Changan Mazda launches series production of the EZ-60
Changan Mazda is a Chinese-Japanese joint venture that is adding another model for the global markets with the EZ-60. The crossover SUV was presented for the first time at Auto Shanghai in April, followed by the opening of the order books. According to Chinese media reports, series production of the new model has now begun in Nanjing. As the next stage, the company is aiming for a market launch at the end of September. Customers will be able to choose between a purely electric and a partially electrified version.
The joint venture states that the EZ-60 is an important electric model for its global electric strategy. And customer interest so far sounds promising: according to CN EV News, the vehicle received 10,060 pre-orders within the first 48 hours, reached the 20,000 pre-order mark by mid-May and now stands at a good 38,000. Changan Mazda has set up a separate production line at its Nanjing plant specifically for the new vehicle. Investment in the line is expected to total almost 200 million yuan (around 24.1 million euros).
The Mazda EZ-60 is the second electric model for which Changan Mazda is responsible. The first, the EZ-6 sedan, was launched in China last year and is marketed in Europe under the name Mazda6e. The following vehicle is a rear-wheel drive vehicle weighing just under two tonnes with dimensions of 4.85 x 1.94 x 1.62 metres and a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. As a BEV model, the crossover SUV competing in the mid-size class is expected to cover around 600 kilometres according to the Chinese test cycle. The battery on board is a battery from manufacturer CALB, the exact energy content of which is not yet known. The vehicle’s power output is specified as 190 kW.
Even though the detailed technical specifications of the EZ-60 have not yet been published, much can be deduced from its sister model, the Changan Deepal S07, which celebrated its European premiere in the spring. Both electric vehicles are based on Changan’s EPA1 platform and have a wheelbase of 2.90 metres. The electric motor located on the rear axle delivers 160 or 190 kW in the Deepal. The battery has a capacity of 80 kWh. For the Chinese market, a variant with a range extender is also planned for the sister model to the BEV. The EZ-60 with range extender combines the 190 kW motor with a 1.5-litre petrol engine (72 kW) and a 32 kWh battery with LFP chemistry. The manufacturer puts the pure electric range at 160 kilometres.
The silhouette of the EZ-60 is characterised by a relatively flat and elongated SUV, the LED daytime running lights are extremely narrow, the door handles are retractable, and there are cameras in place of the side mirrors. The front of the model features a light signature. Inside, there is a 26.45-inch screen in the centre of the cockpit and a virtual head-up display. The intelligent functions include (as in the Deepal S07) voice and gesture control, and remote-controlled parking. Buyers can also choose between 19-inch or 21-inch alloy wheels.
In Europe, the model will be launched as the Mazda CX6-e. Those responsible are not yet more precise at this point. The timetable is still open, but with the EZ-6, around a year passed between the market launches in China and Europe.
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