Mazda CX-6E : Mazda has been treading carefully in the electric-vehicle landscape. The MX-30, the Japanese automaker’s first foray into electrification, failed to impress with its range and quirky design.
But Mazda seems poised to take a big leap forward with the new CX-6E electric crossover, recently spied testing out in the wild in locations around the world.
From Idea to Reality: The Arata Seedling
Spy photos circulating on car blogging and media networks depict a road car remarkably similar to the Arata concept displayed at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show.
The running and driving prototype is covered in industry-standard camouflage, but it does little to obscure a body shape that looks essentially the same as the one that mesmerized showgoers a year before.
Concepts are rarely brought to market with so little change, but Mazda is hell-bent on keeping the Arata’s stunning looks.
The concept’s sleek shape continues with the production version, which features a teardrop-shaped rear end that should be more aerodynamically efficient than Mazda’s existing SUV range, which includes the CX-50, CX-70, and CX-90.
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The testing vehicle will probably sport a particular badge depending on the market. The electric SUV will be called the EZ-60 in China, where it’s being co-developed with Mazda’s joint venture partner there, Changan.
In the European market, the nameplate CX-6E has been registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, and the right to the name has been obtained by Mazda til September, 2034.
The strategic step is in line with Mazda’s business targets for 2025-2027 — the next stage of its electrification road map — as Mazda grows in different areas.
Industry analysts see this as a rational response to different speeds of EV adoption around the globe, with Mazda directly targeting countries where electric vehicles have had a more positive reception.
Below the Camouflage
Test mules can reveal a lot to even the most experienced automotive photographers, even when manufacturers try their hardest to disguise what’s coming down the pike.
Some details I got to see on the CX-6E prototypes that have made it to production are a few unique design cues.
The front fascia keeps with Mazda’s design DNA, while also ushering in the new electric era. It gets a solid grille (which is illuminated), narrow DRLs, and camera-mounted door mirrors – but the latter definitely looks more production-ready on this model, compared to the concept where they looked a bit more chonky.
Aerodynamically optimized parts−The aerodynamically optimized parts are not only aesthetically considered but have a direct contribution to how the vehicle can be used—enhancing efficiency and range.
Based on what our spy photographers have caught, the Mazda CX-6E should debut a unique look at the front end, with a Caddy-like crest grill, flush-fitting door handles and roofline that arches downward towards the rear.
It has a taller, more aggressive stance overall than any Mazda SUV we have seen, which is to make it obvious that this is a premium offering.
Most intriguing could be the aerodynamic shapes integrated into the design. The concept’s air tunnels at the top of the hood, on the sides of the front bumper, and in the D-pillars also appear to have been kept on the prototype to maximize the car’s aerodynamics and increase range.
Platform and Powertrain Options
Underneath the skin, the stylish Mazda is a joint Chinese engineering effort.
The CX-6E will be based on the same EPA platform as the sedan (CX-6E) from the Mazda 6E and several other models from Deepal like the L07, the S05 and the S07.
If using the size of the battery offered in mechanically similar models is any indication, the Mazda CX-6E would possibly come with a 68.8 kWh battery pack that provides an estimated range of around 300 miles (roughly 480 km), or a larger-sized 80 kWh version that offers a maximum range of about 343 miles (~550 km).
Those numbers would put the CX-6E squarely in the fight against its more-established rivals like the Tesla Model Y, which can make a claimed WLTP 311 miles (500 km) in Long Range 2WD form.
Power from the all-electric drivetrain is likely to be about par for the [modern] electric vehicle course too, with a single rear electric motor likely putting out between 215 and 255 horsepower (160-190kW).
That would give quick accelerating and economy-maximizing—both of which Mazda has historically been darned good at with its combustion-powered cars.
Should that not be enough, Mazda could sell a range extender version, powered by a 1.5-liter non-turbo four-cylinder engine that won’t drive the wheels, just juice up a smaller, 31.7-kWh battery. Such a layout would solve current worries about long rides, and keep the simplicity of a drivetrain and electric vehicle’s immediate torque response.
Cabin Innovations That ”Tech” Things Up
While the world has seen recent exposure of the car’s exterior, peeks at the interior indicate Mazda is going more digital than we’ve ever seen from the brand before.
Early images show an enormous 26.5-inch 5K display that extends across the entire dashboard — it’s a single, curved-surface panel, not several screens beneath a piece of shared glass.
But entertainment is not just confined to the primary display. According to the information exposed in the CX-6E, it has a 100-inch AR-HUD, which can project key driving information onto the whole windshield; and streaming media rearview mirrors at the left and right sides, and a display for the rear passengers.
