Mazda is gearing up to launch a flagship SUV later this month, the 2024 CX-90.
Recently, celebrity mechanic Ant Anstead and actor and martial arts expert Hiroyuki Sanada were invited to take a look at the SUV and learn more about the motivation behind its design, which Mazda highlighted in a teaser video released on Thursday.
The video offers a series of insightful looks at the CX-90, shown in Artisan Red – a new color Mazda is reserving for vehicles in the automaker’s Large Product Group. The group also includes a CX-60 compact crossover that will be sold overseas and is expected to eventually include a CX-70 crossover that we will see in the US
The vehicles in the large product group are all based on Mazda’s newly developed rear-wheel drive platform with a longitudinally installed engine. They also feature Mazda’s new inline-6 engines, with the CX-90 confirmed to get a turbocharged 3.3-liter version of the inline-6 rated at 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque is rated, or more than any Mazda from the previous production. The CX-90 will also offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain, although Mazda has yet to detail the setup.
The video also confirms the addition of Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) system to the CX-90. Introduced on the 2022 MX-5 Miata, KPC is an electronic feature designed to improve cornering stability. Similar to brake-based torque vectoring systems, KPC intelligently applies braking force to limit body roll in corners and improve grip.
The CX-90 is expected to go on sale in the spring. It’s confirmed to be taller than any previous Mazda, including the CX-9 which is 199.4 inches long. However, it’s not clear if the CX-90 will replace the CX-9 or serve as a premium alternative. Both SUVs can remain in the lineup, as well as Mazda selling the newer CX-50 alongside the older CX-5.