Mazda’s new flagship expected to overshadow CX-9 as a five-star family fare.

STILL under wraps, and officially set to remain that way until January, but already confirmed as a starter for New Zealand.

That’s the Mazda CX-90, a new nameplate for a large and premium family cruise liner that could well sit above its largest current offer, the CX-9 people carrier (below), with more room and more zoom-zoom – from a new turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine.

Yes, you read that right. Mazda is swimming against the tide with that one – ‘downsizing’ is an established trend these days in carmaking, not just in capacity but cylinder count. That’s why the CX9 has a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.5-litre.

When the CX-90 launches, it should be the first Mazda to use the new turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, expected to be augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system.

Mazda will doubtless spin argument about this being a super six for efficiency and economy, but consensus is that it has upsized because it needs a schmoozier engine to support a desire to move even more toward the premium end of the market.

Which means? Well, don’t be surprised if it places above the dearest edition of the three-row CX-9 NZ has known, the $72,090 Takami.

In saying that, there’s expectation perhaps only the most expensive CX-90 will have the big engine.

Potentially there will also be an alternate plug-in hybrid, with a powertrain shared with the medium five-chair CX-60 that is also arriving next year.

The PHEV CX-60 takes a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol, producing up to 143kW and 261Nm of torque, mated to a 100kW electric motor that can produce 250Nm of torque from a standstill.

Combined, the maximum outputs are quoted as 244kW and 500Nm of torque, allowing 0-100kmh in just 5.8 seconds.

The electric motor draws power from a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery mounted in the floor of the car within the wheelbase. Mazda quotes an electric range of up to 63 kilometres depending on specification.

CX-90’s status as a NZ range citizen was confirmed earlier today Mazda NZ, and that – plus the photo above showing the car’s flank and giveaway ‘inline 6’ badge – was all they have shared.

The Auckland-based distributor has confirmed the global unveiling is in January, but has not shared when the car will get here.

The United States is a key market and media there are speculating CX-90 will be the make’s new range-topper, and so have more luxury features than its current crop of SUV models does. They also believe all-wheel-drive will be standard.

CX-90’s architecture is expected to also spawn a two-row SUV, the CX-70, which could be for North America only. Just like the CX-50 is.

Meantime, CX-90 is also expected to be the first model demonstrating a proprietary painting technology, Takuminuri, used to develop a new special colour, Artisan Red Premium (above).

Mazda believes colour to be a crucial element of what gives form to a vehicle; “thus, we are focusing our efforts on developing colours that accentuate a dynamic and delicate expression in line with the Kodo – Soul of Motion – design theme.”

Artisan Red Premium, is the fourth Takuminuri colour, and was developed to extend the range of how the world views red.Basically, it’s a special finish that could prove a sod to fix should it be scratched by a shopping trolley.