2023 Mazda CX-90, a New Three-Row SUV, Spied Testing

• A spy photographer has shared with us these photographs of a few camouflaged Mazda CX-90 prototypes testing at excessive elevations in Colorado.
• Judging by the third row and huge dimensions, we’re assured the disguised mules are the CX-90 and never the two-row Mazda CX-70.
• The CX-90 prototypes seem like plug-in hybrids, which needs to be an choice together with a brand new inline-six engine.

It is no secret that Mazda is nearly able to introduce the CX-90, a brand new three-row SUV that is destined to supplant the present CX-9. Not solely have we heard that the 2023 Mazda CX-90 will go into manufacturing by the top of this yr, however we additionally just lately spied two camouflaged prototypes testing at excessive elevations in Colorado.

Two-Row CX-70 or Three-Row CX-90?

How do we all know the disguised mules within the photos aren’t the two-row CX-70 mannequin that has additionally been confirmed for the U.S. market? Effectively, it is as a result of in the event you squint actually exhausting or put your cheaters on you may see that they’ve a 3rd row. Our spy photographer additionally identified that the camoed SUVs had been longer than the revealed photographs of the Mazda CX-60, a brand new two-row mannequin that is solely bought abroad.

Whereas the CX-60 is not coming to America, it has Mazda’s new longitudinal-engine structure that can underpin the CX-70 and CX-90, too. Together with sharing a platform, the CX-60 we drove in Europe featured a plug-in-hybrid powertrain that is anticipated to be accessible in each U.S.-bound SUVs. Plus, we already know that the CX-70 and CX-90 can have Mazda’s new straight-six engine.

This CX-90 Is Most likely a Plug-In Hybrid

Judging by the separate gasoline doorways on either side, the CX-90 prototypes we spied are plug-in fashions, which means they most likely have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electrical motor between the engine and eight-speed transmission. A 17.8-kWh battery pack is discovered on the CX-60. We won’t say for certain, however the CX-90 PHEV’s mixed output needs to be round 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

Prepared For the CX-90 Reveal

Positive, the camouflaged CX-90s do not actually inform us something we did not already know, however they do present our first real-world glimpse of the mid-size SUV in movement. Clearly, the camo does job of disguising its design particulars, however we predict it will seem like an oversize CX-50, which is an efficient factor. Now we simply have to attend till Mazda reveals the actual deal within the coming months.