CX-5 aims for number one

Mazda's all-new CX-5 crossover is gunning for number one spot in the compact SUV battlefield

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Mazda Australia has sounded a warning for Subaru, Hyundai, Toyota et al. Not content with number one in the small car category with Mazda3, the brand is now gunning for the top spot in the burgeoning compact SUV marketplace.

Its weapon of choice is the all new CX-5. Due Down Under in early 2012, the handsome new compact is the first vehicle to be built using Mazda's full suite of SKYACTIV technologies.

The cornerstone of Mazda's 'Sustainable Zoom Zoom' mantra, SKYACTIV encompasses powertrain, body construction and chassis concepts that refine existing technologies rather than employ measures such as electric drivetrains or hybrid componentry. Accordingly, the CX-5 will arrive Down Under next year with a choice of cutting-edge direct-injection petrol and turbodiesel engines and all-new manual and super-efficient SKYACTIV-DRIVE auto transmissions.

Both all and front-wheel drive variants will debut, but perhaps equally importantly for Mazda in achieving its number one goal, the CX-5 will also deliver the carmaker its first turbodiesel/automatic transmission combination for the segment.

"With this car we will be seriously looking for number one [in the segment]," Mazda Australia chief Doug Dickson told motoring.com.au at an embargoed prototype drive of the CX-5 in Iceland last week.

"With CX-7 we are regularly in number three or four spot [in monthly sales]. We know that car [CX-7] is above the [pricing and sizing] sweet spot and we are confident that we can position the new CX-5 correctly [to significantly increase sales]," Dickson said.

The local Mazda boss says CX-5 will provide the carmaker with a much wider range of variants -- currently CX-7 is limited to just four versions.

He says model range complexity is still something Mazda will be careful to minimise but that consumers can expect a significantly wider offer from the CX-5 than the car it effectively replaces.

Dickson would not confirm pricing or the model walk for the new compact SUV but stated: "To do this [claim number one spot], we need as wide a range [of CX-5 variants] as possible."

We'd suggest a three-tier strategy is in Mazda's playbook with both petrol and turbodiesel front-drivers offered at the entry-level. Indeed, Dickson confirmed Mazda Australia would not limit diesel to top of the range models. A sub-$30,000 starting price is a given for the petrol, front-wheel drive

If the switchgear spied in the top of the range pre-production prototypes we drove near Reykjavik are anything to go by, the CX-5 will introduce a number of new safety features into the local Mazda line-up. These include lane departure and blindspot warning systems plus integrated rear cameras and parking assistance systems.

And thanks to the new SKY-G (for gasoline) and turbodiesel SKY-D powertrains, the new Mazda softroaders could be class-leaders in terms of fuel economy too.

Though Mazda is yet to release official ECE or ADR fuel figures for any CX-5 variants, the carmaker is pointing at small-car matching fuel stats. During last week's sessions Mazda claimed real world figures of around 10 per cent better than equivalent Volkswagen group models in back-to-back testing.

Mazda has also gone on record that it's front-wheel drive manual  turbodiesel CX-5 will have a CO2 output of better than 120g/km. This equates to a fuel consumption figure of around 4.5L/100km.

Mazda's Iceland cars wore light camouflage ahead of the model's official unveiling at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. At that time the carmaker will confirm final fuel economy and powertrain details. High and low power versions of both the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol and 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel power plants are expected.

The vehicle goes on sale in Europe at the start of 2012.

Mazda Australia is keeping its cards close to its chest on the exact timing of the CX-5's arrival Down Under.

Mazda Australia communications head Steve Maciver told motoring.com.au: "CX-5 is a very important car for us. with that in mind we're looking to get the car here as soon as possible. At this stage that's looking like early 2012 -- I can't be more specific than that."

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