The new Mazda CX-5, designed with “refined toughness”

Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV

Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the all-new Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV.  The Mazda CX-5 was launched in 2012 as the 1st mid-size Mazda of its type, following previous larger SUVs like the CX-7.

As Mazda’s 1st new-generation model which featured their KODO design and SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, it has been acclaimed worldwide for its dynamic design, responsive driving feel and excellent environmental and safety performance.

It has grown into a core model, accounting for approximately 25 percent of Mazda’s annual sales, and to date 1.4 million units have been sold in around 120 different countries.

Refined toughness

For the design, Mazda settled on “refined toughness” as their keyword, and challenged themselves to elevate the design concept.  Inspired by traditional Japanese crafts, they pursued a minimalist aesthetic, free of all non-essential elements.  The result is a bold and premium-looking exterior, and an interior that gives all occupants a pleasant feeling, they say.

The slogan for development of the Next-Gen Mazda CX-5 is “an SUV all customers will enjoy,” and Mazda aims to add a new dimension by offering its SUV for everyone on board to enjoy – not just the driver.

It also prioritises passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and pleasant ride feel, and adopts G-Vectoring Control – the first of the SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS vehicle motion control technologies.

The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0 and 2.5 petrol, and SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engines.

Since Mazda found the metallic red, nearly all their cars from Mazda3 to Mazda6 to MX-5 and CX-3 have been shown in a metallic red.  The new CX-5, too.  The “new” metallic red body colour shown here is Soul Red Crystal, which combines “vivid highlights and crystalline depths and further accentuates the design of the new CX-5”.

The fully redesigned model will be launched in Japan in February, and is expected to launch in Southern Africa by mid-2017.