Mazda CX-5 and MX-5 Concepts make a SEMA splash

Presenting novel ways of thinking about both the automaker's newest compact crossover SUV and its most iconic sports car, Mazda brought four vehicles to the SEMA Show. The three street-spec CX-5s and one competition-oriented MX-5 were created in-house by the North America Operations Design team located at its corporate headquarters in Irvine, California. Here's a quick overview of each.

Mazda CX-5 180 Concept

Ready to accommodate everything from the ski slopes to the beach at a moment's notice, the Mazda CX-5 180 Concept features a unique Denim-into-Midnight paint scheme that includes topographical maps along with weather and temperature-specific data for Big Bear Lake on its left side and Point Dume on its right, all accented with Luminous Red paint to indicate roads. In keeping with the ski-to-surf theme, the custom roof rack on the 180 Concept carries a pair of Burton Cheetah snowboards as well as a Rusty surfboard. This all-wheel-drive CX-5 one-off is fitted with Mazda Design 20-inch Black Chrome alloy wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires and also boasts a Racing Beat dual exhaust system. Inside, the custom cabin trimout includes two-tone Aqua and Bright White leather and a custom painted "decorative panel" that also revisits the topographical motif seen on the CX-5 180 Concept's exterior.

Mazda CX-5 Urban Concept

Finished in a custom Black Mica matte paint with multi-dimensional geometric shadow areas that effectively complement the contours of its KODO-design language bodywork, the Mazda CX-5 Urban Concept creates its own kind of high-profile stealth, which is set off by Ore accent striping on the body, grille and wheels. Tasteful fender flares add a more aggressive touch to the mix, as do a set of matte-black 22-inch Ace Alloy Scorpio wrapped in Nitto NT420 all-season tires. Rounding out the mix is a Racing Beat dual exhaust system.

Mazda CX-5 Dempsey

Sole member of this elite group of SEMA one-offs to by powered by the automaker's new 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine, the CX-5 Dempsey Concept was envisioned to celebrate the active lifestyle of actor, cycling enthusiast and Mazda racing driver, Patrick Dempsey. Also all-wheel drive, the CX-5 Dempsey features a multi-hued exterior that combines gloss Anatomy Gray, Brilliant Black and matte Black Mica set off with Luminous Red and Bright White accents. The motif -- that evokes "a rugged functionality and tempered finesse" -- was devised to complement the appearance of a Specialized Bicycle S-Works Tarmac road bike that hangs from its rear hatch on a Thule T2 carrier and a Thule Atlantis rooftop carrier box. Other exterior tweaks include Mazda Design-customized 20-inch black chrome alloy wheels wrapped in Z-rated Michelin Latitude Sport all-season tires, a trailer hitch and a Racing Beat dual exhaust system. The passenger compartment of the CX-5 Dempsey Concept displays the same color scheme as the exterior and is highlighted by seats upholstered in gray aniline leather with black perforated leather inserts.

Mazda MX-5 Super25 Concept

Building on the cool competition factor introduced on the earlier Super20 Concept that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the much-loved Miata, the Mazda MX-5 Super25 Concept was designed to reflect the nuance of an endurance racer rather than a sprinter. To that end, it's gray, black and red Mazdaspeed Motorsport Development exterior treatment also includes the number 55, which also appeared on the rotary-powered Mazda 787B prototype that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 - although the engine in the Super25 is the Miata's standard-issue 2.0-liter inline-4. Other exterior changes on the Super25 Concept include a custom 4-lamp front auxiliary lighting pod above its modified grille and matte-black 17-inch Volk Racing T37 alloy wheels encircled with Z-rated BFGoodrich g-Force R1 225/45 tires. A single Sparco Evo driving seat covered in a Mazda Design-developed Charcoal ultra-suede material with Tomato Red perforated inserts is coupled with a Sparco 6-point racing harness to keep the driver snugly in place under max g-loads. Rounding out the MX-5 Super25 Concept's interior upgrades are a roll cage, suede-covered Sparco R323 competition steering wheel and an AiM MXL real-time data acquisition logger.