Mazda to focus on SUVs

Mazda says its new focus on SUVs will not come at the expense of its core passenger car models.

Many manufacturers are racing to keep up with demand for SUVs, which now form the fastest growing part of the global auto industry and could overtake passenger car sales for the first time in Australia this year, and Mazda is no exception.

Having launched its first compact SUV, the CX-3, Mazda is preparing to release its new CX-9 seven-seater and will next year unveil the replacement for Australia's top-selling SUV, the CX-5.

Next week in China it will also unveil the all-new CX-4 'coupe-crossover', which was previewed by the Koeru concept at last year's Frankfurt motor show.

Such is Mazda's focus on SUVs that the Koeru (pictured) was a last-minute replacement at Frankfurt for a born-again Mazda3 MPS concept, which had been created to herald a new generation of MPS performance models from Mazda.

As we reported at the time and again this week, Mazda says it remains committed to its MPS performance sub-brand, the eventual reinstatement of which will help Mazda's upmarket push, but less "childish" replacements for the Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS are on the backburner until Mazda expands its SUV reach and reincarnates its rotary sports car flagship.

Other Japanese brands are also shifting their resources to develop and manufacture more SUVs. Mitsubishi has virtually killed off every passenger car except its tiny Mirage and aged Lancer. It currently has no plan to replace the Lancer, but will next year add a new SUV between the ASX and Outlander.

However, one of Mazda's most senior global executives last week told motoring.com.au that the company's SUV focus will not be to the detriment of key passenger vehicles like the Mazda 2, 3 and 6.

"I think we see the clear trend globally moving to SUV type vehicles," said Mazda Corporation's Senior Managing Executive Officer, Yuji Nakamine.

"Clearly I think SUV is the segment which we should really focus on at this time."

Nakamine stressed that the passenger car segment was "critically important" to the company's global operations – the Mazda3 was Australia's best-selling car in 2012 – but said that "at the same time we should get stronger in SUVs".

Indeed, Nakamine indicated that the CX-4, which is so far only confirmed for the Chinese market, could be Mazda's next global SUV – despite the fact Mazda Australia believes there's no place for it here.

"Clearly this is very interesting because people are moving towards SUV segment, so of course that is the case and maybe the CX-4 style is well accepted by customers in other markets we should study to introduce that design into export markets," he said.

After further discussion, Nakamine hinted that the CX-4 situation is fluid and that the model could spawn a similar – but potentially different – vehicle to be sold in mature car markets such as Australia.

"At this moment I think we are studying the possibility of maybe introducing CX-4 type vehicles in other markets. The possibility is there, but at this time we don't plan to sell that CX-4 in other markets," said Nakamine, who suggested production and engineering capability were also factors in adding more SUV models in more markets.

"Production capacity, allocation and engineering ... the resources, the confidence in this kind of product. We want to see how the CX-4 will work in China, then in the meantime we continue to study the possibility for other markets."

Stay tuned for the Mazda CX-4 reveal from the Beijing motor show on April 25.