The new Mazda CX-60 is the Japanese firm's crucial new range-topping SUV, representing a step change in terms of design philosophy, positioning and – most importantly – electrification.
Arriving to top the brand’s European line-up, it brings Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain, pairing a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with an EV motor in the new eight-speed wet-clutch gearbox to produce a combined 323bhp and 369lb ft, making this the brand’s most powerful road car yet. Meanwhile, a 17.8kWh battery supplies an engine-off driving range of 37 miles. All these figures stack up favourably against PHEV rivals at a similar price point, namely the Volvo XC60 Recharge and BMW X3 xDrive40e.
The CX-60 PHEV's powertrain – entirely unrelated to the one seen in strategic partner Toyota's RAV4 PHEV – is expected to get it from 0-62mph in 5.8sec and emit just 33g/km of CO2 on the WLTP combined cycle.
While the hybrid is expected to take two-thirds of European sales, a pair of 48V mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine options – hence a bonnet that's noticeably longer than on the four-pot Mazda CX-5 – will be added to the line-up later on: a 3.3-litre diesel in 2022 and a 3.0-litre petrol in 2023, which uses Mazda’s SPCCI compression-ignition technology for improved efficiency. The company has yet to give power or performance details for these new motors.
The new motors were chosen against the industry trend towards inline-four power, acknowledges Mazda, because 500cc cylinders give the best balance of torque and thermal efficiency, so it’s better to boost the outright count rather than individual capacity.
The new arrival sits atop an all-new native rear-wheel-drive platform – a layout Mazda says allows for improved dynamic balance (as proved by the MX-5) and refinement – which will be used for four new models by 2025, including the three-row CX-80 and the wider CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs for the US market.
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