Mazda CX-8 will be sold in
markets outside Japan as well. This is according to Hiroshi Inoue, managing
executive officer in charge of ASEAN business and president of Mazda Southeast
Asia.
Sales of the CX-8 will start in Japan on December 14
this year, with dealerships already beginning order taking. The model is
positioned as the flagship SUV over there, above the CX-5 that is a two-row
SUV, as the CX-9 is not available there.
For the Japanese market, the CX-8 will only be
available with a 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D engine (188 hp and 450 Nm) mated to a
six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission. Buyers will get to choose
between front-wheel drive and Mazda’s i-Activ AWD all-wheel drive system. It is
likely the turbodiesel unit will be replaced with the brand’s other powerplants
for markets outside Japan, namely the SkyActiv-G petrol units, although Inoue
did not reveal any specifics.
Additionally, he didn’t state what markets will get
the CX-8. The CX-9 and CX-8 share the same wheelbase
(2,930 mm), although the latter is shorter by 175 mm and narrower by 129 mm.
The CX-9 sold here is powered 2.5 litre turbocharged SkyActiv-G engine.
