Mazda already has a rather extensive lineup of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to suit just about every need and size. It’s got the small and stylish CX-3, the compact CX-5, and the large yet still nimble CX-9. And it also has the CX-4 in markets like China. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the Hiroshima-based brand is set to launch yet another crossover in its Japanese home market—the Mazda CX-8.
Set to come out before the end of 2017, the CX-8 is touted as the top-tier model in the Japanese market model hierarchy. Measuring 4,900mm long, 1,840mm wide, and 1,730mm tall, with a 2,930mm wheelbase, the new CX-8 should slot in between the CX-9 and the CX-5.
Mazda plans to sell this new offering to buyers who need to seat more than five folks yet still appreciate a quality product with the sharp looks of the brand’s vaunted KODO Soul of Motion design language. Speaking of passenger space, Mazda promises comfortable third row seating even for adults.
Being a Mazda, the upcoming CX-8 will boast the latest SKYACTIV tech. This is highlighted by a 2.2-liter SKYACTIV-D diesel motor paired with the SKYACTIV Drive speed auto gearbox.
The new Mazda CX-8 will debut in Japan real soon.