Mazda CX-4 leaked

Mazda has green lit the Koeru SUV for production according to new leaked images of what could be the CX-4 (or CX-6) on Chinese car blog, popsuv.com.

If genuine, the images appear to show a near-production ready version of the the coupe SUV concept that was revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show.

Heavily based on the existing CX-5 model, the images seem to imply the production car will share the Koeru's proportions.

If so, expect the sporty Mazda SUV to measure roughly 4600mm long, 1900mm wide and 1500mm high.

Rumoured to be premiering at either the Geneva motor show this March or the New York motor show, a month later, there has been great uncertainty, even within Mazda, on what names the production version of the Koeru should be given.

That's because Mazda is struggling to position the car in its range, although Mazda's global marketing chief, Masahiro Moro, publicly declared the Koeru as a car to "bridge the gap between the Mazda3 and CX-5" - hinting that a 'CX-4' name is likelier than the 'CX-6'.

What is clear is who the new small SUV coupe will appeal to, according to Moro-san, who said the CX-4 will attract: "Mazda3 five-door customers that are looking for a sportier execution. CX-5 is a good car but still may be seen as a very conventional SUV. They may not be satisfied."

When it goes on sale, possibly as soon as towards the end of this year, the CX-4 will have little competition, except perhaps from Nissan's QASHQAI - the more stylish sister model the boxier X-TRAIL mid-size SUV, which outsells it almost two to one.

Since it's no secret it will share much with the bigger CX-5, the new CX-4 could be made in the same place, Mazda's Hiroshima plant, although there's some suggestion the CX-4 could be produced further afield at Mazda's new Mexican plant - its gateway to the US market.