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24 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 20, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com EVERYTHING Auto your guide to everything auto in Oakville 29 1A SP E ER S RD ., O AK VI COME EXPERIENCE TRUE CLEAN QUALITY LL E, 90 5. 33 15% 9. 37 77 OFF Mazda CX-7 - a superhero in the SUV crossover segment By Bradley Horn SPECIAL During development of Mazda's new CX7, 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. To me, it sounds like the name of a caped superhero you'd find in the pages of a Marvel comic. That's not meant as a jab at Mazda, rather a tip of the hat (er, cowl) for developing a vehicle that's not your typical, mildmannered SUV. 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 $31,995 GS model will compete with vehicles like the Honda CR-V, while the more luxurious $35,195 GT model will compete with the likes of the Nissan Murano. With all the bells and whistles (including allwheel-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-be-built-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, EVERYTHIN 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 CX-7 rides on a McPherson strut front suspension, modified from the previously mentioned MPV. In the rear, there's a multi-link setup derived from the Mazda5. Both ends use anti-roll bars to keep things nice and level. The wheels on all models are 18-inch alloys wrapped in 235/60R18 allseason tires. Stopping power comes from standard disc brakes with ABS, EBD, brake assist, dynamic stability control and traction control. In a departure from Mazda's usual formula of multiple engines and transmissions, the CX-7 will offer just one combination, albeit an impressive one -- a modified version of the MazdaSpeed6's turbocharged 2.3 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Injection) 4cylinder mill, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox with manual control. The DOHC, 16-valve engine uses an air-to-air intercooler and direct injection for much cooler temperatures in 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. The result is 244 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm, with at least 90 per cent of that Continued on Page 26 Oak-land Ford Lincoln y Offer expires Oct. 2nd. p $500 Bounty N YOU TRADE ANY GM,TOY O ISSAN OR H e, 570 TRAFALGAR ROAD, OAKVILLE · AT THE QEW · WWW.OAKLANDFORDLINCOLN.CA 1-866-398-4270