After Delays, Mazda Will Finally Show Us The CX-70 On January 30
2024 Mazda CX-90 Front View
It’s expected to be a two-row version of the CX-90.
Mazda’s rear-wheel-drive onslaught started a year ago with the CX-90, a seven-seat SUV built on a completely new platform. A CX-70 sans the third row was supposed to debut before the end of 2023 but that didn’t happen. After being delayed, the newcomer is about to break cover. The Zoom-Zoom company quietly announced on its Canadian website when we’ll see the family hauler: January 30 at 11 AM EST.
Despite being just a few weeks away from its premiere, the CX-70 has yet to be spotted testing as a camouflaged prototype. This absence might be attributed to its anticipated resemblance to the CX-90. In a February 2023 official document released by Mazda, it was stated that the upcoming SUV would be a “two-row model with the same body as the CX-90.” From this announcement, we can infer that it will maintain the same size but feature a larger cargo area by eliminating the third row.
Recent filings with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) all but confirm that the CX-70 will utilize the same powertrains as the CX-90. Customers will have the option to choose between a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six or a smaller 2.5-liter four-cylinder, with the latter forming part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Both options are expected to feature the eight-speed automatic transmission.
The larger engine is reportedly available in two states of tune, a scenario not surprising given that the six-cylinder is offered in the CX-90 with 340 hp and 369 lb-ft, as well as a lesser version rated at 280 hp and 332 lb-ft. Mazda has engineered both variants of the 3.3-liter unit with a mild-hybrid setup.
The smaller four-cylinder is a naturally aspirated mill working in conjunction with an electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 323 hp and 369 lb-ft from the plug-in hybrid setup. Positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission, the electric motor draws power from a 17.8-kWh battery pack.
Pricing for the two-row model is expected to be fairly consistent with the three-row variant. The base CX-90 starts at $39,595, while the plug-in hybrid variant is priced from $49,945. All of them have AWD as standard.
Unfortunately, the possibility of a next-generation Mazda6 utilizing this RWD-based platform has been ruled out. The aging midsize sedan is still on sale in certain regions, having exited the US market after the 2021 model year.
It’ll Be This SUV Minus The Third Row:
Source: Mazda Canada