2011 Mazda5 To Launch At Geneva, Australian Debut Unlikely

MAZDA IS SET to reveal the all-new 2011 Mazda5 - sold locally in previous guises as the Premacy - at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Due to the Premacy's poor sales, Mazda Australia passed on the Mazda5 when it launched in 2005. Speaking with The Motor Report today, Mazda Australia Public Relations Manager, Steve Maciver said a local return for the Mazda5 is unlikely.

"Mazda currently has no plans to bring the Mazda5 to Australia," Mr Maciver said.

"Research told us that the demand in Australia for this vehicle just wasn’t there and that our customers were happy with the range of Mazda passenger vehicles and SUV’s currently on offer."

Mr Maciver's comments echoed those of Managing Director Doug Dickson in 2007.

“If you look at the raw numbers, the market demand suggests it wouldn’t be successful," Mr Dickson told GoAuto.

Most of the players that have been in that segment are out now, so there would have to be something distinctly different about our Mazda5 for it to succeed.

With styling drawn largely from Mazda's Nagare design language - featured throughout the Mazda range - the Mazda5 introduces something new with the scalloped character lines of the popular Furai concept in its profile.

Powered by 1.8 and 2.0 litre direct-injection petrol engines, the 2011 Mazda5 features the company's i-stop start-stop technology. Combined, Mazda says its direct-injection and i-stop technologies result in in a CO2 reduction of up to 15 percent.

Both the 1.8 and 2.0 litre petrol engines are paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Mazda has given no word on whether an automatic version will be offered.

Further details will be revealed when the 2011 Mazda5 launches at Geneva in March.