New York show: Mazda reveals fresh CX SUVs

MAZDA has breathed fresh air into its CX crossover twins, with facelifted versions of the compact CX-7 five-seater and mid-sized CX-9 seven-seater SUVs both gracing last week’s New York Auto Show.

In fact, while the revised CX-9 was announced ahead of the Big Apple exhibition, the upgraded CX-7 first appeared at the Canadian International Auto Show at Toronto in February, when an entry-level naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre petrol front-drive version was also unveiled, before a diesel-powered CX-7 debuted at the Geneva motor show in March.

All versions of both 2010 models are under consideration for Australia, with the updated petrol models due here late this year and, if imported, the diesel CX-7 expected to arrive a few months later.

The CX-9 facelift comprises a number of interior and exterior cosmetic changes said to be inspired by its new ‘Nagare’ design language, plus new options and extra safety features.

Launched here in December 2007 and now in its fourth year of production, the three-row Mazda SUV features an updated corporate family face including a bolder five-point grille, plus new headlights and foglights.

There are also larger, more aerodynamic side mirrors, new 18 and 20-inch alloy wheel designs, a different tailgate garnish and similar Nagare-inspired rear combination lights incorporating a red lower lens. A new exterior paint colour – Dolphin Gray – also joins the range.

Inside, Mazda has attempted to lift the quality and sophistication of the CX-9’s cylindrical-themed cabin even further, via chrome accents on the T-shaped instrument panel, which continues to feature indirect blue illumination, as well as on the climate controls, automatic transmission shifter, air-vents, inner door-handles and door trims.

Top: Mazda CX-9. Below: Mazda CX-7.

The 2010 CX-9 also features new high-density fabric seat trim, higher-quality leather trim with subtle stitching, piano-black highlights on the steering wheel and audio system surround, and a new double-lid centre console compartment.

The CX-9’s 204kW/366Nm 3.7-litre petrol V6 remains unchanged for the 2010 model year and continues to power both all-wheel drive and front-drive models in the US, thought the latter is unlikely to be made available in Australia.

New CX-9 features for the US include a redesigned rear climate-control system and a new keyless entry and starting system key fob to replace the key card design on flagship Grand Touring variants in the US.

There is also an optional new 4.3-inch full-colour LCD display that links the audio, satellite-navigation and reversing camera functions in models fitted with the Bose sound package, with the latter now featuring a wide-angle camera with an improved field of vision.

On sale in Australia since December 2006, meantime, the CX-7 comes in for a more substantial midlife facelift, as well as the availability of diesel and naturally-aspirated petrol power for the first time.

Aimed primarily at the US market and therefore revealed at Toronto, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine is lifted directly from the Mazda6 and new Mazda3 SP25, and is fitted exclusively to a new front-drive version of the CX-7.

Aimed directly at Europe and therefore unveiled at Geneva is the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel version, which similarly borrows its firepower from the Mazda6. It will next year also become available in the new Mazda3, but all three oil-burning Mazdas will remain manual-only propositions.

Mazda has committed to all-new petrol and diesel engines from 2011 and GoAuto understands all of Mazda’s engineering effort is currently focussed on drivetrain development. Therefore no new transmissions will be fitted to existing engines.

If sold here, the front-drive 2.5 petrol and all-wheel drive 2.2 diesel CX-7 variants will bookend the existing MZR 2.3-litre DISI turbocharged petrol version, providing much-needed fuel consumption reductions over the single version of the CX-7 currently offered here, which officially returns 11.5L/100km.

“We’re in discussions with the factory now regarding right-hand drive availability and specification levels,” a Mazda spokesman told GoAuto. “The (manual-only) diesel is a question of (sales) volume. Manual is only a small percentage of SUV sales, so we need an indication of specification to (price) position it here.

“Diesel won’t be our volume (selling) drivetrain. If we can make a (business) case for it, the front-drive 2.5 would be our entry-level model.

“So if we bring the 2.5 to balance the 2.3 turbo, that would allow us to (price) position the diesel where we wanted,” he said.

If imported, expect the front-drive 2.5 CX-7 to undercut the model’s current entry-level price point – $41,440 for the CX-7 Classic auto – making Mazda’s compact SUV more competitive with top-selling rivals such as Toyota’s RAV4, which starts from $32,490.

While the 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated MZR DOHC 16-valve engine delivers around 125kW and 226Nm and the 2.3-litre direct-injection turbo engine offers 175kW and 350Nm, preliminary specification list the MZD-CD turbo-diesel as producing 127kW and 400Nm – enough to propel the AWD CX-7 diesel to 100km/h in 11.3 seconds and to a top speed of 200km/h.

While that’s not as quick as the 191kW/380Nm turbo-petrol CX-7, the diesel returns official combined average fuel consumption of 7.5L/100km and average CO2 emissions of 199g/km.

Mazda says refinement was the name of the game when it came to the CX-7’s midlife facelift.

“A key word in the development process of the 2010 CX-7 was refinement,” said Mazda Motor Corporation’s CX-7 program manager Masashi Otsuka. “The vehicle we had to start with was already really good and well liked by consumers, so my team didn’t have to start over, but simply refine.” Like the freshened CX-9, the 2010 CX-7 comes with a revised lower airdam and larger five-point upper grille similar to that on the facelifted RX-8 and MX-5 and new Mazda3. Premium versions gain new front foglight bezels and a chromed garnish on the bottom edge of the doors, plus extra design details for the front bumper, grille, wing mirrors and exterior door-handles.

There is also a larger rear roof spoiler, three new colours (Aluminium Metallic, Stormy Blue Mica and Sparkling Black Mica), new 18 and 19-inch alloy wheel option.

Inside, the CX-7 scores a new steering wheel with integrated controls for the sound system, Bluetooth telephone and cruise control functions, while CX-9-style blue instruments surrounds are added, along with a sloping new shape for the upper section of the double-roof instrument panel.

The latter move was to accommodate a new central Multi Information Display (MID), which like the CX-9 incorporates audio, satellite-navigation and rear-view camera functions. Two LCD screen types will be available in the US for the MID – a 3.5-inch monochrome dot matrix screen or a bright, high-resolution 4.1-inch colour screen.

Again mimicking the CX-9 update are piano black and metallic edges for the centre console, while anti-glare chrome surrounds ring the outboard air-vents and new soft-padded armrests are fitted to all four doors. A new centre console lid/armrest with high-resilience urethane lid completes the interior upgrade.

Premium versions of the US CX-7 also gain the option of three-position driver’s seat memory and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, while a Blind Spot Monitoring System similar to the one found in the upgraded CX-9 will also be available in some markets.

“I believe the new CX-7 is ideally positioned to compete around the world as a sustainable crossover SUV that’s a joy to own and to drive,” said Mr Ohtsuka.

“It moves away from the North American development and marketing focus of the current CX-7 and creates a truly global model. Consequently, it was vital to adopt more efficient powertrain technologies – for example a diesel engine – and we used this opportunity to raise interior and exterior quality, thereby giving the facelifted CX-7 a competitive position in diverse markets.”

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