SPY PICS: More tech for Mazda CX-5

Mazda's CX-5 has come in for a nip and tuck, as these spy shots from Germany show.

Exterior design changes for Australia's top-selling SUV, which went on sale in Australia as Mazda's first all-SKYACTIV model just two and a half years ago in February 2012, are few.

There are no sheetmetal changes, or even new bumpers, but as evidenced here the 2015 CX-5 will bring new-look headlights and tail-lights, a horizontal-bar grille to replace the current model's honeycomb arrangement and, perhaps, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights, as seen on the Mazda6.

Although they can't be seen here, interior changes will be more significant. Expect the midlife CX-5 makeover to bring all of the technologies seen in the newer Mazda3 and Mazda6.

That includes Mazda's latest MZD Connect infotainment system, comprising a larger-seven inch colour-touch screen with console controller and voice activation to replace the existing CX-5's smaller 5.8-inch inbuilt multimedia screen.

The current CX-5's advanced standard safety features extend to a reversing camera and tyre pressure monitoring, while premium models add blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and high-beam control, and sat-nav is via Tom Tom.

But that's about to change too, given the newer Mazda6, Mazda3 and, soon, even the Mazda2 are all available with adaptive bi-xenon headlights, radar cruise control, forward obstruction warning, rear cross-traffic alert, smart brake support (which uses milliwave radar to detect obstructions ahead at speeds between 15 and 145km/h) and smart city brakes support, which uses a near-infrared sensor to do the same job at speeds between 4 and 30km/h.

As you can see in these spy shots, all of the cameras and sensors for these new safety features are fitted behind the windscreen of this CX-5 prototype, although the head-display from the Mazda3 SP25 cannot be seen.

The CX-5's 2.0- and 2.5-litre petrol engines and the 2.2-litre diesel are unlikely to change, given the mid-size SUV was the first Mazda to bring the full suite of direct-injection SKYACTIV powertrains, including six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

However, more widespread deployment of Mazda's latest fuel-saving measures, including idle-stop and capacitor-based brake energy regeneration systems, could make the CX-5 even more efficient, even if the diesel already sips a class-leading 5.7L/100km.

Similarly, chassis changes are unlikely, given the CX-5's crisp suspension and steering are highlights of the current model.

Expect the 2015 CX-5 to make its world debut at the Los Angeles motor show in November, before arriving in Australian showrooms early next year – followed by the CX-3, an all-new small SUV based on next month's new Mazda2.