The Mazda CX-90 Will Get a New Turbocharged Inline-Six With Mild-Hybrid Assist
Much of the automotive world is shifting to developing EVs and new alternative fuels. Meanwhile, Mazda is busy developing rotary range extenders and new internal combustion engines to power its vehicles.
The upcoming CX-90 three-row SUV will get a new turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six making 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a mild-hybrid system, which enables better acceleration and lets the engine shut off while coasting to improve fuel economy.
Mazda’s first EV, the MX-30, fell well short of expectations for range and value. At more than $34,000 to start, the pint-sized crossover offers only 100 miles of range, though charging is fast, at just 36 minutes to 80 percent. The automaker revived its rotary engine for use as a range extender in the vehicle for UK buyers, but needing a gas engine to juice up range is not the best way to move forward with electrification.
That said, Mazda announced a more than $10 billion investment in electrification. Its efforts won’t show up until 2026 or 2027, though we could see a codeveloped EV from Toyota-Mazda at some point sooner. Toyota owns a stake in Mazda, and while it has its own woes with moving to EVs, its pockets are much deeper than the considerably smaller Mazda.
[Photo: Mazda]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Mazda are making the smart play. EVs are an expensive fad.
This appears to be another Mazda "Throw it at the wall and see if it sticks." sort of effort. I'm sure Mazda will sell 10's of these 6-cylinder hybrids to the Mazda faithful, few that they may be. We shall see.
Not sure if Mazda and Toyota are in the same keiretsu. Mazda could become Toyota's what the heck, let us try it, division.
I hope Mazda succeeds this could give the true enthusiasts more performance with more efficiency. A turbo straight 6 with a hybrid could be a fun car to drive even if it is in a crossover.