New Mazda compact crossover SUV to Russia with love

Mazda is keeping the wraps on its all-new sporty, compact crossover SUV set to be unleashed on its lucrative Russian clientele - as it gears up to steal the show at this years Moscow International Automobile Salon - with what it promises will continue the car manufacturers' new ‘Nagare’ design direction.

Sounding like a classic James Bond nemesis of Moscovite parentage, Nagare is on a secret mission to Russia, and not from. And the cat-stroking evil genius with world domination issues packing its travel itinery is in fact none other than the rather harmless Mazda Motor Corporation.

Let us explain. Having previously primed and deployed automotive concept-agents Ryuga, Hakaze, Taiki and Furai on an unprepared world, Mazda is going a step further by gearing up its latest weapon of mass motoring re-construction. This time, an as-yet unnamed SUV compact crossover with sporty underpinnings.

For those not in the loop, Nagare is the Japanese word for ‘flow’ and is the physical and emotional embodiment of Mazda’s new aesthetical ideology. An innovative new approach to the expression of movement as interpreted through automotive design. Or, in layman’s terms, Mazda has been keenly observing the way in which wind makes its passage across its cars. The flow patterns of natural elements as it were.

The perpetuated stylistic theme for Moscow’s International car-get-together, following on from these wind-tunnel-destined office away-days, is called ‘crosswinds’. Not so much a code that needs deciphering, just an evolutionary design excercise.

You see, Russia is one of Europe’s fastest growing markets, and SUV’s are rapidly becoming the oligarch/Mafia-wannabe’s car-to-be-seen-in, supported by an overall segment share of about 20%.

Always on the look out for new, affluent markets to tap into, Mazda thinks it will hit a rich vein of form by specifically targeting the younger SUV owners. Those with a sense of style. And self-importance.

The still unnamed compact crossover SUV – watch this space – depicts the lengths that Mazda is prepared to go to in order to roll-out its plans for world automotive domination, (as well as obviously being still noted as the rather warm, fuzzy and approachable Mazda of old – Ed) as well as emphasising the car manufacturers inherent ‘creativity’.

So, all that’s left for us to say is synchronise your watches for 10:15am Moscow time, on August 26 2008, location Mazda stand, when its new sporty, compact crossover SUV will be subject of everyone’s attentions.