http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2007/11/27/9071127.010/9071127.010.1M.jpgMazda CX-5 artist rendering



What you would think is inconceivable may just become reality. Mazda, according to Pistonheads, is planning to build a small SUV on the rear-wheel-drive Mazda MX-5 platform. The new RWD SUV is set for a 2008 Paris Motor Show world premiere.
Pistonheads seem to have had a brief talk with European Mazda boss James Muir and quote him saying: “I do see SUVs getting smaller and being more car-like in their behaviour. Maybe we can look at rear-wheel-drive platform sharing and we have a rear-wheel-drive platform with the MX-5.”
Mazda has been developing light-weight high-tensile steel and lighter weight powertrains in order to build a small, and ultmately lightweight SUV.
In our archives we found an artist rendering of the CX-5 which seems to fit reasonably well with the description James Muir gives, although styling may be entirely different of course.



http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071127.010/mazda-plans-small-rwd-suv

how is this anything new? they've been making hatchbacks forever. a mazda3 hatch is the same thing 'cept for the drive wheels

Looks like a Mazda3 4X4......only uglier and smaller.

it would probably outsell the rx8 if they do bring it out

Isn't this just a raised car? What makes it an SUV?

this is pretty similar to their Hakaze concept. Maybe (hopefully) a production Kabura in in the works.

it looks like the Porsche SUV from hell

whys the front look like its lifted up? The idea of a small RWD suv sounds good... but wow this is ugly

This looks more like it and pretty niffty...in a swamp land kinda way...don't ya think?

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff266/spin9k/mazda_mx5_suv_450-op.jpg

It looks like Donald Duck got punched under the beak.

not diggin it, i think it coulda ben much better, like an acura rdx (or w/e its called) as a matter of fact i think thats what it should have been based of...head to head small sporty TURBO suv's ;-)

doesn't mazda care about MPG?

I thought they'd be smarter, but I guess we'll soon see other "crossover" vehicles:

2-door coupe limousine
compact pickup truck

totally unnecessary, and ugly as sin

They should just make a RWD 3 and get it over with already.

it would probably outsell the rx8 if they do bring it out

So? The 4-Runner outsold the Supra, wtf is your point?

I probably shouldn't have even posted the associated picture. It is a "artist rendering" of what they thought it would look like. It looks like a bad photoshop job to me. Everyone is crapping on how bad it looks, when we don't know how it will look.
It says it will be built on a MX5 floorpan, so it could handle good. If it doesn't end up too top heavy.