Mazda is getting in on the act with Frankfurt Motor Show teasers, as it announces a new ‘crossover SUV’ concept will be unveiled at the show next month. Although not confirmed yet, it’s likely to sit above the CX-5 as a flagship model, and should even be offered with seven seats.
The last larger SUV that Mazda produced, called the CX-7, was met with a lukewarm reception in the UK and didn’t sell strongly. The Japanese firm is hoping not to repeat the performance with “a bold statement”, evident from the dramatic styling of the Koeru concept teaser drawing.
Although the actual Frankfurt concept car is likely to be toned down a fair bit, as is the norm with these design sketches, a sleek front-end design based on the new CX-3 small crossover can be seen. The broad waistline and small glasshouse hint at a more dynamic treatment than the usual practical SUV, although we still expect a seven-seat version of the eventual production car to be offered to fill the only significant gap left in Mazda’s range.
Another possibility is that Mazda is getting in on the SUV-cum-coupe trend, creating a cut-price BMW X6. This would be a bold move in a segment traditionally dominated by premium brands. If that is the case, we could expect more performance-oriented versions of Mazda’s SKYACTIV petrol and diesel engines to appear as power options for the car. We’ll bring you the full story on the sporty new crossover as soon as we hear about it.
See what else is due to emerge at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show here…
