Mazda is going to launch two large new SUV models in the coming year, and the first of those will be the CX-60. Although so far the Japanese car maker has only shown us a closely cropped shot of the front corner of the car, we do know that it will be a large five-seat SUV, and that it will come with plug-in hybrid power.
Right solution at the right time
According to Mazda, in spite of the clamour for fully-electric cars, there's still room in the market for a plug-in hybrid. "The CX-60 PHEV demonstrates Mazda's commitment to a multi-solution approach to sustainable mobility and the principal of the right solution at the right time," said a spokesperson. Mazda has generally been a bit sceptical of battery-powered cars, citing concerns over the size and weight of batteries, and their up-front environmental cost.
Sharing with Toyota?
We know that the new CX-60 will have a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, and that in combination with its plug-in hybrid battery and electric motor, it will produce more than 300hp. If that all sounds very familiar, well it's also the recipe used by the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Mazda and Toyota have a long-standing agreement to share technology, so although Mazda does have its own 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, we strongly suspect that the CX-60 will borrow the hybrid system, and very likely the chassis, of the RAV4.
There's precedent for this - the new Mazda2 Hybrid small hatchback (which is not on sale in Ireland yet) is basically a Toyota Yaris with different badges. In some markets, the CX-60 will also come with a mild-hybrid petrol engine option, which is likely to be Mazda's own SkyActiv-G engine, but that's not confirmed for European sales as yet.
Widest possible range of driving
According to Mazda, its "first PHEV powertrain will offer smooth, efficient and powerful acceleration giving the driver greater confidence and driving enjoyment in the widest possible range of driving scenarios."
Coming along later will be the new CX-80, which will be a larger seven-seat SUV, and which will also likely have a plug-in hybrid powertrain, making it a rival to the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. The CX-60 will be shown off in full on March 8th.