Zoom-zoom! For anyone who has watched a television or been car shopping over the past few years, that simple slogan is easily identified with Mazda. And, for the most part, it fits. Mazda's Miata is a lightweight, drop-top pocket rocket; the Mazda 3 puts smiles on the faces of a growing number of compact car drivers; and the Mazda 6 has proven to be one of the more entertaining midsize cars currently available. On the other hand, Mazda's trucks, including the B-Series pickups and the Tribute SUV (both rebadged Ford models), have come up a little short in the excitement category.

Debuting at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the MX-Crossport, a four-passenger SUV concept that demonstrates Mazda's desire to inject more of its zoom-zoom DNA into the SUV segment. Designed in Japan with a focus on the North American market, the MX-Crossport takes it's styling cues from the RX-8. One of the goals of the MX-Crossport exercise was to create a vehicle that offers both sport and utility, but is not the traditional SUV. The MX-Crossport offers sport and utility, but more importantly, it's engineered with a true driving enthusiast in mind.

From a styling perspective, the Mazda MX-Crossport is a handsome design with fluid bodylines and subtle, yet well-sculpted wheel flares. While the look is attractive and clean, the MX-Crossport comes up a bit short in distinguishing itself from the numerous SUV concepts from Mazda's competitors. What is special is the glass roof, with a unique feature that allows for its transformation from a clear to a translucent panel to control the amount of light entering the cabin. Stylish 20-inch polished alloy wheels are wrapped in 275/45 tires.

Inside, four-bucket seats are covered in leather and include integrated seatbelts. Brushed aluminum trim is used throughout the passenger compartment for a high-tech look. Rear bucket seats fold, resulting in a flat load floor that sits below a power cargo cover. Mazda's Three Panel Display system, which features a collection of monitors that offer information such as vehicle diagnostics, Internet functions, and views of the road from integrated cameras, is also included. Though the Mazda MX-Crossport is not earmarked for production, company officials claim they are committed to offering compelling new products, and a derivative of the MX-Crossport is a definite possibility.

By Thom Blackett