Mazda’s product renaissance, which began with the CX-5 crossover before spreading to the Mazda 6, Mazda 3, MX-5 Miata, and the upcoming CX-3 and Mazda 2, marches onward toward its next natural destination: the CX-9. (Even Mazda’s press website refers to the CX-9 as the “elder statesman” of the lineup.) That’s not to say we don’t like it—even nearly a decade on, the CX-9 remains one of the better three-row crossovers out there—it simply doesn’t look or feel like a new Mazda. Well, according to a report in motoring.com.au, a replacement is in sight.
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We’ve heard rumblings about a new CX-9 for the past couple years, and the clear implication was that the new CX-9 would have to use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s both powerful and efficient enough for people-mover duty. Now, the redesigned CX-9 is set to debut at the L.A. auto show this fall, and it’s said to use a variant of the turbocharged 2.5-liter four headed for the hot Mazdaspeed 3 hatchback.
-Like every contemporary Mazda, we expect the CX-9 to utilize a lightweight yet stiff chassis developed using the same “Skyactiv” techniques employed to good effect on everything from the Mazda 3 to the new Miata. We’d also speculate that, should Mazda ever solve its diesel-engine issues for the U.S., the CX-9 could also get diesel power. Regardless, we expect the new CX-9 to be efficient, fun to drive, and attractive, which describes every new Mazda that has debuted in the past four years.
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On a related topic, motoring.com.au also speculates that Mazda may revive the CX-7 nameplate sometime after the CX-9 debuts. It offers no confirmation of a CX-7 (which would essentially be a stretched, three-row CX-5), but given the popularity of three-row crossovers, a new CX-7 could do good things for Mazda.
-from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1E004TY
via Agya
