2016 Mazda CX-9

Mazda SA’s long-term plans may include ‘larger SUV’

Mazda Southern Africa recently added the new CX-5 to its local line-up, but the company’s managing director told us that a “larger SUV” may well also be in its long-term plans.

Craig Roberts, who was appointed managing director of Mazda Southern Africa at the start of April 2017, told CARmag.co.za that the local arm of the Japanese automaker was considering a few “opportunities” to expand its SUV range, albeit only in the long-term.

The second-generation CX-9, of course, holds significant market share in both North America and Australia. Is there a chance that this three-row, seven-seater model will eventually be offered in South Africa, too?

“We look at it and revisit it regularly, but I don’t think that from a brand perspective we are quite ready to introduce a large SUV into a segment I think is really dominated by German competitors and Jaguar Land Rover,” Roberts told us.

“I wouldn’t discount it entirely – never is a long time. I can say that we are looking at certain opportunities where we could possibly introduce it, but not short-term and probably not even near-term. But maybe longer-term, it could be a possibility,” Roberts said.

He went on to add that the CX-9 needn’t be the only larger SUV the local arm would consider.

“We’ve got wind of – nothing official – some other opportunities potentially with a larger SUV, not necessarily CX-9,” he revealed.

Mazda in Japan recently confirmed the existence of a new CX-8, and Roberts admitted that there may well be a place for a seven-seater like this in South Africa at a later stage.

“There might be an opportunity for us to position something like that [the CX-8] between CX-5 and CX-9, which I think there could be a niche for,” Roberts concluded.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/mazda-sas-long-term-plans-may-include-larger-suv/
 
Mazda CX-9 v Skoda Kodiaq v Toyota Kluger v Nissan Pathfinder Comparison

[video=youtube;nWeU6yVujhQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWeU6yVujhQ[/video]
 
Mazda reveals Japan-only CX-8 crossover

Mazda has released the first picture of its new CX-8, and like the smaller CX-4 that is being sold in China only, the newcomer lacks any globe-trotting ambitions, except this one will be restricted to the Japanese market.

The CX-8 is slightly smaller than Mazda’s CX-9, which is an export-only model that’s not sold in its home market, meaning the CX-8 is likely an adaptation created specifically for Japanese tastes. Or will Mazda eventually change its mind and offer it elsewhere? Given the world’s ever-growing appetite for SUVs, it certainly can’t be considered impossible.

While closer in size to the CX-9, the CX-8 shares more styling similarities with the CX-5, and is also powered by Mazda’s familiar 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine.

The CX-8 also offers an interesting six-seat interior layout, with cosy-looking individual middle-row seats separated by an armrest and console.

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/mazda-reveals-japan-only-cx-8-crossover-10462704

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Mazda reveals three-row CX-8 crossover’s profile

Mazda has released the first official exterior image of its new CX-8 crossover, which is set to hit the market in Japan before the end of 2017.

The black-and-white photograph shows the new model’s profile, and suggests it carries similar styling to both the second-generation CX-5 recently launched in South Africa and the CX-9 offered elsewhere.

The Japanese automaker bills the CX-8 as “a new kind of crossover SUV for people who both appreciate quality and need to seat more than five”, adding that “even adults can sit comfortably in the third row”.

At first at least, the CX-8 will be offered exclusively in the Japanese market (which interestingly doesn’t get the CX-9 offered in some other markets, such as the United States and Australia), with the brand saying that “global roll-out has not been confirmed”.

However, when CARmag.co.za spoke to Mazda Southern Africa CEO Craig Roberts back in May, he revealed that the local arm of the Japanese automaker had “got wind of – nothing official – some other opportunities potentially with a larger SUV, not necessarily CX-9”.

Roberts went on to admit that there may well be a place for a seven-seater such as the new CX-8 in South Africa at a later stage.

“There might be an opportunity for us to position something like that [the CX-8] between CX-5 and CX-9, which I think there could be a niche for,” Roberts said at the time.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/mazda-reveals-three-row-cx-8-crossovers-profile/
 
Mazda CX-8 revealed: three-row crossover hits Japan

Mazda has finally fully revealed the CX-8, opening the order books for the new three-row crossover in Japan.

Due to serve as the flagship model in the automaker’s SUV line-up in Japan, Mazda says the newcomer offers a fresh “people-moving option for customers who want to enjoy outings with family and friends but don’t want to sacrifice design or driving performance”. It will be available in six- and seven-seat guises.

Power comes from what the Japanese brand describes as an “advanced version” of its familiar 2,2-litre turbodiesel engine producing 140 kW and 450 N.m, and linked to a six-speed automatic transmission as standard. In Japan, there will be both front- and all-wheel-drive derivatives.

The CX-8 measures 4 900 mm long, 1 840 mm wide and 1 730 mm high, and features three rows of seats. Mazda says the second row is “comfortable for people of larger builds”, while the third row can “easily accommodate adults up to 170 cm tall”. With all three rows of seats in use, Mazda says the luggage compartment offers 239 litres of space (folding down the third row boosts the figure to a claimed 572 litres).

Will it be offered outside of Japan at a later stage? Well, while it seems unlikely to be launched in markets that already feature the CX-9 (which itself is not offered in Japan), it may eventually appear elsewhere.

Indeed, when CARmag.co.za spoke to Mazda Southern Africa CEO Craig Roberts back in May, he revealed that the local arm of the Japanese automaker had “got wind of – nothing official – some other opportunities potentially with a larger SUV, not necessarily CX-9”.

Roberts went on to admit that there may well be a place for a seven-seater such as the new CX-8 in South Africa at a later stage.

“There might be an opportunity for us to position something like that [the CX-8] between CX-5 and CX-9, which I think there could be a niche for,” Roberts said at the time.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/mazda-cx-8-revealed-three-row-crossover-hits-japan/

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