From digging around, it seems that Mazda is/was looking at possibly building some Scion competitor, which might have been called CX-5. But how to do it and even if it happened, which platform to use?

Well, Mazda does have a very fine front engine, rear-drive platform lurking underneath the MX-5 Miata which, co-incidentally also shares part of its architecture with the RX-8.

(click through to read more about the possibility of a Mazda CX-5.)

So how about a real, small, sporty SUV to hit Scion and friends using such a layout? Ridiculous? Crazy? Some might well think so, but at least it would be something different in the class although making it work (and convincing Takeo Kijima, the MX-5’s famously purist chief engineer that it makes sense) could be another matter.

Logically, Mazda could make such a Scion rival using the acclaimed new Demio/Mazda2 platform. That would surely be much easier and cheaper. And back in 2001, Mazda made such a specialist show concept in the Secret Hideout, which never went anywhere.

Still, Mazda has often defiantly done things it’s own way, so while there’s nothing immediately cooking on this MX-5 Scion idea, with Mazda, never say never…