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24 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 3, 2006 `Metropolitan Hawk' takes flight By Bradley Horn Carguide Magazine During development of Mazda's new CX-7, program manager Shunsuke Kawasaki and the other Mazda engineers referred to the vehicle by its secret codename -- Metropolitan Hawk. Besides being just a really cool alias, Metropolitan Hawk reminded the engineering troops of the elements they wanted to instill into the new crossover. "Metropolitan" is all about man-made technical wonderment, while "Hawk" conjures up the wild and powerful natural world. The built-in-Japan CX-7 is the first of three new products from Mazda designed specifically for North America. It's configured to span across various compact SUV segments. For example, the base GS model will compete with vehicles like the Honda CR-V, while the more luxurious GT model will compete with the likes of the Nissan Murano. With all the bells and whistles (including all-wheel-drive and navigation), the CX-7 can top $40,000. A unibody design, the CX-7 is an eclectic mix of components. For the most part it's based on the Mazda3 and Mazda5's C1 architecture, with added parts from Japan's new MPV minivan -- and even a few bits from the to-bebuilt-in-Canada Ford Edge. The highlight is the turbo-touting powertrain, sourced from the high-strung MazdaSpeed6, but more on that later. From a styling standpoint, Kawasaki says the CX-7 answers, "how the RX-8 would look if it were transformed into an SUV." Trademark RX-8 cues include flared fenders, swept headlights, dual exhausts and clear tail lamps. They are complimented by a new, rising beltline that will become a recurring theme in future Mazdas. According to Kawasaki, "Some engineers said the design was impossible, but it was key to the sporty image, so we worked hard to get it done." Indeed, much midnight oil was burned developing the CX-7. Management asked Kawasaki's team to develop the vehicle in 20 months, rather than the company's standard 32, probably to beat the rush of crossovers coming in the next few years. The team managed a nice middle ground of 26 months, thanks to copious computer development in NVH, crash safety and handling dynamics. The DOHC, 16-valve engine uses an air-to-air intercooler and direct injection for much cooler temperatures in A unibody design, the CX-7 is an eclectic mix of components. the combustion chamber, allowing Mazda to run a higher compression ratio, which it says boosts low-end and midrange torque by about 10 per cent over conventional turbocharged engines. Because its coupled to an automatic, instead of the MazdaSpeed6's 6-speed gearbox, the engine uses a new turbo, better suited for low-end power. What all this means on the street is an SUV that ably follows Mazda's reputation for uncommon handling and performance in common vehicles. 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