The Mazda CX-80 Plug-in Hybrid: A leap into the future
10 Jan 2025|1,801 views
While other carmakers like BMW and Porsche are gaining recognition through their grille and silhouette respectively, Mazda is doing good job gaining acknowledgement through its unique signature colour that's commonly seen on the roads - red. More specifically, Soul Red. Now, Mazda has a new colour - Artisan Red.
That's the unique colour. Unlike other cars in Mazda's current lineup, the spanking new Mazda CX-80 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is the only car that you can have the Artisan Red on now, but more on that later. We got some interesting insights into the design, technology, and future of Mazda's latest SUV from Kohei Shibata, Program Manager for the all-new Mazda CX-80
Set to redefine the standards of luxury, performance, and sustainability in its segment, the new three-row SUV from Mazda combines cutting-edge technology with the marque's signature design philosophy, offering a glimpse into the future of automotive excellence.
Kohei Shibata, Program Manager for the all-new Mazda CX-80, explains the challenges he faced with the new seven-seater SUV
Design principles leading to challenges
"The main design principles behind the Mazda CX-80 were toughness, elegance, and a sense of spaciousness," Shibata explains.
Which is why the car isn't without any challenges. Shibata went on to explain that the CX-80 upgrades over other seven-seater SUVs such as the CX-8 and the CX-9 include innovative engineering and meticulous attention to detail. Moreover, the engine block is placed vertically, which can be potentially challenging.
Of course, Shibata goes on to explain the fact that overcoming these challenges involve ensuring that every element and every part of the new SUV serves both aesthetic and practical purposes.
One cannot help but think these could well be marketing gimmicks of sorts, a story to spill to the press, fooling us all into thinking the CX-80 is indeed special. Truth is, the new vehicle that you see here on this page isn't just about differentiating itself from the competitors, but also from its stablemates too, as Shibata highlights that the CX-80 stands out in Mazda's lineup due to its size and versatility, which is why the SUV is designed for families and individuals who need a versatile and spacious vehicle without sacrificing luxury and performance.
There's a nice blend of toughness and elegance to the CX-80, more so when it's adorned in Artisan Red
Standing out from the pack
And to a certain extent, there is some truth to this. The CX-80 now comes with a new premium colour that will not be available on other models. Dubbed Artisan Red, this signature colour is a few shades darker than the Soul Red from before that's commonly seen on popular models such as the Mazda 3, Mazda 6 as well as the Mazda CX-60.
The idea here is to have a clear differentiating element that allows a premium and large-sized model like the CX-80 to stand out from the rest of the pack in its lineup.
On that note of standing out from the pack, this beefcake of an SUV is also nothing like its siblings. While its family members sport a fully-electric drivetrain, mild hybrids and regular petrol engines, the Mazda CX-80 - as aforementioned - is a pure-bred PHEV that comes packed with cutting-edge technologies.
"We've integrated a new plug-in hybrid system that allows for up to about 60km of full-electric driving range. This helps to significantly reduce emissions as well as fuel consumption," Shibata reveals.
The cabin of the Mazda CX-80 is undoubtedly upmarket
Plus, Mazda's latest infotainment system, which includes a larger 12.3-inch display, enhanced connectivity options, and intuitive controls are featured here. On top of that, Kinetic Posture Control, a Mazda-unique technology that helps the CX-80 stay planted around corners, as well as Driver Personalisation System, a feature that helps to elevate the experience of connection between the car and up to six drivers with automatic driving position guidance, automatic setting recovery, and driver entry assist also come standard with the new Mazda.
Still, nothing can get Shibata more excited when we speak about what was done to ensure that the CX-80 balances performance with efficiency. "In city driving, drivers can save on the petrol portion by utilising the electric power alone. When it comes to the performance, acceleration is rapid with the boost from the electric motor, allowing drivers to enjoy the best of both worlds," Shibata explains.
"We've placed the battery pack at the rear of the car, which further enhances weight distribution and driving dynamics," he added.
With a combined output of 323bhp and 500Nm of torque, the CX-80 will reach the 100km/h mark from nought in 6.8 seconds
The Mazda CX-80 has a combined output of 323bhp and 500Nm of twisting force, allowing it to cross the 100km/h mark from nought in just 6.8 seconds, a figure that remains impressive in our books considering the car weighs close to 2.3 tonnes. These figures come from a 2.5-litre four-pot powerplant that's happily married to an electric motor that gets its charge from a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery.
According to him, this balance ensures that drivers can enjoy a spirited drive without compromising on fuel economy. Based on our recent test drive, the CX-80 returned 52.6km/L, a figure that's no mean feat considering the weight of the car.
Shibata excitedly talks about the CX-80's performance with efficiency
Maintaining and building a unique position
And it's all these strengths of the new SUV that Shibata strongly feels that the CX-80 is a unique vehicle that no other cars in its class or even a class above can beat - be it in terms of price and space, or design and handling. As such, looking forward, he believes they should continue building a unique position for the car.
To some degree, I suppose Mazda wants to market the CX-80 as something that's more than just an SUV. It's a testament to the brand's commitment to elegance, sustainability, and functionality. Question is - can the CX-80 make a significant impact on our shores? Perhaps not in our current temperamental market, b
So while other brands like BMW and Porsche are gaining recognition through their grille and silhouette respectively, Mazda is doing good job gaining acknowledgement through its unique signature colour that's commonly seen on the roads. It used to be Soul Red. Now, Mazda has a new colour - Artisan Red.
