Mazda Australia Kicks Off Six-Month Testing Regime Of New CX-60

The Mazda CX-60 has touched down on Australian shores prior to an intensive local testing program kicking off before its launch.

The Japanese car manufacturer has shipped two pre-production prototypes Down Under to be used for a host of on-road assessments lasting up to six months.

Testing will measure key vehicle data in various low-load and high-low scenarios and encompass powertrain stress-testing, tow capability, quality assurance, the in-depth analysis of real-world driving range and a number of other performance-related criteria. The vehicles will cover more than 30,000 km (~18,600 miles) during testing.

Mazda notes that Australia is an important market for its worldwide vehicle testing regime because of the country’s unique roads and climatic conditions.

“We are fully invested in ensuring our ground-breaking SUV will also masterfully deliver on the specific needs of our Australian customers,” Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi said in a statement. “Our engineering team will consistently push the cars to their extremes, and these strenuous evaluations are a vital step in our absolute commitment to customer experience and continuous brand improvement.”

In addition to undergoing comprehensive testing, the two CX-60s will be used to “reinforce and progress” the comprehensive training schedule across Mazda’s network of 140 dealerships in Australia.

“These cars are some of the very first to come off the production line, yet despite their early build schedule, the quality of fit and finish is already indicative of the authentically premium offering that the Mazda CX-60 model range represents,” added Mazda Australia director of marketing Alastair Doak. “This rigorous and informative testing program is the ideal opportunity for our market to contribute to the future success of this landmark model from the very beginning.”

Mazda Australia will announce local specifications and pricing details for the CX-60 at a later date.