Spy Shots: A Smaller Mazda CX In The Works

Our spy caught this interesting find—a smaller Mazda crossover doing some winter testing.

It looks to have a bit of a lower stance than the CX-7, and is smaller all around. Thus, it might be called a CX-5 or CX-3. It will be based on the Mazda3, and will likely have the new Sky-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine when it comes to the US.

It probably won’t debut until late next year, so we can keep an eye out for some more revealing spy shots and corresponding information.

Scroll down for the shooter’s comments.

Is Mazda working on a smaller SUV? Well, after shooting these photos we believe that the rumored project that apparently was canned some months ago is back on track. Even if this mule looks more like a shortened and chopped up CX-7 apparently the new compact SUV will be based on the Mazda 3 and powered by the new Mazda Sky-G and Sky-D engine families combined with the equally new Sky transmissions.

The new compact SUV, probably dubbed CX-3 or CX-5, should raise some of the design themes seen in the latest Mazda concept cars. Designed for the global market this new compact SUV will be sold in Europe, United States and of course Japan where it’s assumed to me produced.

We expect the unveiling of the production car to be in late 2011.