All in, the cabin is said to sport six distinct displays, which is quite a step away from Mazda’s tendency to favor the analog experience inside its cars.
For all the technological wizardry on display, though, it seems the manufacturer has stuck with the notion of premium materials and driver-focussed ergonomics that have come to characterise Mazda interiors of late.
Features such as the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, heads-up display and 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system are probably borrowed from the newly launched Mazda 6E sedan.
Battery Tech and Charging Expectations
Mazda has been pouring resources into its battery technology development, which it sees as a competitive advantage in the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) space.
Panasonic will also provide cylindrical batteries for the CX-6E, produced at a newly opened plant in Japan. This collaboration demonstrates Mazda’s dedication to quality control and performance uniformity.
Recharging looks like it should be extremely impressive as well, with early data showing that the vehicle is able to recapture a claimed 146 miles (235 kilometers) of range in as little as 15 minutes when plugged into the right high-power charging infrastructure.
This quick charging feature is a game changer for omni potential EV buyers, the speed to be able to “fuel” vs these traditional gas guzzlers.
Longer term, Mazda also announced that it is currently developing high-density, solid-state lithium-ion batteries in collaboration with academic and business partners in order to bring the technology to market in 2020, and has also signed on as a development partner in JCESR, a US Department of Energy-funded research project to develop high performance, low-cost energy storage technologies to support the manufacture of battery electric and PHEVs by 2030.
Positioning and Competitive Landscape
The CX-6E comes to a market that is increasingly crowded with established players like the Tesla Model Y, as well as competitors from traditional auto manufacturers and new electric-vehicle specialists.
In Germany, the Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD version is quoted from €45,970, whereas the Mazda 6E hire sedan has a starting price of around €44,900 (add another €1,600 for the larger battery).
It’s not evident whether Mazda would pitch the CX-6E beneath or above its saloon stablemate, but competitive pricing is essential to penetrate the market.
Mazda seems to be targeting the CX-6E as a worldwide product, but its Changan underpinnings and manufacture in China might make it less widely available in high-tax regions like North America. Initial destinations are likely to be in Europe and the UK following an expected debut at Auto Shanghai 2025.
The CX-6E is more than just another electric crossover but reflects Mazda’s next step for electrification.
Instead of saying goodbye to internal combustion for good, the company is taking a multi-faceted approach that includes a new hybrid setup for the next-gen CX-5, and a groundbreaking SkyActiv-Z powertrain slated to launch as late as 2027, promising “unprecedented efficiency” that would could extend the life of the combustion engine beyond 2030.
Why the CX-6E Matters
Mazda’s conservative stand on electrification has made observers see it as a laggard compared with rivals. But the CX-6E points to the automaker carefully working to construct a more compelling electric vehicle rather than being hurried into releasing an inadequate product.
CEO Masahiro Moro has characterised Mazda as an “intentional follower” in the EV space, a sentiment that rings ever more true given the fact that numerous car-makers are now curtailing their EV plans to refocus on hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Watching the early stumble and success of early adopters, Mazda might have set up well for the introduction of a better conceived, more competitive electric crossover.
The real significance of the CX-6E is not as a Mazda model but as the growing globalization of automotive development.
The tie-up between Mazda and Changan is an example new-generation and old brands are cutting costs together, and it also will create differentiated brand positioning in terms of electric vehicle development, according to the companies.
What to Expect Next
As we get deeper into testing, we’ll see less and less camouflage covering up more production-intent bits. Debut is cited for Auto Shanghai 2025 with introduction to the European market in quick pursuit.
And for prospective customers, the CX-6E will offer the engaging drive and upmarket experience that Mazda has spent decades developing, now with added electric propulsion.
Should the production version of the vehicle retain the distinctive proportions and intriguing details we’ve seen in testing prototypes, Mazda could have a very compelling electric crossover on its hands.
Meanwhile, those wanted a more Mazda-designed electric vehicle but in a more traditional play should know the company has announced a second EV in the works arriving during 2027.
It’s a path that will be taken by the still-unnamed upcoming model in the future, which was developed from the ground up using all-new, in-house-developed architecture as Mazda’s first-ever dedicated platform for electric vehicles.
The industry is changing fast, but Mazda’s considered take on electrification could yet pay off. The CX-6E is seemingly set to blend the elements that have long made the brand’s cars so appealing – striking design, high-grade materials and a connection between car and driver – with the cheap running costs and linear performance offered by an electric powertrain.
The automotive community follows testings with bated breath as details continue to pour in like water through a sieve, hoping that the EV concept will evolve from a promising prototype into an attractive, well-wrought production vehicle.