We’ve been hearing for years about Mazda’s plans to introduce a brand-new rear-wheel-drive platform and straight-six engine, and the first production car to use it is finally here. Meet the CX-60 crossover, which won’t be sold in the US but shares its bones with cars that will.
The CX-60’s new architecture is apparent from its proportions and the long dash-to-axle ratio. Overall it’s shaped like a longer CX-5 with a much longer hood — it almost exactly splits the difference in size between the CX-5 and CX-9 . Sadly, the side-view proportions are the best part of the CX-60’s exterior styling. While it features the same brilliant surfacing as cars like the Mazda 3, the CX-60 has an ungainly face and strange detailing. The bluff front end has a large grille, small squarish headlights and tiny triangular intakes, and there’s an ugly fake vent on the front fenders. The CX-60’s greenhouse doesn’t have a lot of tumblehome, and paired with the narrow-looking body and tall doors it just looks strange. I do like the design of the taillights, at least, and the quad exhaust tips are pretty cool.
© Provided by Roadshow The proportions are good, at least. Mazda
Thankfully the CX-60’s interior more than makes up for the outside. It’s similar in theme to the CX-50, with a horizontal layout, slim vents, a large 12.3-inch screen atop the dash and a cool mix of materials. The CX-60’s Takumi trim level adds maple wood trim, nappa leather, unique Japanese textiles and intricate layered stitching. It looks truly high-end, which bodes well for Mazda’s plan to move further upmarket. Mazda says the CX-60’s large cargo area makes it the most practical car the brand makes.
By far the most interesting part about the CX-60 is its platform. Designed by Mazda from the ground up, the unnamed rear-wheel-drive-based architecture has double-wishbone front suspension and a multilink setup at the rear. Mazda says it’s super rigid and features the same Kinetic Posture Control antiroll tech that recently debuted on the MX-5 Miata . An all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring will feature across the lineup, though RWD models will come in the future.
© Provided by Roadshow The CX-60’s interior looks fabulous. Mazda
At launch the CX-60 will use Mazda’s first plug-in-hybrid powertrain, which is dubbed e-Skyactiv. This setup pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack for a total of 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, making the CX-60 the most powerful road car Mazda has ever produced. The PHEV powertrain gives the CX-60 a 0-to-62-mph time of 5.8 seconds and an electric-only range of up to 42 miles on the European WLTP cycle. In the near future Mazda will also introduce a brand-new 3.0-liter inline-6 engine and a 3.3-liter diesel, both of which will feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup.
Following the CX-60 in Europe will be a new three-row SUV called the CX-80, but the US will get two different models called the CX-70 and CX-90, all of which will use the CX-60’s fresh underpinnings and PHEV powertrain. The CX-60 goes on sale in Europe this fall.
The Mazda CX-60 Looks Kinda Weird, Debuts New Chassis and Engines
1/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Mazda CX-60 is a new SUV for Europe. 2/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow It rides on a brand new rear-wheel-drive platform. 3/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The CX-60 looks kinda weird. 4/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow It has nice proportions, though. 5/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The first engine at launch is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid. 6/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow It pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 17.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack for a total of 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. 7/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Also available will be a new straight-six with a 48-volt hybrid system. 8/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The CX-60’s interior looks fantastic. 9/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow There’s a wonderful mix of high-end materials. 10/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The CX-60 won’t be sold in the US, but larger CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs with the same powertrain and platform will. 11/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow Keep scrolling or swiping to see more of the Mazda CX-60. 12/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 13/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 14/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 15/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 16/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 17/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 18/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 19/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 20/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 21/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 22/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 23/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 24/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 25/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 26/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 27/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 28/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 29/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 30/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 31/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 32/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 33/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 34/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 35/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 36/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 37/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow The Mazda CX-60 is a new SUV for Europe. 38/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 39/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 40/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 41/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 42/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow 43/43 SLIDES © Provided by Roadshow
This was originally published on Roadshow.
Keyword: Mazda CX-60 Revealed for Europe With New RWD Platform, PHEV Powertrain