Mazda CX-7 SUV to be imported to China market

Shanghai, January 5 (Gasgoo.com) FAW-Mazda will import the Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV to the Chinese market later this year, said sina.com today citing a FAW-Mazda dealer in Beijing.

The Mazda CX-7 is a crossover SUV model, which now sells in the North American market for $2,400 to $2,870 (165,000 yuan-196,000 yuan). As an SUV model, the Mazda CX-7 competes with the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4 in the market.

Power comes from the same 2.3L straight-4 MZR engine used in the Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazdaspeed 6 coupled with a 6 speed Aisin automatic transmission, and tuned to produce 244 hp or 182 kW at 5000 RPM and 258 ft•lbf (350 N•m) of torque at a low 2500 rpm, 99% of the maximum torque is available to 5000 rpm.

In addition to the CX-7 SUV, Mazda Motor is set to launch other new models to the Chinese market in 2009. They are the second-generation Mazda 6 ("Ruiyi" in Chinese), the high-end MPV Mazda 8, and the second-generation Mazda 3. The new Mazda 3 will have its sedan and hatchback editions available to Chinese buyers.

After Ford Motor was hit by the financial crisis in late 2008, Mazda bought back from the U.S. partner its stake in their Chinese joint venture Changan Ford Mazda, and this is likely to speed up the Japanese carmaker's growth pace in the China market.