Small SUVs have become one of the hottest market segments and it looks like Mazda wants a slice of that big pie as well. The Japanese carmaker is said to launch a Mazda2-based crossover later this year, according to a report from Japan’s Nikkei business daily.
Without disclosing its sources, the newspaper wrote that Mazda’s small SUV will be timed for this summer’s expected redesign of the Mazda2. However, the carmaker declined to comment and called the report speculative.
Nikkei mentioned that the crossover would be positioned below the current CX-5 and will initially be sold only in Japan, with sales in Europe and emerging markets to follow later. The article didn’t mention plans for North America.
According to the same report, Mazda’s small crossover will be priced between 1.5 million yen and 2.0 million yen ($15,000-$20,000) and will be available in Japan with a diesel powertrain as well.
Honda recently launched the Vezel crossover in Japan, which is derived from the Fit/Jazz supermini. The Vezel will be built eventually in Mexico and arrive on the U.S. market as well.
In separate plans, the newspaper also wrote that Mazda wants to introduce the mid-sized CX-9 crossover to Japan with its next redesign, as early as 2015. The CX-9 is built in Hiroshima but is not available in Japan as it’s considered too big.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Nikkei via Autonews
Note: Current Mazda2 pictured
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