New Mazdas in the works

Mazda continues to post record sales performances Down Under off the back of a combination of new product and canny packaging of its existing line-up. As revealled earlier this week, a turbodiesel variant of the Mazda3 is just around the corner. Mazda's all-new 2 isn't far off either.

After the Mazda2, next off the blocks will be the new seven-seat CX-9 SUV that goes on sale in Australia on January 1, 2008.

The 186kW/325Nm 3.5-litre V6 all-wheel drive will be offered in two variants with prices expected to start from between $55,000 and $60,000.

Following the CX-9 (more here), in Q1/Q2 2008 Australian mid-sized car buyers will be offered the new Mazda6.

The new 6 is due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Like the 2, it is expected to offer sharper styling, weight reductions and improved dynamics.

Despite the increased product line-up that, apart from a compact SUV, pretty much covers all the major market segments, Mazda boss Doug Dickson says he sees 75,000 units as a bit of a ceiling for Mazda in Australia under its current organisation and global production capacity constraints.

"If we were to grow a lot more we would have to start looking at other markets like major fleets and rentals and we really haven’t done a lot of that business in recent times," he says.

"We have had a very much private market focus and I think it is good for us. For us to make a change would be a difficult process and it may damage what we have."

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