While other carmakers like BMW and Porsche are gaining recognition through their grille and silhouette respectively, Mazda is doing good job gaining acknowledgement through its unique signature colour that's commonly seen on the roads - red. More specifically, Soul Red. Now, Mazda has a new colour - Artisan Red.
That's the unique colour. Unlike other cars in Mazda's current lineup, the spanking new Mazda CX-80 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is the only car that you can have the Artisan Red on now, but more on that later. We got some interesting insights into the design, technology, and future of Mazda's latest SUV from Kohei Shibata, Program Manager for the all-new Mazda CX-80
Set to redefine the standards of luxury, performance, and sustainability in its segment, the new three-row SUV from Mazda combines cutting-edge technology with the marque's signature design philosophy, offering a glimpse into the future of automotive excellence.
Kohei Shibata, Program Manager for the all-new Mazda CX-80, explains the challenges he faced with the new seven-seater SUV
Design principles leading to challenges
"The main design principles behind the Mazda CX-80 were toughness, elegance, and a sense of spaciousness," Shibata explains.
Which is why the car isn't without any challenges. Shibata went on to explain that the CX-80 upgrades over other seven-seater SUVs such as the CX-8 and the CX-9 include innovative engineering and meticulous attention to detail. Moreover, the engine block is placed vertically, which can be potentially challenging.
Of course, Shibata goes on to explain the fact that overcoming these challenges involve ensuring that every element and every part of the new SUV serves both aesthetic and practical purposes.
One cannot help but think these could well be marketing gimmicks of sorts, a story to spill to the press, fooling us all into thinking the CX-80 is indeed special. Truth is, the new vehicle that you see here on this page isn't just about differentiating itself from the competitors, but also from its stablemates too, as Shibata highlights that the CX-80 stands out in Mazda's lineup due to its size and versatility, which is why the SUV is designed for families and individuals who need a versatile and spacious vehicle without sacrificing luxury and performance.
There's a nice blend of toughness and elegance to the CX-80, more so when it's adorned in Artisan Red
Standing out from the pack
And to a certain extent, there is some truth to this. The CX-80 now comes with a new premium colour that will not be available on other models. Dubbed Artisan Red, this signature colour is a few shades darker than the Soul Red from before that's commonly seen on popular models such as the Mazda 3, Mazda 6 as well as the Mazda CX-60.
The idea here is to have a clear differentiating element that allows a premium and large-sized model like the CX-80 to stand out from the rest of the pack in its lineup.
On that note of standing out from the pack, this beefcake of an SUV is also nothing like its siblings. While its family members sport a fully-electric drivetrain, mild hybrids and regular petrol engines, the Mazda CX-80 - as aforementioned - is a pure-bred PHEV that comes packed with cutting-edge technologies.
"We've integrated a new plug-in hybrid system that allows for up to about 60km of full-electric driving range. This helps to significantly reduce emissions as well as fuel consumption," Shibata reveals.
The cabin of the Mazda CX-80 is undoubtedly upmarket
Plus, Mazda's latest infotainment system, which includes a larger 12.3-inch display, enhanced connectivity options, and intuitive controls are featured here. On top of that, Kinetic Posture Control, a Mazda-unique technology that helps the CX-80 stay planted around corners, as well as Driver Personalisation System, a feature that helps to elevate the experience of connection between the car and up to six drivers with automatic driving position guidance, automatic setting recovery, and driver entry assist also come standard with the new Mazda.
Still, nothing can get Shibata more excited when we speak about what was done to ensure that the CX-80 balances performance with efficiency. "In city driving, drivers can save on the petrol portion by utilising the electric power alone. When it comes to the performance, acceleration is rapid with the boost from the electric motor, allowing drivers to enjoy the best of both worlds," Shibata explains.
"We've placed the battery pack at the rear of the car, which further enhances weight distribution and driving dynamics," he added.
With a combined output of 323bhp and 500Nm of torque, the CX-80 will reach the 100km/h mark from nought in 6.8 seconds
The Mazda CX-80 has a combined output of 323bhp and 500Nm of twisting force, allowing it to cross the 100km/h mark from nought in just 6.8 seconds, a figure that remains impressive in our books considering the car weighs close to 2.3 tonnes. These figures come from a 2.5-litre four-pot powerplant that's happily married to an electric motor that gets its charge from a 17.8kWh lithium-ion battery.
According to him, this balance ensures that drivers can enjoy a spirited drive without compromising on fuel economy. Based on our recent test drive, the CX-80 returned 52.6km/L, a figure that's no mean feat considering the weight of the car.
Shibata excitedly talks about the CX-80's performance with efficiency
Maintaining and building a unique position
And it's all these strengths of the new SUV that Shibata strongly feels that the CX-80 is a unique vehicle that no other cars in its class or even a class above can beat - be it in terms of price and space, or design and handling. As such, looking forward, he believes they should continue building a unique position for the car.
To some degree, I suppose Mazda wants to market the CX-80 as something that's more than just an SUV. It's a testament to the brand's commitment to elegance, sustainability, and functionality. Question is - can the CX-80 make a significant impact on our shores? Perhaps not in our current temperamental market, b
So while other brands like BMW and Porsche are gaining recognition through their grille and silhouette respectively, Mazda is doing good job gaining acknowledgement through its unique signature colour that's commonly seen on the roads. It used to be Soul Red. Now, Mazda has a new colour - Artisan Red.
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