cars news 10: Confirmed: Mazda CX-5 Diesel Headed to the U.S.

Mazda will bring a CX-5 diesel crossover to the U.S. market in the second half of next year, the automaker confirmed today at the Los Angeles auto show. Mazda previously said the diesel was coming to North America, but didn’t specify whether that included the U.S.

The crossover will receive Mazda’s Skyactiv-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine, which has been tuned to meet strict emissions standards in North America. It will be the first diesel model Mazda has introduced to the North American market.

“It has taken longer than we expected to launch this engine, but this blend of power and emissions sophistication was critical,” Mazda executive vice president Akira Marumoto said at the press conference.

Indeed, we’ve been waiting for years for Mazda to debut the diesel engine. In 2012, we reported Mazda was gearing up to launch a diesel model here by as early as 2014. Later, Mazda delayed its plans to give itself more time to perfect the engine. Recent reports hinted that Mazda hadn’t given up on a U.S. diesel launch, and it looks like those rumors were correct.

Mazda says the diesel engine will offer hybrid levels of fuel efficiency. “We’re confident this engine offers a smart new option for North American drivers who want both performance and fuel economy,” said Marumoto in a statement.

Mazda is implementing what it calls proprietary technologies to make sure the diesel performs quietly on the road. For added refinement, the engine adopts natural sound smoother and natural sound frequency control.

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has entered its second generation, gaining fresh new sheetmetal and an upgraded interior design. The model goes on sale in global markets next February before heading to other markets later in the year.

Source: Mazda