2013 Mazda CX-9 is a crossover sport-utility SUV featuring a distinctive sporty appearance, a high-quality cabin, the flexibility of three-rows, and Mazda’s exciting “Zoom-Zoom” driving dynamics. The current CX-9 has sold over 210,000 units in 74 countries, including North America and Australia, as Mazda’s range-topping SUV.
A new-look 2013 Mazda CX-9 has been revealed, with the Japanese brand announcing the redesigned seven-seater SUV will make its global debut at the 2012 Sydney motor show. The styling of the big SUV has been brought into line with the rest of the Mazda family and it isn’t a new-generation model like the smaller Mazda CX-5 released earlier in 2012. Design changes are focused on the front and rear ends, with the headlights and grille familiar from the CX-5.
The revised Mazda CX-9 remains on the same platform as the original launched in 2007 and shared with the Ford Edge. Power for the CX-9 will continue to be provided by the existing model’s 3.7 litre V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, producing 204kW and 367Nm of torque.
The update is not about styling alone, however, with new standard features and updates joining the range for 2013, the new Mazda CX-9’s infotainment system gets new audio, navigation and speech recognition technology. There are also new safety features, including Forward Obstruction Warning, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Control.
There are no SkyActiv technologies featured on the revised Mazda CX-9, such as the lighter-weight chassis or i-Eloop brake energy regeneration system found on all-new models such as the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 that are aimed at improving fuel efficiency. And the result is, there is no change in consumption for the CX-9, which is currently 11.0L/100km for the front-wheel-drive version and 11.3L/100km for the model equipped with all-wheel drive.
“The CX-9 is our flagship and while not a volume seller it does very well for our brand,” says Mazda Australia spokesman Steve Maciver. “It’s well regarded for its driving dynamics. We have said that SkyActiv technologies will be adopted across the entire Mazda range but there’s no announcement for this [CX-9] yet.”
The all-new Mazda6 (known as Atenza in Japan) will also make its Australian premiere in Sydney. It is the second of Mazda’s new generation of products that adopt the full range of SKYACTIV technologies and the KODO – Soul of Motion design theme. It is the first model to be equipped with Mazda’s unique brake energy regeneration system, i-ELOOP.
More updates will be coming as the release date gets closer, so stay tuned.
