Unlike other automakers, Mazda is pretty frank about its corner-office head honchos' thoughts, not seeing the end of the internal combustion engine being near. As such, we know they don't have big plans for EV production in the US anytime soon.
According to Mazda's CEO, the Japanese company will not produce and market a fully electric model in the United States before 2026 or 2027. That means they are not too worried about the ICE-powered sector's doom, leaving them more time to focus on their plans to be one of the best-equipped brands in the CUV sector.
Looking at the current CX roster of SUVs, we see they started early with the CX-3, a subcompact crossover produced since 2015. They also doubled their reach in the sector with the CX-30 since 2019. The most significant segment across many regions – compact CUVs – is well represented at Mazda with the China-only CX-4, its evergreen CX-5 (its most popular model worldwide), and the fresh CX-50 produced in America for the Americas (and China).
At the top, the company has the CX-9 and all-new CX-90, but the Japanese carmaker wants to secure a major foothold in the mid-size sector with models like the CX-7 and CX-8. Naturally, the brand's think tank also believes there's even more space in the field, so they decided to create an additional pair of twins – the Mazda CX-70 for North America and the CX-80 for the rest of the international markets.
Of course, America eagerly awaits the next double-digit installment in the CX series after Mazda started production of the CX-50 compact crossover SUV at MTMUS (Mazda Toyota Manufacturing US) in Huntsville, Alabama, early last year and the model proved an excellent alternative for customers who like the CX-5 but wanted something a little more rugged.
Additionally, Mazda also thinks there's a small gap between the 2024 CX-50, starting at $30,300, and the 2024 CX-90 three-row crossover, starting at $39,595 (or $47,445 if you want the PHEV version). In Europe or other regions, that slot would be filled with the CX-60 – the original mid-size CUV model that introduced the company's all-new RWD and AWD platform with a longitudinal engine layout and an option to fit larger inline-six cylinder mills.
But in the United States, the CX-60 is not available – instead, the company aims to push the first-ever CX-70 in its slot. However, the model will not be available starting this year as a 2024 model year, according to the latest report from across the rumor mill and the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. The Halo oto channel on YT provides fresh automotive info corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are some whispers and CGI ideas about the new Mazda CX-70.
As such, the channel's host claims the Japanese automaker had to postpone the introduction of the new model for next year as a 2025 model year. No worries, those who are a bit more impatient than the norm have a chance to quench their CX-70 thirst with the resident pixel master's latest depiction of the upcoming Mazda – both in gray and orange colors to make sure it pops out or remains a subtle addition to the lineup. So, what do you think about its potential coupe-SUV-like looks – will Mazda go down that route, or will it be just a rebadged CX-60 or something else entirely?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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