Along with revealing plans to launch a plug-in hybrid version of the brand new CX-60 midsize SUV, Mazda Australia has also confirmed that the larger CX-80 will be coming here.
Embedded in the official press release of the CX-60, Mazda Australia said “(the CX-60) will be joined in the future by the CX-80, which will feature three-row seating.”
This large, three-row SUV will use the all-new Mazda Large Product Architecture and longitudinally mounted engines that will underpin the forthcoming CX-60, CX-70 and CX-90 – all different models targeting the unique needs of SUV buyers.
The Mazda CX-80 will likely be a larger version of the CX-8
The CX-80 large SUV will arrive in Australia sometime in 2023, however Mazda is yet to confirm exactly which month this will happen.
So what will the CX-80 be all about?
Riding on an all-new longitudinal chassis, the CX-80 represents another crucial part of Mazda’s premium push towards targeting upmarket brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Volvo.
Powering the CX-80 large SUV will be all-new petrol and diesel straight-six engines, with likely mild-hybrid 48-volt assistance to make these new drivetrains as efficient as possible for global consumption.
Captain’s chairs in the current Mazda CX-8
In some markets, Mazda’s existing turbo-petrol 2.5-litre four-cylinder – turned lengthways – could also feature, and that’s a likely option for Australia.
The 2023 CX-80 is likely to be slightly bigger than the current CX-8 (4900mm long, 1840mm wide and 1720mm tall – essentially a long-wheelbase CX-5) and will have three rows of seats.
More information on both the Mazda CX-60 and CX-80 will come to light as we get closer to the launch of both cars, starting in late 2022.