Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that the MX-Crossport concept car, which debuted earlier this year at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., will move from concept to production vehicle.

The company also confirmed that the vehicle will be named Mazda CX-7.

Featured at a number of global auto shows in the past few months, the MX-Crossport has received high-praise from the public for its Zoom-Zoom exterior styling and driver-oriented interior. The production version, which will be built in Japan, will pick up many of the concept car's design themes when it goes into production in 2006.

It will be launched first in North America and Mazda will continue to study launch feasibility in other global markets, including Australia, where the CX-7, if available, would sit alongside Tribute, expanding Mazda's SUV line-up.

"Mazda President Hisakazu Imaki is committed to bringing new products to market and expanding our line of vehicles," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "The addition of the Mazda CX-7 is great news and a critical step forward for us in North America. To successfully grow our business, we have to be true to our core values and for any vehicle to wear the Winged-M logo on the grille, it must have the soul of a sports car. I am convinced this vehicle will deliver."

In Mazda's new global naming strategy, crossover-type, sport utility vehicles will carry the CX designation - as in Mazda CX-7; rotary-engined sports cars carry the RX designation (RX-8) and piston-engined sports cars carry the MX designation, such as MX-5.

Core production vehicles will continue to carry the name 'Mazda' and a number, based on vehicle size (Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6); Tribute, MPV and B-Series will continue with their current nomenclature until further notice.

Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.

For further information contact:
Alastair Doak
National Public Relations Manager
Phone: (03) 8540 1962
Mobile: 0418 626 329
Email:adoak@mazda.com.au