New Mazda CX-60 leaked ahead of global reveal

The first official non-teaser images of the 2023 Mazda CX-60 have been leaked online and circulated via social media less than a day before the all-new family SUV’s world debut at 7:00am AEST tomorrow (March 9).

Those who have been following the CX-60 story will immediately recognise the car as the same one spotted being filmed for a TV commercial back in November, meaning there isn’t a whole heap we haven’t seen in terms of the exterior styling, but the interior is a different story.

While we don’t know which particular variant is shown in these leaked images found on Reddit and Instagram, we can surmise it’s a fair way up the hierarchy of the luxury-focussed CX-60 range judging by its digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery, chrome and wood trim and two-position memory seats.

The glamorous interior is hinted at externally by the chrome front fascia trim, illuminated grille trim, large-diameter two-tone alloys, LED lights, flush-sitting exhaust outlets and body-coloured cladding.

This particular vehicle is also adorned with chrome ‘PHEV’ badges on its front wings and its wide infotainment screen is displaying a series of electric-drive and efficiency-minded options, meaning Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain will be available in top-shelf variants of the CX-60.

According to a now retracted article by AutoEvolution, the non-turbo 2.5-litre petrol engine laying at the heart of the PHEV powertrain will be supported by a 100kW electric motor drawing current from a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery and yielding a healthy total system output of 241kW.

That’s considerably more than the previously advertised 223kW figure but we’ll wait for the official reveal for confirmation.

Nevertheless, the report also claimed the CX-60 PHEV will be able to launch to 100kmh in 5.8 seconds in maximum attack mode and offer up to 60km of all-electric driving range.

Apart from Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid system, the new CX-60 will also be available with a range of all-new inline six-cylinder petrol (SKYACTIV-X) and diesel (SKYACTIV-D) engines augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

Details of the CX-60’s new electrified sixes remain thin on the ground, but the straight-six petrol engine is expected to have a capacity of 3.0 litres while the diesel will displace an extra 300cc – and both are set to be paired exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission as per our previous coverage.

As the first model to appear on Mazda’s new rear- and all-wheel drive chassis architecture, the CX-60’s ‘i-Activ’ all-wheel drive system is said to be rear-biased in the name of dynamics.

Befitting of a grunty SUV, which won't be a lightweight at 1980kg, the claimed braked towing capacity is 2500kg.

The new CX-60 will reportedly measure 4745mm long, 1890mm wide and 1680mm tall, riding on a 2870mm wheelbase, making it 170mm longer and 45mm wider than the upcoming MY22 Mazda CX-5 and exactly the same height.

Despite the fact that all of the CX-60's extra length can be found in its wheelbase, leaked documents show it will have 990mm of rear legroom – 17mm less than the current CX-5, likely due to its move to a longitudinal engine layout and the resulting increase in front wheel to dash ratio.

Confirmed for Australian release by the end of this year, the five-seat Mazda CX-60 will be followed in early 2023 by the larger new CX-80 seven-seat SUV.

Mazda’s new ‘widebody’ CX-70 and CX-90, aimed primarily at US buyers, are also under consideration for Australia, where they will likely compliment the CX-3, CX-30 and CX-5, and eventually replace the CX-8 and CX-9.

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