocktail napkin a little over two years ago," said
O'Sullivan at the ceremony. "The fact that I'm standing here today
watching the first CX-7 roll off the line marks a milestone in Mazda's
ability to design and engineer vehicles for specific markets such
as North America."
CX-7 is offered in
three trim levels - Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. All models
come with six-speed sport-shift automatic transmission, 18-inch
alloy wheels, four-wheel vented disc brakes, air conditioning, power
windows, door locks and mirrors , cruise control, and six air bags.
Also standard on all CX-7s is an A nti-lock Brake System (ABS),
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and a Traction Control System (TCS).
The all-new 2007 Mazda
CX-7 will be arriving in North American dealerships in spring 2006.
