Mazda chose this week's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney for the first public appearance of its redesigned CX-9 crossover. The Japanese firm's seven-seater model has been with us since 2007 having received its first facelift in 2009.
For its second facelift, Mazda brings the CX-9 closer to its newer products like the "6" and the CX-5 by applying the 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design theme to front and rear ends of the mid-size crossover, while also making some minor tweaks to the interior and adding a raft of new safety features.
At least from some angles, the 2013 CX-9's new and more serious fascia that features a five-point grille with a chrome surround connected to the revamped headlamps and a brand new bumper design, looks sharper and more modern than the outgoing model.
Mazda said that select models get LED Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) with a halo ring light guide around the headlamp unit.
Rounding out the exterior styling changes are the redesigned rear combination lamps, the re-sculptured rear bumper, the different exhaust trims, the newly styled 20-inch aluminum wheels, and fresh paint finishes.
The enhancements inside include different color schemes and materials for the seats and door panels, satin-silver decorative trims, white illumination for the instrument panel gauges that also get new finishes and a redesigned shift knob.
The infotainment system was also upgraded and features the latest audio, navigation and speech-recognition systems.
Finally, Mazda said it has added a raft of advanced "i-ACTIVSENSE" safety features such as Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and High Beam Control (HBC).
At least in Australia, there are no changes made to the CX-9's 3.7-liter V6 engine that continues to produce 273hp (203kW) and peak torque of 367Nm.
The North American model should make its world premiere at the LA Auto Show in November or at the Detroit motor show in mid-January 2013.
10 Comments:
I don't know if I like it or not.
front end looks sad. Mazda could have put better-looking headlights
that is not an attractive vehicle, but then it never has been.
A 3-row crossover? Completely pointless! Stop having so many kids, freaks.
Very nice - classy and quality looking; really unusual for a facelift. It's a Mazda afterall.
Why a serious face ?...With high unemployment, titanic levels of debt, political unrest in middle east, concerns over Iran and the bomb, class warfare, etc etc it is a serious world out there and people's mood reflects that in
their approach to consumption. Manufacturers are reflecting it in their products...more somber colors, less flash,
greater emphasis on efficiency & economy, movement of luxury brands down market, delay of introduction of high end models, etc etc.
Huge improvement over that goofy looking smiling front end they did for a while.
I like it. It looks way better than the last one. I like the new design language mazda is going with.
No thanks, I'll wait for a full re-design, like the 6.
Where is the Diesel?
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