An advanced and sporty image was pursued in designing the interior. The instrument panel consists of a unique 'double-roof' structure, in which a small 'roof' over the meter cluster is positioned just in front of a large 'roof' that extends across the entire instrument panel bringing together the driver and front passenger. To draw drivers inside, there's a three-dial instrument cluster, a console supporting the shifter within close reach, three-spoke steering wheel and firmly contoured front bucket seats, all provided with a high quality feel.

Koizumi emphasizes that detailed attention is given to the entire interior, including the cargo area. For the two-tone trim, the side surface two-tone graphic reaching from the front doors all the way to the cargo space stylishly harmonizes with the kicked-up beltline of the exterior side view.

A high level of craftsmanship completes the interior design. For example, for the leather trim, the steering wheel and shift knob are covered by high quality leather specially contoured for optimum tactile feel. The ventilation dials, the glove box door knob and the door armrests were all tuned to provide a high quality look and feel. Soft-trim graining was engineered for perfect color match, minimal reflectivity and low gloss. Mazda's attention to detail is visible upon first glance into the vehicle.

Using the innovative MX-Crossport concept shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show for inspiration, the chief designer mapped out the CX-7 with ample space for five occupants. The rear seat not only carries three passengers in comfort, it also splits and folds 60:40 to increase cargo capacity and versatility.

To venture far beyond normal utility expectations, CX-7 has a cargo floor that is significantly longer than competitive models at approximately 1758mm with a flat load surface and a lip to prevent luggage from sliding forward. With the rear seats in use, the cargo length is an impressive 1013mm and can accommodate three full-size golf bags. Rear seatback releases are located in the side of the cargo area for easy fold down from the rear. One side of the reversible trunk board is made of plastic, enabling the owner to carry soiled items without staining the carpet.

The CX-7 offers a wide range of seating adjustment to ensure tall and short driver's can get comfortable behind the wheel with the seat sliding through 260mm, the steering offering 45mm of adjustment and the seat lifter providing 55mm of travel.

Thorough research aimed at determining what personal possessions young couples are most likely to carry resulted in glove box, floor console, and door pocket designs that accommodate life's paraphernalia. For example, the lockable center console can swallow a compact laptop computer and space is provided for coins and sunglasses. Front door pockets are handy locations for water bottles. Two cup holders in the center console offer a stable place to carry large containers without interfering with shift lever operation. A pocket attached to the front seatback is ideal for maps and brochures.

CX-7 Luxury buyers will appreciate a Bose® premium sound system package that includes nine speakers, approximately 240 watts of amplification, a six-CD changer and Centerpoint® surround-sound system that offers five-channel digital imaging, to create a true premium audio entertainment.

A Surround Sound Experience from Stereo CDs

Using proprietary Bose Centerpoint® signal processing circuitry, the Bose® sound system in the Mazda CX-7 delivers a surround sound listening experience from the conventional stereo CDs that people already own.

Bose Centerpoint® circuitry analyzes two-channel stereo signals as they play, and translates them into a five-channel surround sound experience. As a result, CX-7 owners can enjoy an engaging, immersive surround sound experience without purchasing specially formatted surround sound discs. And Bose SurroundStage® signal processing helps compensate for off-center vehicle seating, providing balanced surround sound to driver and passengers.

Mazda and Bose: A Clean Sheet Approach

Through extensive research, Bose engineers have learned that systems which most accurately reproduce the sound of a live performance are preferred by listeners over time. As a result, Bose has experts in physical acoustics, psychoacoustics and electronics who work with musical artists to continually learn how to come closer to reproducing the live performance.

Among the innovations to come from this work is a unique approach to automotive sound system design. It is based on the philosophy that superior sound quality is not something that can be added on to a vehicle--it must be designed in from the start. Bose takes this Clean Sheet Approach to system design, tailoring every sound system to a particular vehicle.

Working closely with Mazda while the CX-7 was still in its early design stages, Bose engineers applied this signature approach. Taking over a thousand measurements and thoroughly analyzing the cabin environment, they designed the sound system to work in harmony with the unique acoustics of the CX-7 interior.

Other Bose Innovations in the Mazda CX-7

The Mazda CX-7 incorporates several neodymium iron boron magnets in place of the more conventional ferrite magnets found in most speakers. These magnets have approximately ten times the magnetic energy density of conventional ferrite magnets. As a result, the neodymium iron boron magnets allow for smaller, lighter speakers that can deliver the performance comparable to that of larger, heavier speakers.

In the Mazda CX-7, neodymium magnets are a key element in the design of Bose® patented 9-inch Nd® woofers mounted in the front doors of the vehicle. While most conventional woofers would use a large ferrite magnet protruding from the back, these innovative speakers feature a neodymium magnet mounted inside the front of the speaker cone for a slimmer profile. As a result, the Nd woofer is thin enough to fit in the narrow confines of a vehicle door, where an ordinary woofer might not fit.

The Bose® surround sound system in the Mazda CX-7 also offers patented AudioPilot® noise compensation circuitry. AudioPilot® automatically helps reduce the effects of unwanted noise from different road surfaces, changing driving speeds, or even an open sunroof. Available only from Bose®, this innovation adjusts many aspects of the audio signal and reacts to changes in noises as they happen, continually adjusting the audio system's acoustic output.

The Bose Centerpoint® surround sound system in the Mazda CX-7 offers nine high-performance speakers, each strategically placed and tuned to help create a spacious, multi-dimensional listening experience. The system is powered by a Bose® digital amplifier with seven channels of custom equalization.