Mazda upped the ante for its vehicles at the Specialty Equipment
Market Association show this year. Not only did it show off an even more
hardcore version of its MX-5 Miata – the Super25 – it also rolled out
three sinister-looking variants of the CX-5 crossover.
Mazda says that “the MX-5 Super25 dives deeper into the spirit of
Mazda’s motorsports DNA and goes beyond the Super20″ concept that was
shown at last year’s SEMA show. So what makes the Super25 just so super?
While Mazda has yet to detail what motivates the Super25, it guarantees
us that the new roadster was designed with endurance racing in mind,
and has eschewed the turbocharger of the car’s predecessor.
The Super25
pays homage to Mazda’s 1991 win of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race by
wearing the number 55 and with a paint scheme from Mazda Motorsports
Development – super red gloss with brilliant white accents and black
mica lower fascias. Similar to the Super20 from last year,
the Super25 has a fixed hard top and awesome-looking black wheels –
here, a set of 17-inch Volk Racing T37s wrapped in 225/45ZR17 rubber.
Most notable is the unique four-lamp lighting pod mounted front and
center on the nose of the Super25; it contains two PIAA 40 Series
halogen lamps flanked on either side by 510 Super White Driving halogen
lamps, which should provide plenty of light in all racing conditions.
Inside, charcoal ultra-suede and tomato red inserts bedeck the Sparco
Evo competition racing seat and Sparco R323 racing wheel and racing
harness.
Elsewhere on Mazda’s SEMA stand are three unique CX-5 models: the
Dempsey, Urban, and 180. The CX-5 Dempsey was designed by – you guessed
it – Mazda Motorsports driver and Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey. The
car combines his passions for driving and cycling. Both the exterior and
interior have been done in a combination of matte black and glossy gray
with red accenting, coordinating with the Specialized Bicycle road
racer that is attached to the hitch at the rear of the car. More
importantly, the Dempsey-designed CX-5 throws out the 2.0-liter Skyactiv
I-4 for a European-spec 2.2-liter Skyactiv turbo-diesel I-4 that’s good
for 173 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Also wearing a matte paint job is the CX-5 Urban. This concept
crossover’s paint has a geometric pattern that reflects light at
different angles to highlight the CX-5′s design, according to Mazda.
Matte black 22-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 295/30R20 all-season tires
add to the shadowy look of the Urban.
Unlike the introverted CX-5 Urban, the CX-5 180 has been designed for
people who want to do it all, from the surf to the slopes. A
topographical map of southern California is emblazoned on the body of
the bright-blue crossover, and a snowboard/surf board rack sits atop the
roof. 20-inch black chrome alloy wheels wrapped in all-season rubber
add a dash of panache to this go-anywhere, do-anything CX-5. Aqua
leather and bright white trim brighten the otherwise-dark interior.
