Mazda Sportwagon Coming in 2006

[Catman]

YUZO YAMAGUCHI | Automotive News
Posted Date: 5/9/05
TOKYO -- Mazda Motor Corp. will add a sport wagon for the United States in the spring of 2006, as part of the company's efforts to broaden its lineup.

The model was shown at this year's Detroit auto show as the MX-Crossport concept, based on the Mazda6 platform.

In the meantime, Mazda will add the Mazda5, a small five-seat minivan, this summer in the United States.

A remodeled Miata, renamed the MX-5, also will arrive this summer.

The MazdaSpeed6, an all-wheel-drive turbocharged version of the Mazda6, will follow in the fall.

Mazda expects those three models to help raise U.S. sales for the fiscal year that started April 1 to 268,000, a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year.

To reach the goal, Mazda will try to boost its percentage of exclusive dealerships.

On Jan. 1, Mazda had 706 U.S. outlets, of which 230 were exclusive.

For the fiscal year that ended March 31, Mazda posted a North American operating profit of $81.8 million.

That's a turnaround from a $5.5 million operating loss in the previous fiscal year.

Mazda boosted its consolidated, or group, net income by 35.0 percent to a record $426.2 million in the last fiscal year.

Operating profit jumped 18.2 percent to a record $772.4 million. Revenues were off 7.6 percent to $25.10 billion.

[mazda6er]

Godd news as far as I'm concerned. I hope it looks like the pic. Infiniti may lose a few FX buyers looking for a cheaper alternative if it comes out as well as Mazda's recent models.

[Catman]

Looks like a Murano. <_<  

[mazda6er]

Looks like a Murano. <_<

Yeah, it does doesn't it? You're right, that is really a more natural competitor for it. But whenever I think sporty SUV, I think Infiniti FX35, (which is pretty similar to the Murano, I don't think they're on the same platform though) and I guess I was going more by "niche" competition than "appearance" competition.  You're right though.  :)

Edit: maybe I misunderstood your last post. Are you just saying you think it's ugly?

[Fire It Up]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.  

[BMWDave]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

[NomisR]

Is that real?  Looks like a photochop of a Rx8 + Fx + large Mazda Logo.  I rather get make a Rx7 though.

[Fire It Up]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.  

[BMWDave]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

true.

[ifcar]

That article is inaccurate about the Mazda5. It seats six, not five.  

[Catman]

Looks like a Murano. <_<

Yeah, it does doesn't it? You're right, that is really a more natural competitor for it. But whenever I think sporty SUV, I think Infiniti FX35, (which is pretty similar to the Murano, I don't think they're on the same platform though) and I guess I was going more by "niche" competition than "appearance" competition.  You're right though.  :)

Edit: maybe I misunderstood your last post. Are you just saying you think it's ugly?

No it looks pretty nice.  The overall shape and size just remind me of a Murano.

[mazda6er]

That article is inaccurate about the Mazda5. It seats six, not five.

good call iffy. what do you think of the  MX sportcross?

[ifcar]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?  

[ifcar]

That article is inaccurate about the Mazda5. It seats six, not five.

good call iffy. what do you think of the  MX sportcross?

Seems all right. I'm waiting to see how the production version looks and drives before I comment further though.

[BMWDave]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

[GMPenguin]

Is that real?  Looks like a photochop of a Rx8 + Fx + large Mazda Logo.  I rather get make a Rx7 though.

It's not a chop, it was at some Auto Show.

[ifcar]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

Unless its a droning engine (the VQ certainly isn't) I see no problem with skipping the shift points.

[BMWDave]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

Unless its a droning engine (the VQ certainly isn't) I see no problem with skipping the shift points.

shifting is an essential part of sporty driving-you need to hear the engine revving to full rpms and then going down again.  Otherwise its just one long whine.

[ifcar]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

Unless its a droning engine (the VQ certainly isn't) I see no problem with skipping the shift points.

shifting is an essential part of sporty driving-you need to hear the engine revving to full rpms and then going down again.  Otherwise its just one long whine.

A CVT increases acceleration and fuel economy, and feeling a computer shift isn't my idea of driving fun anyway. I'd rather have the CVT if it could manage to do both of those.  

[BMWDave]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

Unless its a droning engine (the VQ certainly isn't) I see no problem with skipping the shift points.

shifting is an essential part of sporty driving-you need to hear the engine revving to full rpms and then going down again.  Otherwise its just one long whine.

A CVT increases acceleration and fuel economy, and feeling a computer shift isn't my idea of driving fun anyway. I'd rather have the CVT if it could manage to do both of those.

Thats nice, but most enthusiasts would at least like to hear the engine shift.

[Laconian]

The wheels look a tad overwhelming for that body shape. There is hardly any hood or tail to that thing!

[MX793]

I kind of like the Crossport.  I'm not really a sport ute guy, but I do like some of the more muscular car based ones like the Infiniti FX and this.

[ifcar]

The murano does not have a fromt bumper hole that big.

Yea...I think its actually a nice car and would probably make a good alternative to the Nissan Murano.

And much more sporty, because the Murano has the CVT.

What do you have against CVTs?

Theyre not exactly as sporty as a regular tranny because you dont feel the shift points.  The engine is one long monotonous drone.

Unless its a droning engine (the VQ certainly isn't) I see no problem with skipping the shift points.

shifting is an essential part of sporty driving-you need to hear the engine revving to full rpms and then going down again.  Otherwise its just one long whine.

A CVT increases acceleration and fuel economy, and feeling a computer shift isn't my idea of driving fun anyway. I'd rather have the CVT if it could manage to do both of those.

Thats nice, but most enthusiasts would at least like to hear the engine shift.

Then those enthusiasts should have bought a manual.