Last week, Mazda kicked off a week-long teaser campaign for its new CX-90. Today, the first item to be “unboxed” in this virtual build is the heart of the SUV – its new inline-six engine.
We already knew the i6 was coming, but now we have some details. The turbocharged 3.3-liter mill develops 340 horsepower (254 kilowatts) and 369 pound-feet (500 Newton-meters) of torque for the CX-90. When launched, it will be Mazda’s most powerful production machine of all. Additionally, a new teaser confirms the CX-90 will be available as a plug-in hybrid model, or an SUV with pure internal combustion power.
Of course, as a teaser, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the CX-90 or its powertrain. A turbocharged six-cylinder is available, and electrification is also coming, but we don’t know if the two will be offered together. The 3.3 liter engine had already made its debut with the CX-60, producing 280 hp (209 kW) for buyers in Japan, Australia and Europe. The CX-60 plug-in hybrid combines six for the 2.5-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder engine connected to a single 129 kW electric motor, producing a combined output of 323 hp (241 kW). It won’t reach US shores, but a future CX-70 should.
It’s entirely possible the CX-90 could follow in the CX-60’s footsteps, leaving the I6 to drive the SUV on its own. Previous teasers from Mazda backed up this theory, showing parts of a red CX-90 with Inline 6 badge and a silver one wearing the e-Skyactiv PHEV moniker. If the four-cylinder hybrid powertrain was carried over directly from the CX-60, it would make the Inline 6 model tops the list. Or rather, a high-output I6 could top it. Read Mazda’s new teaser carefully and you’ll see the CX-90 is available until 340 hp. We can get the 280-hp trim tucked in there for good measure.
Such is the nature of teasers, but all mysteries will be solved on January 31st. In the meantime, you can expect more exciting news as Mazda slowly unboxes the CX-90.
