Mazda has used the Johannesburg Motor Show to show what it intends to bring to the local market within the next few months.
Mazda3
Dubbed as the “single most important car in the Mazda line-up” by David Hughes of Mazda SA, the Mazda3 – hatch and sedan variant – will find its way to SA in mid 2014.
The engine line-ups and technologies for both variants are expected to be made up of three petrol engines and a diesel powerplant. Overseas, all these units come fitted with Mazda’s i-stop idle-stop system as standard. The first petrol motor, a 1,5-litre four-cylinder unit, produces 73 kW and is mated with a six-speed manual transmission. Mazda claims a CO2 emissions figure of 118g/km. The second petrol unit is a 2,0-litre engine that comes in two states of tune – 88 kW and 121 kW. The 2,5 petrol range-topper produces 135 kW and 250 N.m of torque. The 2,2-litre diesel SkyActiv unit produces 110 kW.
The new Madza3 is expected to make use of Mazda’s Proactive Safety, developed to assist the drive in avoiding dangerous situations. This system includes innovations like i-Activsense which employs radars and cameras to recognise hazards, automatic high-beam assist, a lane-departure warning system, forward obstruction warning and Smart City Brake Support – which helps prevent or minimise impact with the vehicle ahead while moving at lower speeds.
Mazda6
The Mazda6 will be launched at about the same time as the Mazda 3. The local introduction will kick off with a 2,0- and 2,5-litre petrol, 2,2-litre diesel. The a 2,0-litre delivers 110 kW and 210 N.m, while the 2,5-litre unit that makes 141 kW and 256 N.m.
The new Mazda6’s front wheels have been moved forwards by 100 mm in relation to the A-pillar, resulting a shorter front overhang. The rear deck is also shorter. The cabin offers improvements in space utilisation – front shoulder room has been improved by 20 mm and rear kneeroom by 43 mm.
On the international market, the Mazda6 is offered with a wide range of safety features, including High-Beam Control, Adaptive Front-lighting, Hill Launch Assist, Emergench Stop Signal, Rear Vehicle Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning and Smart City Brake Support (low-speed active collision avoidance).
CX5
Mazda has announced that the CX5 will gain two new engines in the new year – a 2,5-litre petrol and 2,2-litre diesel.