Going on sale in Japan, Europe, and other markets, the Mazda CX-60 is going to be sold strictly with a two-row layout. Elsewhere, the company has pledged to offer a CX-80 model big enough to accommodate three rows of seats. In North America and other regions of the world, these two SUVs will be substituted by CX-70 and CX-90 models featuring wider bodies.

Some preliminary technical specifications have been disclosed, and they seem quite juicy. In Europe, the CX-60 will combine a gasoline-fueled, four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor. The two will work together and push out in excess of 300 horsepower. Chances are the new SUV is going to have AWD since logic tells us the combustion engine will drive one axle and the e-motor the other one.

Thanks to the PHEV system, Mazda claims the 2023 CX-60 will deliver “smooth, efficient and powerful acceleration giving the driver greater confidence and driving enjoyment in the widest possible range of driving scenarios.” The automaker goes on to say the CX-80 will follow in the near future and go on sale around 2024.

It’s a known fact the new RWD-based platform will support larger engines, specifically inline-six gasoline and diesel ones, although we’re not keeping our fingers crossed about seeing them in Europe. Why? Because the Old Continent has the strictest emissions regulations in the world, although Mazda might make them clean enough since it has previously stated these will have a 48V mild hybrid system.

Source: Mazda

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The Japanese marque doesn’t go into any details about how it plans to electrify the CX-50, other than saying it will feature a traditional hybrid powertrain. That tells us it won’t be a PHEV and could likely inherit the technology from Toyota. The two companies have already joined forces to build the factory in Alabama where the compact crossover is produced.

We also know it will come with all-wheel drive as standard as Mazda has pledged to sell all its CX-badged in the United States with an AWD system beginning with the 2022 model year. Another electrified crossover due to arrive soon will be a hybrid MX-30 equipped with a range-extending rotary engine.

Not only that, but Mazda will roll out a bigger SUV with two rows dubbed CX-70 and a three-row CX-90 on a new rear-wheel-drive platform with plug-in hybrid, inline-six powertrains. Over in Europe, narrower CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs with two respectively three seats will get the same architecture and PHEV versions. The company’s smaller cars will embrace a plug-in hybrid setup based around a smaller four-cylinder engine.

All four electrified crossovers and SUVs are due to hit the market by late next year. Mazda is working on a dedicated EV platform that will make its debut on a production car in 2025. All models will be electrified to some extent by 2030, with a quarter of annual sales projected to be purely electric models. Meanwhile, three EVs are scheduled to arrive between now and 2025.

Source: Mazda

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You see, the Japanese automaker sees things quite differently. According to a statement made by Mazda Canada’s national manager for product and electrification strategy, Mark Peyman, the MX-30 is primarily a city-focused EV. Research conducted by the Zoom-Zoom brand showed the typical buyer already has a second vehicle to use for longer trips.

“We come to market with a vehicle like the MX-30 that has a smaller battery, a smaller footprint environmentally and still meets the range needs of 80 percent-plus of the consumers that will probably use this. We’ve found through research that many of these individuals have additional cars in their households that are for longer range.”

If you take extended trips out of the equation, then yes, the Mazda MX-30 becomes an appealing EV since it looks smart and is appealing to eco-conscious buyers due to its smaller carbon footprint thanks to the compact 35.5-kWh battery pack. Of course, not all of us can afford the luxury of owning two cars, and even if we do, there might not be enough space available to have both.

Mazda has plans to diversify the MX-30 by introducing a plug-in hybrid version with a range-extending rotary engine in 2022. It will be available in the United States and Canada later next year. It’s technically going to be the third version of the crossover since a hybrid model was launched in 2020 in select markets such as Japan and Australia with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The mild-hybrid combustion engine works together with an electric motor to enable an all-wheel-drive setup whereas the standard model is stuck with FWD.

Source: Automotive News Canada

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The new Mazda2 serves as the brand’s very first full hybrid available in Europe once it will go on sale next spring. The battery charges itself on the go and the small hatch silently starts in EV mode without sipping a drop of gasoline. Speaking of which, the fossil fuel is used by the three-cylinder engine, specifically a 1.5-liter unit developing a mighty 91 horsepower (68 kilowatts).

The ICE works harmoniously with an electric motor rated at 79 hp (59 kW) to give the 2022 Mazda2 Hybrid an adequate total output of 114 hp (85 kW). You’re obviously not going to set a new Nürburgring record since the vehicle was developed primarily for the city and with efficiency in mind. That’s not to say the car is agonizingly slow as it will do 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 10 seconds and continue to accelerate until 109 mph (175 km/h).

