Facelift and new diesel for Japanese 4×4

A face-lifted Mazda CX-7 will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15.

New features for the compact SUV include a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, a greater level of torque in lower revs and Mazda’s new ‘family face’ as seen on the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6.

Exact details are yet to be revealed, but Mazda promises the new diesel CX-7 will emit less CO2 and deliver more miles per gallon.

It also offers the same amount of luggage space as the current petrol CX-7 – 455 litres.

Read our review of the current Mazda CX-7

The new Mazda CX-7 will debut as the first Japanese passenger car to have a diesel engine fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which cuts harmful nitrogen oxide emissions by 40 per cent.

Mazda will also be showcasing other eco-friendly technologies in Frankfurt including hydrogen-powered cars and its fuel-saving i-stop system.

Buyers can expect the CX-7 to go on sale in the UK towards the end of 2009. Pricing has yet to be announced but Mazda’s current CX-7 costs £24,086 from new.

Auto Trader’s web editor Adrian Higgins drove across America in a Mazda CX-7 – find out what he thought of the car.

By Dominic Sacco