The 2007 Mazda CX-9 gets a 3.5-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing, preliminarily rated to drive 250 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque to the front or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. This is the same drivetrain as found in the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, optionally attached to Mazda’s Active Torque Split AWD system, which can transfer as much as 50 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels.

In keeping with Mazda’s zoom-zoom product philosophy, the CX-9 also gets ventilated four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. Other hardware details include engine-speed sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering that guides standard 18-inch wheels wearing P245/60 tires on Sport and Touring models. The 2007 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring is equipped with multi-spoke 20-inch wheels wearing P245/50 rubber. The CX-9’s rims are bolted to a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension with anti-roll bars, and when 20-inch tread isn’t enough to keep you in control the standard Dynamic Stability Control and Roll Stability Control systems should keep the sporty SUV stable.

Obviously, we didn’t drive the 2007 Mazda CX-9, but Robert Davis, Mazda’s senior vice president of product development and quality, promised that this SUV is “a lot of laughs at Laguna Seca.”