[Wayne43]

Really interesting article on the CX-30 from Automotive News Europe where they spoke with Naohito Saga, the CX-30's program manager and Mazda Europe's design chief, Jo Stenuit, about how they designed it with the European market in mind.

Mazda developed the CX-30 with Europe in mind as a key market and will launch the SUV in the region before it is rolled out globally.

Naohito Saga, the CX-30's program manager, said Mazda carried out extensive research on urban driving in Europe to tailor the car to local tastes and needs. In Mazda's crossover and SUV range, the CX-30 slots between the CX-5 midsize SUV and the CX-3 small SUV, which are the company's two biggest sellers in Europe.

At 4395mm, the CX-30 is 120mm longer than the CX-3 and 155mm shorter than the CX-5. The SUV has been designed to be just the right size for city driving and parking, Saga said.

Its features have also been designed with a global customer base in mind. The height of the body and seat positioning allow people of all sizes to get in and out easily, Saga said. Mazda has put a lot of effort in optimizing the driving position to enhance comfort and reduce fatigue, taking inspiration from the effortless body movements we make when walking, he said.

Mazda Europe's design chief, Jo Stenuit, said the CX-30 is mainly aimed at parents with young children. These customers need more room than the space offered in the smaller CX-3 SUV or Mazda3 car, with which the CX-30 shares its platform, he said.

The CX-30 will get a Skyactiv-X engine with spark-controlled compression ignition technology that debuted on the Mazda3. Skyactiv-X combines the best traits of diesel and gasoline engines to improve performance and fuel economy, Mazda says. Other engines in Europe will be a 122-hp, 2.0-liter gasoline unit and a 116-hp, 1.8-liter diesel.

The gasoline engine and the Skyactiv-X unit are mild hybrids, with a belt-driven starter-generator allowing energy recovery during braking. The generator helps to restart the engine after an idling stop and smooths gear changes by slowing the engine speed in the transition phase.

The CX-30 will be sold in 130 countries, including the U.S. Mazda builds the SUV in Hiroshima, Japan. Other production locations will follow.

 

[fuji]

Tailoring to European tastes is always a good strategy for appealing to even the global market.

 

[Wayne43]

Very true, if an SUV like the CX30 can do well in Europe it'll likely do well everywhere else.

 

[fuji]

In a way consumers don't have a choice with price and options, CX30 is just another example in a proven segment. If anything Mazda is arriving late, but possibly with the right product to still rank well.

 

[Wayne43]

In a way consumers don't have a choice with price and options, CX30 is just another example in a proven segment. If anything Mazda is arriving late, but possibly with the right product to still rank well.

Sometimes coming in late can be a plus because you know what work and what doesn't. But you have to make sure everything is perfect on release. So far Mazda seems to be on the ball with the CX-30.

 

[fuji]

Just like EV's, and now newcomers are still seeing crazy demand.