Mazda Confirms Two Brand-New Engines for the U.S.

Mazda CX-9Image: Mazda

Mazda is continuing its march towards becoming a premium automaker. We finally have official word that the Zoom Zoom brand is giving the U.S. market two brand new engine options that will debut in two new crossovers.

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Mazda’s future engine plans have been back and forth for the past few years. They gave us a short-lived diesel in the CX-5, but it cost too much, and no one bought (or cared for) it, so it was dropped. Then came word that the Mazda6 was getting a next-gen with rear-wheel drive and a turbocharged I6 engine. But sedan sales have been on the decline for years, and Mazda scrapped plans for the next-gen 6, leaving us with a will-they-won’t-they frame of mind for the I6.

Then we learned the rest of the world was getting a rear-wheel drive plug-in hybrid crossover from them called the CX-60, but that it wasn’t destined for the United States. However, it did have a plug-in hybrid powertrain based around a 2.5-liter I4. If we weren’t getting the CX-60, could we at least have the engine? Well, it looks as if we’re getting both.

Mazda confirmed to me that the U.S. is set to get both a turbocharged I6 and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. These engines will debut in two new crossovers called the CX-70 and CX-90. From what we know, the CX-70 and CX-90 will both have platforms based around this new straight-six engine. That said, that’s about all we know.

A report from Australia’s Car Expert who also confirmed the engines coming to North America, says that the I6 is turbocharged and paired with a 48V mild hybrid system and puts out 280 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. If true, those are pretty low power numbers from something that’s both turbocharged and paired with a 48V system. We’ll have to wait and see though. Mazda plans to drop the CX-70 and CX-90, along with a new CX-50 sometime in 2023.