2024 Mazda CX-90 Will Feature Mazda's Most Powerful Engine Yet

Straight-six power is coming to Mazda’s new flagship.

The Mazda CX-9 has served as the brand’s biggest, most prestigious offering for a while now, but that’s set to change very soon with the introduction of the Mazda CX-90. Not only will the CX-90 mark Mazda’s return to RWD-based platforms, but it will also bring along a BMW-like inline 6.

This all-new, 3.3-liter inline 6 turbo engine will be Mazda’s most powerful production engine yet, clocking in at 340 horsepower and 369 ft/lbs of torque. Dubbed e-Skyactiv, this new engine is also a mild hybrid, similar to the new CX-60 on sale in European and Japanese markets. Mazda says this engine was developed specifically for the new RWD platform and meant to “support a performance-focused experience.” The new CX-90 will come with Mazda’s Kinematic Posture Control, essentially a brake-based torque vectoring system to increase agility in cornering.

That’s a pretty big bump over the CX-9’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which comparatively has a meager 227 horsepower and 310 ft/lbs of torque. It’s an enjoyable engine in the Mazda 3 or CX-5, but in the large CX-9, it’s merely adequate, or even lacking compared to some competitors.

Mazda also gave us another teaser of the CX-90. Not much can be ascertained from the dark photo, but we can see that the CX-90 has wide, pronounced wheel arches, and headlights that look somewhat similar to the CX-50.

The CX-90 is part of Mazda’s aspirations to compete more directly with luxury brands. Official details should be released later this year, as the Mazda CX-90 is expected to debut as a 2024 model.

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