Or anywhere else besides China, it seems.
It was revealed earlier this year that Mazda would be introducing a new crossover to be wedged between the CX-5 and CX-3 with proportions and roofline more fitting of a coupe than either of those stablemates.
The announcement of the CX-4 followed the reveal of the Koeru at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and given how stunning yet production-ready that particular concept looked, anticipation toward its development as a showroom model accrued rapidly.
And when the announcement was finally made, the excitement was tempered by the caveat that it will ostensibly be designed for and available in the Chinese market and nowhere else. But they did see an opportunity in China, hence the crossover’s country-specific attachment.
It was a surprising turn as interest in the vehicle went far beyond Asian borders. Automotive publications from Europe to North America and, yes, Australia, were either cheering the prospect of such an addition to the Mazda line-up or lamenting the geographically limited availability. Perhaps, then, Mazda’s market research painted a very different picture.
Many, including us, suspected that Mazda would eventually make the CX-4 available elsewhere, and that it could be a clever ruse to create buzz around the vehicle in the lead up to that disclosure.
Now, though, it seems that Mazda was shooting straight when asserting that the CX-4 is China-bound. Or at least it won’t be headed to Europe anytime soon, according to the automaker’s head of R&D Kiyoshi Fujiwara.
In a conversation with Autocar UK, Fujiwara said that stand-out designs sell cars in China as there is little in the way of brand loyalty there and its market being so saturated with similar cars. Something disruptive would have effect.
Fujiwara also confirmed that Mazda will not be expanding its portfolio of SUVs, adding that “we want to focus on its current offering.”
For more on Mazda vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
