Find Reviews by Make:
Mazda will debut an all-new crossover, and facelifted versions of two of its most popular models at next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
The CX-3 crossover, shown above, will be unveiled, alongside revised versions of the larger CX-5 crossover and the Mazda6 sedan. The CX-3 will be based on the Mazda2’s underpinnings, and compete with the Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V and other small crossovers.
The CX-3 is expected to get a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, but will likely only be offered with all-wheel drive. The CX-5 and Mazda6 will get styling updates both inside and out, as well as a new infotainment system currently used on the Mazda3.
35 Comments on “Mazda Planning Product Onslaught For Los Angeles Auto Show...”
Read all comments
The CX-3 is probably just what the doctor ordered in terms of market preferences of late, however, in Mazda’s case, I really feel that most of the CX-3 sales will come at the expense of the Mazda3 and CX-5 rather then generate new sales. There is also the matter of the Mazda3’s price and CX-5’s price. The CX-3 will undoubtedly fall in the sub $30k price range. The Mazda3 and CX-5 already overlap in price. There isn’t any room to differentiate the CX-3 on any price terms.
Mazda needs a new CX-9 as much or more than a CX-3 and they need a premium powertrain offering, where is that Skyactive D already?
2.5 engine for CX-5, 2.0 for 3? Perhaps your D fr the 5….
For urban customers, a smaller footprint is sometimes a desired feature, even at equal cost. And as long as policy remains to asset strip everyone else for the benefit of largely urban banksters, who will then generate a boom in employment amongst those clipping their toenails and giving them blowjobs, urban sales is a growth market.
CX-3 vs 3, in the US, will be differentiated by awd and, I’d hope, a factory hitch mount. The latter is honestly a bit of an insulting omission on the 3.
I don’t necessarily agree.
The CX-3 will be a global car. It should be a real hit in Latin America & Europe. Its US sales will be small. The CX-3 price will have to be less than the CX-5 and higher than the 2, which means it will occupy the same space at the 2.0L 3 (or maybe a bit less). But people choose their car not only on price–the typical CX-3 buyer I think will want more cargo room than a 2, but not want the footprint of a 3/CX-5 or pay the taxes of a CX-5. That’s why I don’t think it will do well in the US–we don’t have the footprint constraint (except in some cities) like other places. People who just want to save money will still opt for a 2 (or not buy a Mazda at all).
IIRC, the CX-9 isn’t sold in most countries. It may be more profitable, but it has such low potential sales volume that it makes sense to hit the hot market first. (The replacement CX-9 is slated for 2017.) They do need a new engine for the CX-9, and I suspect that new engine won’t be ready until then.
Do you think here is a mazda v6 on the way? The proposed turbo 4 for the speed3 would be adequate power wise but I’m thinking the 9 needs a v6 for character.
If a 4 is good enough for an $80K 5 series it’s good enough for a $40K Mazda
The CX-3 sounds pretty cool and is about just what the doctor ordered. I definitely see it being popular in urban areas, like the Mini and various other hatchbacks.
I’m thinking the 6 needs a 6, as well.
Mazda global head of sales and marketing, Masahiro Moro: “As Mazda is moving up towards premium territory, at some point in time we will need a six-cylinder,” he said. “It’s too early, we don’t have a car yet. But we are collecting advice as to V6 or straight six.”
Just read on an Australian site (drive.com?)that the new CX-9 will be revealed soon.
Mazda has said that they are looking at a premium, flagship car (to meet the goal of pushing the brand more upmarket). They’ve talked about it being RWD and a 6 cylinder. It was reported they were considering a V6 and an I6.
An I6 wouldn’t fit into any of their other products, but a V6 would–particularly the CX-9, a potential sports car based on the Miata, and a premium car. Plus, they set up their engine manufacturing cells specifically to handle machining a V6 (the 3.7L in the CX-9 & old 6). If they didn’t want to make the V6, they could have removed an entire machine/setup from that manufacturing line.
It makes sense that they would keep a V6 in the portfolio. A new version of the 3.7L should be viable. It’s the same as the Mustang engine–it doesn’t have direct injection, so there’s room to make it better.
In the end, if Mazda stays profitable and meets their goals for increased volume, I could see them taking the chance on those new cars & the V6. If they continue as-is, I don’t think they stick to I4s in everything.
the CX-3 will undoubtedly be a few $thousand more than the 3, so I’m sure Mazda won’t mind it stealing sales from the car.
