Sporty Mazda rips up SUV rulebook

The Land Rover Freelander is under attack by a striking 4x4 from Mazda. This is the stunning new Kazamai, which is due to make its debut at the Moscow Motor Show in August.

The Kazamai – which is Japanese for ‘swirling crosswinds’ – has been made specially for the Russian show and is a sporty, compact off-roader. It will lead to the development of an all-new car to be launched by the company in 2010.

Finished in white, the concept is very close to previously released sketches (Issue 1,016) and features a series of swirling curves and creases along its flanks. These are complemented by the narrow rear window and flowing light clusters.

The sloping roof has been fashioned from a single piece of glass which merges into the windscreen, and this all works to give the Kazamai its distinctive, sporty look.

The elongated, sleek shape is not just for show – it will help to boost the car’s aerodynamics, and provide the driver with a lightweight and robust chassis, improving the vehicle’s dynamics and safety.

Mazda also claims that the new concept’s slippery shape has been thoroughly tested in wind tunnels to deliver impressive fuel consumption and greatly reduced CO2 emissions. At the front, the nose is one of the defining features of the car– there’s a big Mazda badge and distinctive curve to the leading edge of the bonnet, which mimics the firm’s emblem. The Kazamai rides on huge 22-inch, turbine style alloys which are further pronounced by the flared wheelarches.

Under the skin, the all-new concept will include the latest technologies. That means the car gets Mazda’s latest four-wheel-drive transmission – which includes a brand new gearbox and a next-generation, four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine.

This unit will deliver up to 20 per cent better fuel economy, improved responses and superior refinement.

According to our sources, the Kazamai shares much of its chassis architecture with Ford’s new Kuga compact SUV. The result of this is that drivers can look forward to class-leading dynamics, plus impressive refinement and absorbent suspension, as well as responsive handling.

The Mazda is also likely to have a great safety record, given the Kuga’s five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.

Although no interior pictures have been released, it’s thought that the model will seat five, with a versatile rear bench helping to improve practicality. What’s more, Mazda has said that the overall styling of the Kazamai is the best indicator yet of where the company’s design direction is headed.

Meanwhile, Mazda has announced plans to also debut its CX-9 SUV at the Russian show. This is a result of the firm trying to cash in on the rapidly growing compact SUV market in the country. Off-roaders account for nearly 15 per cent of all new vehicle sales in what is now Europe’s largest car market.