Mass production of the 2022 Mazda CX-60 begins in Japan

Mazda has officially started mass production of the CX-60, which made its world debut in March this year. The CX-60 is one of five SUVs added to the Japanese automaker’s lineup over the next two years, the others being the CX-50 – unveiled last November – as well as the upcoming CX-70, CX-80 and CX. -90.

To commemorate the occasion, the company recently held a launch ceremony at its Hofu Plant No. 2 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, where the CX-60 is produced alongside the Mazda 6 and CX-5. According to the automaker, production of the CX-60 for the European market began on March 15, with the first shipment of cars due to leave for the mainland from the port of Nakanoseki on April 26.

The CX-60 is a Skyactiv multi-solution scalable architecture with a longitudinal front-engine layout and rear-wheel drive. In Europe, the CX-60 will be available as a plug-in hybrid – a first for Mazda – featuring a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine developing 192 PS (189 hp or 141 kW) and 261 Nm of torque.

This is complemented by a 136hp (134hp or 100kW) and 250Nm electric motor that sits between the engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV also features Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel-drive system that provides shaft-driven torque transfer between the axles, as well as a 17.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides up to 63 km of driving. emission-free at speeds of up to 100km/h.

With a total system output of 327 hp (323 hp or 241 kW) and 500 Nm, the PHEV version of the CX-60 is the brand’s most powerful road car. In terms of performance, the CX-60 with the PHEV powertrain – marketed as the e-Skyactiv PHEV – takes just 5.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and will reach a top speed limited to 200 kph.

Meanwhile, Japanese customers will have a choice of four powertrains, including the PHEV as well as a regular Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre making a more modest 188 PS (185 hp or 138 kW) and 250 Nm. The CX- 60 will also be available with six-cylinder diesel engines in Japan, the first being a 3.3-liter Skyactiv-D turbo unit that delivers 231 PS (228 hp or 170 kW) and 500 Nm.

There is also a mild-hybrid version of the straight-six diesel engine called the e-Skyactiv D, which adds Mazda’s 48-volt M Hybrid Boost electrical system to deliver 254 PS (251 hp or 187 kW) and 550 Nm. Each engine for Japan comes standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

GALLERY: 2022 Mazda CX-60