Mazda North America Operations premieres Mazda CX-50

From Mazda Press Release

Mazda North America Operations unveiled the Mazda CX-50, the all-new SUV designed exclusively for the North American market. It will be the first Mazda model built at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

Production of the Mazda CX-50 is scheduled to begin at MTM in January 2022. MTM is a 50:50 joint venture between the two carmakers with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles (150,000 each). MTM was conceived as part of a broader Mazda-Toyota collaboration that includes the shared development of technology for electric vehicles, connected cars and advanced safety systems.

The Mazda CX-50 will join the US range above the Mazda CX-5. Sharing a platform with the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-30, Mazda’s latest SUV will initially be powered by one of two Skyactiv-G 2.5 petrol engines, with electrification to follow. It features the latest i-Activ AWD system and Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive), which offers different drive modes for various conditions. The Mazda CX-50’s sleek yet powerful exterior emphasises its enhanced off-road capabilities, while the layout and quality of the cabin – which comes with a panoramic sunroof, a Mazda first – demonstrate to the brand’s continued focus on delivering a superior driving experience.

The all-new model comes ahead of two larger crossover SUVs that will be launched in Europe over the next two years. The Mazda CX-60 with two rows of seating and the three-row Mazda CX-80 will mark the introduction of petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrains to Europe. Combining high output and low emissions, there will also be a new-generation Skyactiv-X inline six cylinder compression-ignition engine and a Skyactiv-D diesel with 48V mild hybrid systems.