Those in the market for such a car will primarily care about fuel efficiency, which is where the self-charging Mazda2 excels. It promises to consume anywhere between 3.8 to 4.0 liters in the WLTP combined cycle with corresponding CO2 emissions of 87 to 93 grams per kilometer. Bear in mind these fuel economy numbers will vary depending on whether the car rides on the standard 15-inch wheels or the larger 16-inch set.

On its path to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, Mazda is adding the 2 Hybrid to its lineup where it joins several vehicles equipped with mild-hybrid powertrains. In a couple of years from now, the portfolio will grow to include plug-in hybrid models equipped with inline-six gasoline and diesel engines for cars riding on a newly developed rear-wheel-drive architecture.

Besides hybrids, the Japanese marque has pledged to roll out three EVs by the middle of the decade, with 2025 also being the year when a dedicated electric car platform will be inaugurated on a production model.

Source: Mazda

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It’s set to enter production in January 2022 at the new Huntsville, Alabama plant built together with Toyota. As with all CX models going forward, the CX-50 is going to be offered with standard all-wheel drive. In the beginning, it will be sold only with conventional gasoline engines, namely a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter unit or a turbocharged mill with the same displacement. Both will be linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Further down the line, a hybrid CX-50 will follow, but it’s unclear when it will arrive during the compact crossover’s life cycle. We do know it’s going to feature a “traditional hybrid” setup, which likely means it won’t be a mild hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. Mazda promises that additional details about the electrified model will be announced in due course.

The CX-50 is being marketed as a more rugged-looking alternative to the CX-5 thanks to the chunky plastic body cladding on the square wheel arches, while the addition of a roof rack accentuates the crossover’s outdoorsy nature. The company claims it has reinforced the B-pillars and door jambs, along with adding a panoramic moonroof, making its debut on a Mazda product.

It’s worth noting the CX-50 is kick-starting an SUV onslaught as CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90 models will follow on a new rear-wheel-drive platform with inline-six gasoline and diesel engines developed with electrification in mind. These will come in mild-hybrid and PHEV configurations, with the two-row CX-70 and three-row CX-90 coming to the US with wider bodies. Their equivalent narrow-body siblings, CX-60 and CX-80, are earmarked for Europe. All four are slated to hit the market within the next two years.

Source: Mazda

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To that end, Toyota is forming an alliance with fellow Japanese brands Subaru and Mazda to use carbon-neutral fuel in their quest to ultimately reach carbon neutrality. This weekend, the trio is racing cars equipped with zero-emissions combustion engines at the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama. From 2022, Subaru and Toyota will use biomass-derived synthetic fuel in the same competition, based on the BRZ and GR86 sports cars, respectively.

As for Mazda, it plans to enter the ST-Q class of the Super Taikyu Race in Okayama with its Spirit Racing Bio concept Demio vehicle equipped with a 1.5-liter diesel engine feeding exclusively on biomass-derived diesel fuel.

The three are not alone in their initiative as motorcycle companies Kawasaki and Yamaha are joining forces to co-develop a hydrogen engine for two-wheeled applications and four-wheeled recreational off-highway vehicles. Honda and Suzuki are also expected to get involved and bolster the development of eco-friendly combustion engines for two-wheeled vehicles.

These Japanese companies are not the only ones actively researching methods to save the internal combustion engine as Porsche also believes it could save it with synthetic fuel. It’s known as eFuel and consists of CO2 and hydrogen produced using renewable energy. The German performance brand claims the end result is a liquid that will burn much like gasoline created from crude oil, with the major difference being that the eFuel is made in a carbon-neutral environment.

Source: Toyota

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In a press release talking about an SUV lineup expansion with plug-in hybrid powertrains, Mazda says it will revive the rotary engine as a generator from the first half of 2022. Logic tells us the MX-30 will be the first to utilize this interesting technology, but the Japanese brand says several models are in the pipeline with a range-extending setup.

The small electric crossover could certainly use more range considering the EV version has been rated by the EPA at just 100 miles (161 kilometers), which is disappointingly low by 2021 standards. It’s especially true when talking about Mazda, a brand that has premium ambitions and aspires to compete with the more established German luxury marques.

Mind you, the MX-30 lineup has already been expanded in some parts of the world where Mazda is selling the stylish little crossover with a mild-hybrid setup based around a 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The four-cylinder mill puts out 153 horsepower (114 kilowatts) and 200 Newton-meters (148 pound-feet) of torque. For the sake of comparison, the electric version has 143 hp (107 kW) and 271 Nm (200 lb-ft) on tap.

