Mazda CX-8 is coming to ASEAN market
According to RHB Investment Bank, Mazda's distributor in Malaysia is implementing a plan to bring the CX-8 model to this market, opening the process of conquering the ASEAN market of the new 7-seat SUV model.
The CX-8 model will be brought to the Malaysian market by Bermaz Auto company.
During the launch of the new generation CX-5 in Malaysia last year, Mazda shared that the CX-8 would be sold in other markets, instead of just Japan as originally planned, and Bermaz Auto CEO Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh showed great interest. If all goes well, Malaysia will be the second market outside of Japan to sell the CX-8 (after Australia).
The CX-8 is Mazda's only seven-seater SUV in Japan, as the CX-9 is not sold there. It is 4,900 mm long, 350 mm longer than the CX-5, but 195 mm shorter than the CX-9. It is also 129 mm narrower than the CX-9, and 1,840 mm wide. In terms of wheelbase, the CX-8 and CX-9 have the same size at 2,930 mm, longer than the CX-5 (2,700 mm).
The CX-9 is still on sale in Malaysia, so the addition of the CX-8 is likely to give customers a cheaper 7-seat SUV option from Mazda. Currently, the CX-9 is priced at 281,000 ringgit for the 2WD version (1.6 billion VND) and 297,000 ringgit for the 4WD version (1.7 billion VND), while the CX-5 is priced from 135,000 to 176,000 ringgit (785 million to 1 billion VND).
The CX-5 is currently assembled in Malaysia, while the CX-9 is imported from Japan. According to some sources, the CX-8 will be assembled in Malaysia and available on the market this year.
In Japan, the CX-8 is only equipped with a SkyActiv-D 2.2L turbodiesel engine combined with a 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission, identical to the engine used in the CX-5, but the power is increased from 173 to 188 horsepower and the torque is increased from 420 Nm to 450 Nm. It is not yet clear whether the version for the Malaysian market is equipped with a gasoline engine.
Some images of the CX-8 model at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show:
