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Feann Torr15 Aug 2013
NEWS

Mazda CX-3 on wish list

Mazda Australia wants CX-3 baby SUV to fill the hole in its range "sooner rather than later"

As sales of sub compact SUVs continue to grow, both in developed markets such as Australia and Europe, and emerging markets like Brazil and India, Mazda is keen to get in on the act.

And the CX-3 is the most likely vehicle to do so.

Mazda has not confirmed the existence of the CX-3 baby SUV yet, but as we reported from the Sydney motor show in 2012 the Japanese company's top brass are seriously considering it.

Mazda is keen to sell the micro SUV here in Australia.

During a local preview of the all-new Mazda3 in Melbourne this week, Mazda Australia's Managing Director Martin Benders told motoring.com.au that a light car-based SUV "would fill the biggest potential hole" in its model range.

"What's happening in Europe [with downsizing of SUVs], I can see it [CX-3] coming. I would rather Mazda get in there sooner rather than later if we could get it," added Benders, noting that the CX-5 (pictured) was late to the compact SUV party yet has since shown to be a massive success.

The CX-3 would need to be sold on a global scale for it to be profitable Benders explained.

"If you think about the downsizing that's happening, that segment would work here, it would certainly work in Europe as there's a stack of small SUVs there already."

"But I question whether it would work in the US as I don't know if they've actually downsized that far yet. We have Canada above and Mexico below which also offer alternate sales options there, so who knows. With this new platform technology, the bigger the volume the better, so yeah, they'd be looking to see where they could export it."

We've reported previously that Mazda has expressed interest in exporting the CX-3 to emerging markets such as Brazil and India, much like the Brazilian-designed and Indian-built Ford EcoSport micro SUV, and Benders says its scalable SKYACTIV platform would underpin such as model.

"The whole SKYACTIV ethos is to build platforms that can be scaled up and down and moved into different categories, so the platform has enough flexibility to be able to do that," he said.

The company has invested seven billion yen ($80 million) in new product development this financial year, much of which is rumoured to be for the new CX-3.

It's likely the CX-3 platform will be similar to that of the next-generation Mazda2, due in 2014, and Benders says that Mazda is investing heavily not only in new product development but also new engine development, which could give the CX-3 a strong start to life later in the decade.

"We're continuing to invest in the future, in more new models and more development on the SKYACTIV engines, with another generation to come," he revealed.

The next generation of super-efficient engines will be ready to roll "probably in the balance of the decade, not in this current generation," said Benders. Expect new sub 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines.

Mazda Australia is currently focussed on launching its new Mazda3 in February 2014, which will be one of the most efficient cars in its class. Next on the list is the new Mazda2 which, after a specification update coming next week adding more features, will be replaced by a new model "second half of 2014 or early 2015" says Benders.

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