• by Tanya Gazdik , May 1, 2017

Mazda is taking the CX-5 on a cross-country journey to help pitch the vehicle to prospective customers. 

The 15-city, nationwide “Experience the All-New 2017 Mazda CX-5” tour will focus on showing prospects why driving a Mazda is so special and exposing them to the automaker’s approach to craftsmanship, engineering and design, and how that is embodied in the all-new CX-5.

The cross-country tour will include “Intercept” events, or the more traditional ride-and-drive experience at a set location and “Mastercraft” events, which will feature special events in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago, inviting prospects to explore the “Mastercraft” behind a certain product or craft that aligns with the Mazda brand.

“Our goal is to engage our audience in an impactful way, in a location that’s convenient and familiar to them,” said Russell Wager, vice president of marketing for Mazda North American Operations, in a release. “By allowing our customers to engage with our brand and our vehicles in an environment that is fun and interactive, we create the opportunity for potential customers to experience our personality as a brand.”

The hope is that they will have such a great time during the drive experience that they will consider purchasing a Mazda when searching for their next vehicle, he adds.

Participants of the “Intercept” component will be guided through the city on a quest to learn more about the vehicle and the unique Mazda driving experience. During the tour, participants will learn how a lighter vehicle can make the drive more fun; that safety features can enhance and not overtake the driving experience; how technology can help support the driving experience, not take away from it; and how Mazda’s Jinba Ittai driving philosophy directly translates to the driver’s everyday experience in the vehicle.

The tour launched this past weekend in Los Angeles. Future stops include Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle and San Francisco. 

To follow the journey, and to get up-to-date information on driving opportunities in your area, consumers can visit Mazda’s interactive Web site at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Experience-CX-5 and connect with the social conversation by following Mazda on Facebook or Twitter, using #MazdaCX5 and #DrivingMatters.