I am wondering what the curb weight reduction of the CX-3 will be compared to the CX-5, and how that translates into a better driving experience when compared to the CX-5 2.0. I like my CX-5, but it’s a bit sluggish off the line, although there is a sweet spot from 2500-4000 rpm with the 6spd manual. The size reduction would actually be welcome, as I am alone in the vehicle 90% of the time; I am spoiled by the ride height now and would find it hard to go back to a sedan. Slightly lower prices compared to its bigger sibling only will help sales, and small “premium” vehicles seem to be on a steady upswing. Hopefully there will still be a manual available.
OK, I’ll ask…will there be a manual transmission available?
Lightweight, AWD, Mazda handling, new Mazda styling…this could be an interesting proposition.
The quick probable answer is yes, but not here. A global car needs a manual, but they just don’t sell well enough here to bother offering them. We Americans have been pegged as “shiftless” people who can afford to pay the higher costs of automatic transmission repairs.
What is premium about the Skyactive D? It’s slower to 60mph, and diesel is about $.56/gallon more expensive right now in the U.S.
The cost mainly.
The torque. It would pull like a V8. A similar 0-60 despite a much lower redline is a testament to how much better its driveability would be.
Also, absolute price difference between diesel & gas is not the important measure, but the percentage difference (to be compared to the percentage difference in economy).
I very much like the idea of the torque increase in driveability, but won’t the price premium more than offset any economy advantage of the diesel, especially given the efficiency of the Skyactiv engines? It seems the price differential, as on VW products, makes the payoff timeline way too extended, similar to some hybrids. But, I concede that I would seriously consider a diesel regardless.
Don’t think of it that way. Instead, think of the diesel like the V6, except with better efficiency. People paid more for the V6 to get more power/torque (drivability) and accepted lower fuel economy for it. With the diesel, people will pay more for increased torque (drivability) and will get no worse economy ($/mi) to boot.
The purpose is not to spend money to save money, it’s to spend money to get a product you enjoy more–it’s just a bonus that it doesn’t cost more in the long-run.
I like the idea of a diesel for the driveability, but given the probable price premium for one and the efficiency of the Skyactiv gas engines, it may be a steep price to pay, not unlike VW diesels or some hybrids and their gas siblings. But I would still seriously consider one.
Twerpy artwork aside, the CX-3 actually looks pretty good in photos. Mazda finally decided to give one of their vehicles a little ground clearance.
Looks like an interesting Encore competitor.
Things I’ve been hoping for on the Mazda6 revision:
-New infotainment (good to go here)
-Better/More sound deadening
-Revised hindquarters styling…the worst part of the current car IMO
-More powerful engine option
-Bring the wagon over (I can dream)
I was wondering when they’d update the 6’s interior to the level of the 3. It’s happening faster than I expected, so I’m pleased.
But yeah, it definitely needs some variants. An upgrade engine is needed (still waiting on the diesel too…), and a wagon version would put the car in a class of one.
Tycho Magnetic Anomaly 1, love that movie. Any word on specific engine upgrades besides the diesel? V-6, turbo, hybrid etc.?
If they sold the wagon here, I would have bought it.
As would I.
It’s extra frustrating that they ship every car overseas already, meaning that they could just swap out a sedan for a wagon on the boat over. Even as a special order item I’d be interested.
I would settle for just the sound deadening. I’m not holding my breath though; it’s pretty clear that Mazda does not care about road noise.
2.0L for the CX-3 sounds good, although I’d like to see it as an option on the new Mazda2 as well. If Mazda is serious about pushing the brand upmarket, they’re going to have to offer some upmarket powertrains pretty soon. I’m very interested in seeing what they equip the next CX-9 with, because an NA 2.5L obviously won’t cut it in that application.
I’m waiting for a Mazdaspeed CX-5, something along the lines of the original CX-5 concept, along with more power…
Only one of three of my comments have been posted! Still problems here?
Did you use the word “s*de” as in s*deswipe, or s*decar? Another poster noticed that it was a killer word you can’t use here anymore. I’ve used a y instead of i and gotten away with it. Otherwise, proofread and add the asterisk.
No, but I did menti*n br*wn, stati*n wag*n manual!
Must we find some pustule-faced crone to spit in a bowl of blood and stir it with her 6″ fingernail to divine this sort of thing?
All our crones here are busy with the election.
Computer code is relatively easy to write but extremely difficult to troubleshoot. Even the biggest companies rely on testers to work out the bugs, and finished code often needs patches for problems that users later “discover”.
Given the problems here, there’s something very obvious in the code that should have been caught. That leads me to believe it’s in a patch meant to fix another problem, and those are REALLY hard to find.
I think you’ve done half their work for them by isolating the suspect character combination.
If this is a “product onslaught” I’d hate to see a mild reshuffle.