Here are the new SUV's live images from the Japanese show, courtesy carview.yahoo.co.jp.
The Mazda CX-8 falls between the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9 in the company's line-up. Mazda has created it using the KODO design language. The familiar cues of the CX-9 and the latest CX-5 are evident in the core elements such as the radiator grille, headlamps and tail lamps.
The Mazda CX-8 is 4,900 mm long, 1,840 mm wide and 1,730 mm tall. It is 355 mm longer and 40 mm taller than the Mazda CX-5. Like the Mazda CX-9, it has 2,930 mm wheelbase, 230 mm longer than that of the Mazda CX-5. The longer wheelbase makes space for an additional row of seats. That almost makes up for the Mazda CX-9's unavailability in Japan. Mazda offers the CX-8 in 6-seat and 7-seat versions. The CX-8 has the same suspension structure as the CX-9, but Mazda has tuned the damping and other parameters for it.
The Mazda CX-8 is powered by the 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine that produces 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque. The four-cylinder mill is linked to the SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose between FWD and the i-ACTIV AWD all-wheel drive system. The three-row SUV's fuel economy rating in the JC08 test cycle is 17.6 km/l (FWD)/17.0 km/l (AWD).
For now, the Mazda CX-8 is a JDM-only model. However, Mazda will reportedly roll out this model globally, in the ASEAN markets. The Honda CR-V (three-row version) competitor will go on sale in Japan on 14 December, 2017. It is already available to pre-order. Mazda has a monthly sales target of 1,200 units for the CX-8.