The MX-30 fitted with the rotary engine has been previously confirmed for the United States, but now it would appear it’s slated to arrive for the 2023 model year at the earliest. It’s still happening though, contrary to reports from earlier this year that stated Mazda had abandoned development of the range-extending setup.

Source: Mazda

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Mainly targeting North America, the CX-70 and CX-90 will adopt two- and three-row seating, respectively, and will feature wider bodies for more interior room. This makes sense as roads in the United States are typically wider than just about anywhere around the world. In markets such as Europe and Japan, Mazda will launch CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs featuring narrower bodies and the same choice between two and three rows of seats.

These models are part of what the Japanese marque refers to as the Large Product Group, and depending on the market, will come in a PHEV configuration based around gasoline and diesel engines. These are all-new developments, with straight-six Skyactiv-X and Skyactiv-D engine, which will also be available with a 48V mild hybrid system.

Not only that, but Mazda has also developed a separate plug-in hybrid setup with a smaller four-cylinder gasoline engine combined with an electric motor. The more powerful PHEV configurations are going to be available in the United States where customers prioritize performance while Europeans will get the more fuel-efficient versions in line with the more stringent emissions regulations.

All four large SUVs will be launched by the end of 2023 and will be followed two years later by a wave of dedicated electric vehicles built on a bespoke platform. By the end of the decade, Mazda aims to electrify its entire lineup, which can only mean the iconic MX-5 Miata roadster will also embrace a hybrid setup at the very least.

Source: Mazda

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Even though it’s the second half of 2021 and range anxiety is becoming less and less of an issue with EVs, it is still a real concern for those looking to purchase an MX-30. Mazda says it will do only 100 miles (161 kilometers) between charges with a full battery based on the EPA estimation, which is less than ideal for a premium electric crossover.

It uses a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged to 80% in about 36 minutes if you’re utilizing a DC 50 kW fast charger. The same task takes two hours and 50 minutes with an AC 240V / 30 amps charger and 13 hours and 40 minutes with an AC 120V / 15 amps charger. The battery is backed by an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty, and Mazda will throw in three years of free access to remotely check the state of the battery by using the MyMazda app. The software also enables remote start/stop charging as well as remote lock/unlock doors and accessing the climate control settings.

The single electric motor sends 143 horsepower (107 kilowatts) and 200 pound-feet (271 Newton-meters) to the front wheels, which should be more than adequate for city use. Power is not the real issue here as the limited range will make the MX-30 a tough sell, although Mazda has promised a range-extending EV with a gasoline-fueled rotary engine that will solve the range anxiety problem.

Those looking for a better-equipped variant can spend $36,480 for the MX-30 equipped with the Premium Plus Package. It bundles the i-Activsense safety features with a 12-speaker Bose sound system, heated steering wheel, 360-degree camera, and keyless entry. Optional colors can cost as much as $995 as it’s the case of Mazda’s gorgeous Soul Red Crystal.

Interestingly, MX-30 owners will be given access to what the company refers to as the Mazda MX-30 Elite Access Loaner Program. Customers will be allowed to get behind the wheel of any other Mazda for up to 10 days per year during the first three years of ownership.

Source: Mazda

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The crossover originally launched last year with a pure EV setup before getting a mild-hybrid version, with the range-extending rotary engine scheduled to arrive in 2022. However, it looks as though that won’t be happening anymore as Mazda has put the Wankel setup on the backburner. Automotive News cites Japan’s Nikkei business daily and Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun claiming the plans to put a rotary engine in the MX-30 have been dropped.

Not all hope is lost as Mazda spokesperson Masahiro Sakata declared “we are still considering using the rotary engine as a range extender, but the timing of its introduction is undecided.” According to the original plan, the MX-30 was supposed to get the new Wankel engine in the first half of 2022 for the US and European versions of the crossover.

The rotary engine has been conceived to serve as a generator rather than power the wheels directly as was the case in the RX sports cars. The small-displacement engine is expected to be used in EVs with a large battery and a small gasoline fuel tank. Mazda has repeatedly said a new performance machine to follow up on the RX-8 is not on the agenda, specifying the rotary engine will only be used on range-extending electric vehicles.

It’s unclear at this point when Mazda will bring back the rotary engine, but it appears that won’t be happening in the first half of next year as initially announced.

Per a statement made in June, the automaker will roll out no fewer than five hybrids, five plug-in hybrids, and three pure electric vehicles between 2022 and 2025. By the middle of the decade, it will have its own dedicated EV platform on the company’s road to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Source: Automotive News

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