I was wondering the same. If it's the "Freestyle," (not Freelander, that's a Land Rover), then it's actually based on the Volvo XC90, not 50, platform and it's a relatively large vehicle. The current 4 cylinder offerings from Mazda wouldn't do the job. Whether the V6 would make it is questionable, as well. Volvo (and shortly Ford, I believe, for the Freestyle) is moving to a V8 for the XC90.

Not an SUV fan, myself. But of the various behemoths designed to transport soccer teams, the XC90 is the best of the lot and if the Mazda is based on that platform, I suspect it will sell quite well.

 

i wonder if it will have the rx8's freestyle doors too since you cant see the rear door handles.....that would be pretty cool

 

As long as it stays in Mazda!

 

new SUV has smth from rx8, then rx330, infiniti fx and cayene

i think mazda will have to develop new engine, more porewfull
2.3 is not enough for this car

tommorow i will post interior pic

 

That's friggin' beautiful... I love these SUV/Car/Wagon crossovers. I've been in the market for one (love the Infiniti FX45), but only the Acura has 3rd row seat so far... and from the looks of this one it won't either.

 

I'm with you. What's wrong with the current Escape/Tribute? I think it's a great little SUV. I'm assuming the detractors don't give any credit to this vehicle simply because of Ford's involvement in the program. Very sad.

 

looks like an rx-suv.............oh well whatever..........it could be the first mass produced rotary powered soccor mom transporter!

 

Nothing! Well maybe boring styling, but all in all a great vehicle. Very comfortable, plenty of power w/ V6, and available (I have the Escape Limited) with plenty of luxury features as well.

 

I now know which "big 3" your work for!

Without Ford :
- Mazda would offer no RX8 or New MX5, but a 3rd MX5 facelift...
- new Volvos wouldn't go round corners
- Jaguar / Land Rover would still offer dodgy quality (still some work left there though :o )
- Aston Martin wouldn't have a 3-model range
- most US drivers wouldn't know how a European car drives (Focus) :D
- ...

 

Well, it looks nice. But it is just another car maker pandering to stupid yuppies who want an SUV where the only utility it posseses is its size. I would rather not see mazda put out something like this.

 

BlueEye, I agree with your feelings about SUVs, but I tend to give more slack to the ones that are car-based. The Acura MDX, Lexus RX330, Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander, Cadillac SRX etc. are all nice vehicles. I'm not big on the truck-based ones like the Ford Explorer, Toyota Landcruiser, and Chevy Suburban. Those are too crude and boxy.

The car-based "crossover" SUVs get good gas mileage (on par with some RX-8s), are very luxurious inside and out, and handle and accelerate pretty decent (not great, just decent). I'd much rather drive a sports car or even a sedan but you couldn't talk my wife out of her crossover SUV. And this new Mazda looks like it falls in the crossover camp so let's not hate on it immediately.

 

People keep saying things like this- however since the Mazda6 was the first in this new field of cars it seems to me that everything after would be copying it. including the 8.

 

Agreed!

 

Makes sense Zoom.

Anyway, in Ford-speak, they say they share DNA...

 

You must not be looking at the same pictures I am... this is not a truck-based SUV by any means. It actually fills the ever growing niche of crossover vehicles that combine storage, handling, and all-weather capability of cars and SUV's. What's wrong with that?

 

Oh no, I am looking at the exact same pictures as you. I know exactly what this is, a car based SUV, I never thought otherwise, only that the only utility it will offer is its size. I would much rather have a nice wagon which will undoubtedly offer just as much room and more performance than a faux-SUV.

But that's my opinion, no one ever listens. Even my damned mom bought a mini SUV, why I ask WHY!?!?!?!?!?

 

The only real difference between a mini SUV and a small wagon is how high it sits. Other than that, the shape is about the same. Gas mileage, utility, performance, all about even. But it's that height that is so appealing to many. There are lots of people to whom being able to sit higher and see more is very important.

 

A lot of carmakers are doing this, honda and nissan in particular. And seeing some upcoming toyotas, they look like they're going that way too

 

This concept is definitely a car-based SUV. It's not only the size that gives it away, but look at the tread pattern on the tires. Those are performance tires, implying that this will probably be a "performance SUV" along the lines of Porshe Cayenne or BMW X3, only cheaper. Body-on-frame SUVs are not known for their stellar handling characteristics.

However, for those critical of body-on-frame SUVs, remember that they have some distinct advantages over unibody SUVs. One very important advantage is towing capacity (and cargo capacity). Try towing a 7000 lbf trailer or boat (don't laugh, this is important to a LOT of people up here) with a Honda Pilot or Lexus RX330. Another advantage is off-road capability. Yes, most people will never take their vehicles off-road, but it is somewhat comforting to many to know that you could jump the curb and take a short-cut across a field with no problems if you needed to. All of the most capable off-road SUVs are body-on-frame.

Nonetheless, more and more SUVs will have unibody platforms. For most people, the better fuel economy and car-like handling characteristics are more important than the extra towing capacity and off-road prowess. However, I'm confident that body-on-frame SUVs will continue to be offered to cater to the consumers that actually need their capabilities.

 

Not necessarily so :p. I would defend any vehicle that I feel is being unfairly attacked... which on this forum seems to always be an American-made vehicle.

 

I wonder if it has freestyle doors... no door handles and it doesnt look like it has b-pillars either.

 

wait.. no.. it has b-pillars.

 

Looks alot like a Nissan Murano.

 

Well, with 3 kids and a dog, it's hard to find a vehicle I can use to travel with the whole family, packed with luggage, while towing wave runners, and ride height to handle deep snow, etc. I've also needed to be able to move around building supplies drywall and lumber for the remodeling projects around my house. There's no wagon that has been able to fit that bill. I've been buying Explorers to handle that duty, which I don't feel is as ridiculous as some of the massive SUV's on the market. I think it's great that automakers are creating these crossovers to offer most of these capabilities in a slightly smaller, sportier and better handling package.

 

I like it. It has styling hints from a bunch of different vehicles.