2005 Mazda MX-Crossport Concept
MX-Crossport Said to Offer Sports Car Driving Dynamics and SUV Utility
Mazda showed it is ready to enter the crossover utility vehicle marketplace with the unique MX-Crossport concept, which made its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show last January.
The concept, a demonstration of practically packaged zoom zoom, will help Mazda pave the way in expanding its current vehicle range with a new generation of sporty products designed to inject a little life into mainstream automotive genres.
While most crossover sport utility vehicles attempt to combine the practicality of a minivan with the ride height and ground clearance of an SUV, the MX-Crossport aims to blend two completely different types of vehicles together, the SUV and the sports car.
In doing this the Mazda concept emulates other sporty crossovers, such as Nissans Murano and Infinitis FX-Series, which provide car-like road manners and sporty styling with plenty of passenger and cargo space inside.
The MX-Crossport was created at Mazdas main design studio in Hiroshima, Japan by Iwao Koisumi, whose previous work includes the Mazda6 and the RX-01 concept, the latter being the original prototype of the new RX-8. Where many brands have struggled to define an identity for their sport utility vehicles, the chief designer turned to a popular product for inspiration - the companys flagship sports car, that same RX-8.
Although its design concept sounds odd, the Crossports rakish body features many of the unique styling accents which helped to give the RX-8 its own unique look. These include its low and wide honeycomb mesh front grille, independent front fenders with headlamps, a prominent hood bulge and heavily defined bumpers with high peaks.
The MX-Crossports visual link to the RX-8 is continued through a set of five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in one-of-a-kind 275/45-20 tires which fill in the substantial fenders.
While a great deal of the Crossports design can be attributed to the RX-8, the concept features new dynamic styling, particularly at the rear of the car. The sloping roofline is complemented by a lower window line that kicks upward as it approaches the rear fenders.
At the same time, the concepts tail end tapers inwards, creating a narrowing effect - a trait never before seen on a Mazda. The addition of details such as turn signals integrated into the sideview mirrors, tailpipes inset to the rear bumper and a retractable trailer hitch help provide additional utility while preserving the Crossports athletic image.
At 182.28 inches long, 75.98 inches wide and 64.17 inches tall, the MX-Crossport can be considered a compact sport ute, but is still large enough to fit the needs of a small family.
Although the concept will no doubt feature some sort of all-wheel drive system, the Crossport was designed as a road-biased vehicle with low ground clearance, making it possible to give the car a squat and sturdy stance. The sporty appearance of the body is furthered by a long 110.0 inch wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, and the designs large metal-to-glass ratio.
The concepts body is finished in K2 Red Metallic, a color that reflects the famous red earth of Utahs Monument Valley.
Like the exterior, the interior of the MX-Crossport was also developed around the same concept as the RX-8, so it is not surprising that many key details are shared. The new concept is also a strict four-seater with two pairs of bucket seats, trimmed in semi-aniline leather and black mesh.
Despite its small exterior dimensions, Mazda worked around the problem of a small interior by utilizing a floating seat system to free up under-seat space for greater leg and knee room. Each seat is attached via a single post to a center mounting point, aptly named the monorail system, which makes them appear to float.
From the drivers seat, its easy to see that the MX-Crossport was designed like a sports car, with driver-focused pod-style instrumentation and an intuitive three-spoke steering wheel. The center console and information systems of the Crossport are organized via a series of three display screens.
The main circular-shaped touch screen monitor located to the right of the steering wheel holds the controls for climate and audio, while the second and third monitors located at the base of the windshield act as the display panel for the navigation system plus also acting as an aid for blind-spot monitoring, parking guidance and emergency information. The dashboard-mounted screens can also double as a DVD entertainment center for the front seat passenger.
The MX-Crossport is the first Mazda to feature a full-length glass roof. Although the panoramic-style ceiling doesnt retract, it boasts electrochromic tint, which allows the driver to adjust the amount of light entering the cockpit, changing from transparent to translucent white at the touch of a button. An overhead console which runs the full length of the roof features storage cubbies and a monitor for the rear-seat entertainment system.
While Mazda has not said that it will be producing the MX-Crossport, it has stated that it intends to expand its line of zoom-zoom products for the North American and global markets, with the Crossport being an important step forward in the process.
Of course, the MX title cannot be ignored; every concept to bear these two letters has in due course become a production vehicle. With the Ford Escape-based Tribute as its only SUV, its highly unlikely that Mazda will pass on the opportunity to release a truly exciting, car-like crossover to the marketplace.