Mazda to Debut Ryuga Design Concept and New Tribute SUV at 2007 North American International Auto Show

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2006 -- Mazda North American Operations will unveil an all-new concept car, Ryuga, and its all-new Tribute SUV Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. All attending media are invited to the company's formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand at 10:15 A.M. on Monday, Jan. 8, 2007.

Ryuga builds on Mazda's concept of flow. Nagare -- Japanese for "flow" -- debuted at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show and introduced the company's new design future. Ryuga -- Japanese for "gracious flow," and the next generation of this exciting concept -- will reflect a higher level of sophistication achieved through the use of rich fabrics, engineered fits and hidden details. Ryuga is elegant and refined, but with spirit and edge, portraying unique Japanese beauty.

"Ryuga is Zoom-Zoom defined," said Laurens van den Acker, Mazda's global design director. "It combines vibrance, confidence, fun and youth all in one ingenious package."

Offering another, although far more immediate and real, look into its future, Mazda also will debut the 2008 Tribute HEV. The heavily revised Tribute HEV will be the first advanced-technology vehicle dedicated to clean air that Mazda will sell to the public when it becomes available later in the year.

The Tribute HEV is one of the least-polluting vehicles on the road, yet still delivers the performance required by SUV owners. With a combined power output of its gasoline engine and electric motor of 155 hp, the Tribute HEV provides plenty of power yet meets strict Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEVII) and Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in California -- the strictest emission regulations a gasoline- fueled vehicle can meet.

Also on display at the show will be the all-new seven-passenger CX-9 SUV, the five-passenger CX-7 SUV and the balance of Mazda's 2007 product lineup.