Mazda recently unveiled its new flagship vehicle, the CX-90 seven-seat SUV in California.
The eventual replacement for the ageing CX-9, its expected to be launched here in August this year with the two models selling alongside each other until at least
the end of 2023.
The CX-90 will be the third two-digit Mazda SUV, joining the well-established small CX-30 and mid-sized CX-60 due to arrive here next month.
Described by Mazda as the brand’s most luxurious model ever, CX-90 will come with the choice of high-output petrol or diesel engines both of which use a new
3.3-litre turbocharged inline-sixc onfiguration, supported by a 48-volt mild hybrid motor.
With outputs of 254kW and 500Nm, CX-90’s e-Skyactiv G (G50e) petrol engine is the most powerful production Mazda powerplant ever.
This represents close to a 50 per cent increase in power and 19 per cent in torque over the CX-9’s 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine.
It equates to a 0-100km/h acceleration of 6.9 seconds –1.7 seconds faster than the CX-9.
Despite the extra pulling power on offer, the turbo-petrol engine is listed at 8.2L/100km combined with emissions of 189g/km of CO2 – an improvement of almost 10 per cent over CX-9.
Maximum power output from the e-Skyactiv D turbocharged diesel (D50e) engine is 187kW with peak torque of an impressive 550Nm.
Fuel consumption is a class-leading combined cycle 5.4L/100km with CO2 output listed at 143g/km.
Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 48V M Hybrid Boost MHEV system ensures that during idling and speeds the engine is supplemented by the electric motor, improving overall emissions and
reducing the frequency of fuel fill-ups, while the e-Skyactiv G also takes advantage of a higher compression ratio for better fuel efficiency.
A Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) variant is likely to be added to the local CX-90 range next year.
Full local pricing and specification for the Mazda CX-90 is due to be announced later this month.
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