Mazda has begun production of its all-new CX-9 crossover, a seven-seater poised to give the brand a sales bump and inject Mazda’s fun-to-drive mantra into the crossover segment. Assembly began on February 11.
The first examples to roll off the production line in Hiroshima are destined for North America, which Mazda says will account for 80 percent of the model’s global sales, equating to about 40,000 units per year. The 3-row crossover was designed specifically with the US and Canadian markets in mind.
When it arrives, it will mark the complete revamp of the Mazda lineup since it parted ways with Ford in 2008. It replaces the outgoing CX-9 with an all-new model styled under the stunning Kodo “soul of motion” design language and engineered under the SkyActiv philosophy of marrying spirited performance with technology-driven fuel economy.
As per Mazda’s “Driving Matters” mantra, we have been told by Mazda engineers that it will be, by far, the best-handling vehicle in its class. It’s powered by a new 2.5-liter direct-injection turbo generating 250 horsepower mated to a traditional (read: non-CVT) 6-speed automatic.
According to Automotive News, Mazda hopes a strong crossover lineup, buoyed by the CX-5 and all-new CX-3, will lead to increased market share in the snow belt. The 2016 Mazda CX-9 is expected arrive in showrooms in spring of 2016.
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