JEDDAH – Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd., dealer of Mazda cars in Saudi Arabia, launched Saturday the new large family model 2013 Mazda CX-9 at the main showroom of Mazda on Madinah Road here. The launch of the latest crossover model became an instant jaw-dropper owing to its outstanding features and advanced capabilities – from both exterior and interior down to its engine technical performance. The new model, Mazda officials said, has achieved the difficult equation where it managed to combine technical and performance characteristics with maximum safety factors, noting that the successful combination reaped 10 global recognition awards from various parties worldwide. The CX-9's most significant design attributes have always been a visual presence that highlights its status as Mazda's high-end SUV and sporty proportions that are more striking than those of any other SUVs. The CX-9's design remains distinctive and continues to earn acclaim. The new generation of Mazda CX9 is equipped with an aluminum V-6 engine, produces 270 hp linked to an automatic 6-speed gearbox. Mazda adopted the “KODO — Soul of Motion” design theme beginning with the CX-5 (the first model in the new generation of Mazda products). “We're refining our techniques for expressing movement and evolving our designs to give a stronger sense of vitality. The facelifted CX-9's mission is to carry forward the Mazda brand and maintain the CX-9's own standing,” a senior Mazda official said. He added that “we adopted the ‘KODO — Soul of Motion' design theme in the exterior design to boost the CX-9's visual presence and evolve its appearance more extensively than is typical in a facelift. With the interior design, we adopted new color schemes and new decorative materials to create an environment that combines sportiness with a prestige look and feel.” Moreover, the all-new Mazda CX9 is fully equipped with various driving and safety features including parking assistant system, Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW) System, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and other systems. Looking at recent sales data, a total of 408,221 new cars have been sold in Saudi Arabia over the first seven months of 2012, an increase of 16 percent y-o-y. In 2011, the Kingdom's domestic car market continued to growth and achieved the 23rd position in global ranking. The sales mix is highly influenced by local climate and territorial characteristic, with high mix achieved by off-road and SUV segments. Saudi Arabia light passenger market grew by 33 in 20122. Registrations were 594.299, 145.000 more than 2010. – SG
