Mazda CX-5 Confirmed For Frankfurt

MAZDA CX-5

Mazda has confirmed that its recent Minagi concept will debut in production form as the 2012 CX-5 at September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The news comes after speculation stretching back to early last year, following the time of Mitsubishi's ASX compact SUV and the updated Nissan Dualis Series II.

The first of Mazda's new models to feature the new 'Kodo' design language, the CX-5 will also utilise the the company's new Skyactiv petrol and diesel engines, transmissions and construction methods.

The CX-5 will come to the Mazda line-up as the smallest of its three SUVs, joining the CX-7 and the larger CX-9 - both of which will likely benefit from Kodo-inspired updates in the near future.

There is also growing speculation that Mazda is considering a three-door version of the CX-5, inspired by the three- and five-door variants of the upcoming Range Rover Evoque.

Scheduled for a 2012 launch, the CX-5 will face off against the Nissan Dualis, the Subaru Forester, Toyota's RAV4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan - all selling over 1000 units each in March.