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| Mazda
5 MPV - Europe launch |
Broadcast
dates : 27th February 2005
3rd March 2005 |
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 Recognize that V-shaped grille?
Those sharp-edged rectangular headlights, the purposeful air
intakes? Yes, once again it’s a Mazda, but one that hasn’t
yet made it to South Africa.
This is the Mazda 5, a strong entry into the MPV or Multi
Purpose Vehicle market. Or, as the marketing boffins have
defined it even further, a multi-activity vehicle, presumably
because it mixes in a bit of sport with practicality.
The Mazda 5 was developed from the MX-Flexa concept-vehicle
shown at Geneva just on a year ago, and features a tapering
roof-line not unlike that of the Peugeot 507SW. But it’s
more MPV than estate-car, with twin sliding doors on the
sides.
This is a so-called global vehicle for Mazda, meaning that it
will be targeting markets all over the world, specifically
Europe and North America.
Like the 3, the Mazda 5 has a very strong exterior
personality, very chunky and stoky in overall appearance,
strong sharp edges integrating with well-defined wheel-arch
blisters and sill-extensions.
And once again, the alloy wheels are tasty, giving an overtly
sporty look for this segment of the car market.
Mazda is also very proud of the handling, the car coming with
many electronic dynamic helpers, and it has a very tight
circle.
The interior is futuristic, very modular in concept, with lots
of brushed metal trim. And there is plenty of up-market
gadgets such as navigation and a powerful audio package.
The Mazda 5 is rated as a six-plus-one seater. There are three
rows of seats, the last two rows accessed through the sliding
doors.
The occasional seventh seat folds out between the two central
seats, and the seats can all fold away to provide an
exceptionally flat loading area.
Engine options are two four-cylinder petrol engines and two
turbodiesels, the more powerful one rated at a 107.
Transmissions are six-speed manual and automatic.
Will it be coming to South Africa? Maybe, is all that Mazda SA
will say!
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