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By Scott Newman, carsales.com.au
Mazda has revealed its most powerful car with the all-new flagship CX-90 SUV.
The Japanese brand is marching up market and aiming to steal a slice of the luxury soft roader pie with its CX-90 which was officially released in one of the wealthiest enclaves on the planet in Malibu, California.
The stylish seven-seater will drive Mazda into new territory when it arrives in Australia later this year with its most powerful engine ever, a 3.3-litre turbo-petrol in-line six-cylinder that produces 254kW of power and 500Nm of torque.
Like the smaller, five-seat CX-60 that is due to launch locally in June, it will also be offered with a six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine of the same capacity that delivers 187kW and 500Nm with a Plug-In Hybrid option (using a 2.5-litre four cylinder and electric motor) to follow in 2024.
All variants will feature an all-wheel drive transmission with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Pricing and exact specifications are yet to be revealed, but using the CX-60 as a guide, we can expect a range of CX-90 model variants – likely using nameplates such as Evolve, GT and Azami – with elevated price tags.
With the CX-60 starting at $59,800 (plus on-road costs), expect the CX-90 entry point to approach $70,000 and head well into the $80K bracket. Indeed, a CX-90 PHEV could well breach the six-figure barrier to become the most expensive Mazda model ever sold in Australia.
The CX-90 is built on the same platform as the CX-60 though is larger in every dimension, including a longer wheelbase for greater passenger room and to accommodate the third row of seats.
This new rear-biased Large Product Group platform is based around longitudinal engines and results in a classic long-nose, cab-rearward stance like European rivals such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X7.
It’s a handsome, well-proportioned shape that rides on 21-inch wheels and has a slightly bulbous rear-end, but that’s likely a necessary compromise to provide extra luggage capacity and room for third-row passengers.
Those in the last row will be better accommodated than usual, with USB-C charging ports, air-conditioning vents, and lighting. Mazda hasn’t revealed any dimensions or interior volume capacities yet but there appears to be decent cargo space with the rearmost seats in place and they fold flat to create a vast boot.
Like the CX-9 that it will eventually replace, the CX-90 can be had in six- or seven-seat configurations, the centre row available as either a bench or two separate seats with a centre console.
Another pair of USB-C ports are located on the rear of the front centre console and there are not only separate temperature controls for the rear, but heated and ventilated seats, too, though these will presumably be limited to the top-spec variant.
For the driver and front-seat passenger the dash design is clean and incorporates a 12.3-inch infotainment screen while high-quality cabin materials set a new benchmark for Mazda with Nappa leather, maple wood and a fabric dash created using a traditional Japanese weaving technique called Kakenui.
The CX-90 will also benefit from every available active safety feature, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and park assist.
Both engines use Mazda’s 48-volt mild-hybrid technology with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed automatic transmission able to assist in low-speed driving to improve performance and reduce fuel consumption.
In an effort to improve cornering performance, the new CX-90 features Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control, a system first introduced on the MX-5 that gently brakes the inside rear wheel during turns to increase stability.
Full Australian details for the Mazda CX-90, including local specifications and pricing, will be released closer to its arrival later this year.
Disclaimer: Images supplied by Mazda USA.
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