All-new Mazda CX-8 previewed locally with two variants

KUALA LUMPUR: Bermaz Motors, the official distributor of Mazda cars in Malaysia, showcased the all-new Mazda CX-8 with two fuel variants - petrol and diesel. The official showcasing took place at the Mazda’s Glenmarie outlet. From early 2018, it was known that the Bermaz Motor would assemble the Mazda CX-8 locally at its Kulim plant.

Following the preview, primary details about the car are official now. The diesel variant comes with a 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D four-cylinder turbo mill, which can make 188 hp of power and a peak torque of 450 Nm. The power and the torque come at 4,500 rpm and 2,000 rpm, respectively. It is equipped with an AWD system.

The petrol variant, on the other hand, is powered by a 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G naturally-aspirated four-cylinder mill, which churns out a maximum power 192 hp at 6,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 257 Nm at 3,250 rpm. The drive is sent to the front wheels via a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission.

The two units previewed are Japanese models, so things might differ after the local launch as Mazda Malaysia will assemble the car here itself. The CX-8 will have four trims in total in the domestic market - one diesel and three petrol powered.

All the four models are expected to get a host of features including 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, automatic LED setup for headlights, fog lamps, taillights, triple-zone climate control, MZD Connect, 10-way powered driver’s seat, six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Launch Assist, and traction control.

The new CX-8 will arrive with six or seven seating options depending on the variant. Buyers will also get an option to choose between leather and fabric seats.

The CX-8 will be slotted between CX-5 (RM 178k) and CX-9 (RM 287k), which means, you can expect the price to fall between the cost of these cars. Bermaz Motor has also mentioned that the locally-assembled (CKD) model will be exported to other markets as well.