The new CX-60 SUV will become Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle next month – and it’ll soon be joined by the seven-seat CX-80
Our spy photographers have snapped the new Mazda CX-60 undergoing development testing just weeks before its scheduled launch date on March 8.
These spy shots provide our best look yet at the new SUV – until now, all we had was a poorly framed teaser of the CX-60’s front end. It’s clear that Mazda will follow the design language that it established with the CX-5, as this new car will share the same U-shaped radiator grille, sharp nose and relatively long bonnet.
There are some distinct changes, though. The car’s headlamps are a completely new design, and feature separated daytime running lights which are fixed to the radiator grille. The rear end is also a little boxier than the CX-5’s, likely in the interest of practicality. This latter feature will become more noticeable with the seven-seat CX-80.
Mazda’s new CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs will become the bread and butter of the company’s new “Large Product Group,” and they’ll be based on a new scalable platform that’s designed for use across several international markets. As the CX-80 will have an extra row of seating in the back, it’s also possible that Mazda will extend it’s wheelbase to make space.
It’s worth noting that the CX-60 and CX-80 won’t replace the CX-5 in Mazda’s line-up. They’ll be positioned above the brand’s mid-size SUV and will crown the line-up in Europe. So think of them as rivals for the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and SEAT Tarraco.
The CX-60 will be available with Mazda’s first ever plug-in hybrid powertrain, which will be based around a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The company’s engineers also say the system will have a “power output in excess of 300PS” (which is around 296bhp).
Mazda hasn’t yet told us the size of CX-60’s PHEV battery pack, the output of its electric motor or how far the system will be able to travel on electric power alone. But, to be competitive in its class, it’ll need to have a pure-electric range of around 35 miles.
Along with the new plug-in hybrid powertrain, Mazda will also sell both SUVs with a choice of straight-six engines. These are also completely new and will use the brand’s Skyactiv-X combustion technology and 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. The brand has confirmed that 48-volt diesel power is on the way, too.
Wider-bodied variants of the two new SUVs also are planned for other markets such as the United States, and will be badged CX-70 and CX-90. A car from the brand’s “Small Platform Group” will also be launched in North America and other select non-European markets, badged CX-50.
In its most recent teaser announcement for the CX-60, Mazda also reiterated its plans to launch three new electric vehicles by 2025, which will be built on existing architecture. After 2025, the firm will launch a complete range of electric vehicles, which will make use of a dedicated battery electric platform.
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Keyword: New 2022 Mazda CX-60 spotted testing ahead of March launch date