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California-based Mazda Design Gets Busy in Vegas
The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has launched to particularly strong sales here in the U.S. market, and now its automaker is hoping for the same sort of results in the U.S. aftermarket. And naturally that means a strong presence at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where the Specialty Equipment Market Association is currently hosting one of the biggest, more influential parts and accessories events in the country.
Mazda is displaying three SEMA-fied CX-5 models at its exhibit, with each one building on the sharp looks of the retail model to set new standards for custom compact crossovers. Also notable: The trio was created by the automaker's U.S. design team, headquartered in Irvine, Calif.
“The CX-5 is all Mazda—from its KODO design language to its inspired driving ability—and was the perfect 'clean slate' vehicle from which our Southern California team could create the concept vehicles you see here today," said Derek Jenkins, director of Design for Mazda North America.
The 2013 Mazda CX-5 lineup at SEMA will include:
CX-5 Dempsey—That's "Dempsey" as in "Patrick Dempsey," who, when he's not acting, can often be found behind the wheel of a Mazda racecar. As for this CX-5, it not only gets his name, according to the brand, "but it was developed with his competitive passions in mind" to feature both motorsports cues and an S-Works Tarmac road bike from Specialized Bicycle, with the latter being affixed to the vehicle with a Mazda factory hitch and a Thule T2 carrier. The CX-5 Dempsey also holsters Mazda's SKYACTIV-D diesel engine for motivation, as well as 20-inch black-chrome wheels with painted spokes, a cabin that exudes "composed aggression" and an exterior done in Anatomy Gray and Brilliant Black, with Luminous Red graphics and Bright White accents.
Ready for snow or surf—and carrying the appropriate boards for both—the CX-5 180 also features a stylized topographical map, detailing two of So-Cal’s top spots for each, that’s painted right on its exterior in a striking blue-on-blue color scheme. Red “side roads” across the vehicle’s body provide a notable accent to the look, while the complementary interior has been kitted out in Aqua leather with Bright White leather inserts and red-and-white French stitching. The CX-5 180 also is configured with Mazda’s advanced all-wheel-drive technology, in this case driving 20-inch black chrome wheels with red spokes.
Wearing a unique paint scheme that calls to mind a futuristic, urban-oriented camouflage pattern, the CX-5 Urban benefits from a custom paint process that was developed by California's Mazda Design. The revolutionary matte finish creates multi-dimensional shadows across the vehicle and is accented by precision-look triangular shapes that were deployed specifically to highlight the vehicle’s KODO “Soul of Motion” design language. For a dynamic splash of color, the CX-5 Urban also gets lightning-like “Ore” pinstripes to highlights its wheels, headlamp surrounds, grille and the matte paint surfaces themselves. Customized fender flairs, 22-inch Ace Alloy Scorpio wheels and a dual exhaust system from Racing Beat provide the finishing touches.