Yahoo Autos Mazda MX-30 Electric Crossover Has Doors Like the RX-8's
Mazda's first full-electric model, the MX-30, is a crossover of an entirely new design.
The new model made its debut at the Tokyo auto show.
The MX-30's small rear-hinged second-row doors, body cladding, and generally sporty look are what one would expect from a Mazda with MX in its name.
Mazda revealed a new model called the MX-30 at the Tokyo auto show today. It's the automaker's first fully electric model, and it takes the shape of a small crossover that's 173.0 inches long, around the same size as the CX-30 that slots in between the CX-3 and CX-5 in Mazda's SUV lineup.
We’re confused about Mazda’s use of the MX acronym for this new model, as those two letters have traditionally been reserved for sports cars such as the MX-5 Miata. The car does, however, have rear-hinged doors for the second row that are reminiscent of those on the RX-8 sports car, so we suppose that could be viewed as a tie-in with Mazda’s sportier offerings. The rear half-doors make this look much more legitimately like a coupe/SUV than many other that claim that mantle. The swoopy C-pillar has a contrasting color that emphasizes the rakish rear end.
Mazda calls the door setup a “freestyle” door, and the B-pillar-less design appears to make rear-seat access decently simple. Inside, the company is emphasizing the earthy angle for the interior, employing "natural" materials including cork. The overall dashboard design is similar to the new Mazda 3 and CX-30, although it incorporates a new, second screen lower on the center console for the climate controls.
At this point, Mazda is mum on any details on the MX-30's powertrain, saying only that it’s an EV with a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. We don't know the power output of the front-mounted electric motor, or what kind of driving range it might generate.
Pre-orders start in Europe now, and deliveries will start next year in that market. We expect the MX-30 to come to the U.S. at some point in the near future, but its arrival on American shores will likely follow other markets by several months.
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