Mazda’s latest crossover concept revealed to the public

This week, Mazda unveiled the Koeru crossover concept for the first time to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Koeru is built on the same wheelbase structure as the CX-5. However, when it’s compared to the CX-5, the Koeru’s body is 2.4 inches longer, 2.4 inches wider, and 6.6 inches shorter in body size. It also strongly resembles the rest of Mazda’s KODO designed lineup, such as the Mazda6 and CX-3.

That makes it too small to be the next three-row CX-9 SUV, which is set to debut at this November’s L.A. Auto Show.

Could this be the return of the CX-7?

Mazda ended manufacturing CX-7s in 2012 after a six year production run and modest sales numbers. A refresh with the KODO Soul of Motion design language after a brief hiatus could help Mazda have a strong contender in the highly competitive crossover SUV market.

Whatever Mazda plans for the Koeru will be known in the future, as for now, we can have an idea of what the future of Mazda’s crossover plans look like.

We hope to have more news to share from the Frankfurt Motor Show as it continues through the rest of the week.

If you’re interested in learning more about Mazda vehicle models, check out our online Mazda model research center.

Source:  CarandDriver.com

2017 Mazda CX-9 sightings reported weeks ahead of its debut

Next week Mazda plans to unveil to the public the newly redesigned 2017 Mazda CX-9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Some lucky auto fans were able to catch a sneak peek of it weeks ahead of the rest of the public by being at the right place at the right time.

The picture of the swirly zebra looking 2017 Mazda CX-9 below was taken at the end of August in California.

You can tell in the picture that it’s finally joining the rest of the SKYACTIV lineup with the similar KODO Soul of Motion design. However, this is actually based on the 2016 Mazda Koeru SUV concept that will debut alongside the CX-9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The CX-9 has deserved a much needed refresher for years. It’s remained virtually unchanged since Ford sold their financial stake in Mazda in 2008. With the CX-9 getting the SKYACTIV treatment, Mazda will finally have a strong competitor in the full size SUV class.

While we won’t know the specs of the 2017 Mazda CX-9 until next week, YouTube user Carspotter Jeroen caught a glimpse of what appears to be a test mule CX-9 that doesn’t have the new SKYACTIV body style yet but can still give you a little insight to how it performs.


We’ll have more about the 2017 Mazda CX-9 after next week’s debut.

If you're interested in learning more about the smaller siblings of the CX-9, check out our 2016 Mazda CX-3 and 2016 Mazda CX-5 research pages.

Source: TopSpeed.com

Mazda CX-3 over Honda HR-V, it's the details that count

One of the things that Mazda has excelled in is the details and nowhere is It more apparent than in the all-new 2016 Mazda CX-3.  In Car and Driver Magazine, September edition, the CX-3 was proclaimed the “hands-down” winner in a full comparison over the Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X, Chevrolet Trax, Kia Soul, and Honda HR-V.  In another article, Torque News looks at the article and attributes the win to Mazda getting even the little things better.  In the article they used a head-to-head comparison between the Honda HR-V and the Mazda CX-3 to explain why the details were important. 

 

Their first comparison was on performance. 

•  0-30 MPH Sprint:  CX-3 2.8 Seconds, HR-V 3.7 Seconds

•  0-60 MPH Sprint:  CX-3 8.1 Seconds, HR-V 9.3 Seconds

• 0-100 MPH Sprint: CX-3 23.8 Seconds, HR-V 29.1 Seconds

•  In terms of straight line acceleration, the CX-3 is quicker

In the slalom test, the CX-3 is also faster with a speed of 42.1 MPH compared to 39.7 MPH for the HR-V.  In terms of taking turns, the CX-3 is much faster.

They even pointed out that you would think that with higher speeds you would get less MPG.  But not so, the CX-3 tested at 28 MPG thru the tests, and the HR-V was lower at 26 MPG.

The article goes on to show comparisons in the performance of transmissions, torque and horsepower, even in weight. Lighter, more powerful and better transmission is what the comparison showed.

The conclusion that Torque News reaches is that it is the details or the small things that make the CX-3 the winner.  The article concludes with this, “The Mazda was just a tiny bit better in all the categories that add up to quickness and fuel economy. That is what Skyactiv means, and why Mazda talks about it so much.”

Check out the CX-3 on our website, www.SportMazdaOrlando.com or plan a visit to Sport Mazda and make an appointment for a drive.

Source:  Torque News Article: CX-3 Performance Tops Honda HR-V

Source: Car and Driver Magazine, September 2015, Pages 86-97