• New Mazda CX-9 range gains a fifth model, Azami LE
• Azami LE introduces a new and luxurious interior trim, featuring real wood
• Azami and Azami LE grades add the 360° View Monitor, heated steering wheel and front seat ventilation function
• Android Auto™ and Apple® CarPlay™ connectivity for all model grades
• i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies are now standard across the range
• Revisions to suspension, steering and NVH improve Mazda CX-9's characteristic smooth and quiet ride

Mazda has defined a new luxury for its award winning seven-seat petrol SUV, introducing more equipment and a new, premium grade for Mazda CX-9.

On sale from September, New Mazda CX-9 boosts safety and sophistication with advanced safety features and more technology added across the lineup, plus a new model, Azami LE, now topping the range.

Demonstrating Mazda's commitment to improving, enhancing and evolving at every opportunity, this is the second major update for Mazda CX-9 since its 2016 launch, following a comprehensive round of upgrades made in August 2017.

Mazda CX-9's already comprehensive safety package has again been thoroughly upgraded, with Mazda's advanced i-ACTIVSENSE technologies made standard across the range.

Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function (MRCC), Smart Brake Support (SBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane-keep Assist System (LAS), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and High Beam Control (HBC) now come standard on all grades, alongside existing technologies including Smart City Brake Support [Forward/Reverse] (SCBS F/R), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Driver Attention Alert (DAA).

Supporting the driver further, all grades are now equipped with Active Driving Display, which projects key information onto the windscreen, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to keep all four paws at correct pressure.

New Mazda CX-9 also becomes the first SUV in Mazda Australia's lineup to support Apple® CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, incorporated seamlessly into the MZD Connect infotainment system.

The high-spec Azami gains even more advanced equipment, including front seat ventilation, a 360° View Monitor, instrument panel-mounted seven-inch LCD TFT multi-information metre display, heated steering wheel, windscreen de-icer and a sleek, frameless internal rear-vision mirror.

Elevating Azami's premium offering further still, Mazda introduces a new high-grade called Azami LE, setting a new standard for affordable luxury in response to customer demand for high-grade Mazda CX-9s.

Combining a unique colour palette with rich, authentic materials and sophisticated technologies, Azami LE offers the most sophisticated Mazda CX-9 cabin yet.

A deep red, Chroma Brown nappa leather adorns the seats, complemented by real wood decorative panels on the doors and centre console, which is elegantly framed by ambient LED lighting. A more minimalist overhead console design and hand-crafted box stitching on the leather wrapped steering wheel complete the luxe interior.

Managing Director of Mazda Australia, Vinesh Bhindi, said New Mazda CX-9 defines a new meaning for affordable luxury.

"This update for Mazda CX-9 adds a new level of refinement to an already well-equipped and sophisticated vehicle, with the SUV gaining more standard safety and convenience features to further lift its standing in the class," said Mr Bhindi.

"Since its 2016 launch, Mazda CX-9 sales have always skewed to high-grade AWD variants, so we added Azami LE to give those looking for luxury even greater choice in the range."

The characteristic smooth ride of Mazda CX-9 has also been improved, with revisions to the suspension and steering system to give the car a more linear driving feel and greater ride comfort, achieved by using of low-friction dampers and recalibrated springs. Urethane top mounts are now used for the rear dampers and the vertical spring characteristics of the engine mounts have also been optimised.

The attachment point between the steering's outer ball joint and steering knuckle has been redesigned to give the steering a more neutral feel. Increasing the rigidity of both the front hub bearings and the steering mounts has also enhanced steering responsiveness.

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels have been further reduced with the use of tuned mass dampers, vibration-reducing powertrain mounts, changes to the second-row seat rails, increased steering column rigidity, a revised headliner and use of the steering wheel-mounted airbag as a tuned-mass damper.

Mazda's award-winning SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine remains unchanged for the updated Mazda CX-9. With its Dynamic Pressure Turbo and cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, the engine develops 170 kilowatts of power at 5,000rpm and 420 Newton metres of torque at 2,000rpm.

It also features Mazda's i-Stop system which automatically stops the engine when the car comes to a halt and restarts it when the brake is released.

The engine is mated to Mazda's SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. Designed to combine the smoothness of a conventional automatic transmission with the efficiency of a twin-clutch gearbox, it incorporates a manual-shift mode.

New Mazda CX-9 is available with either front-wheel-drive or i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive, except for Azami LE which is all-wheel-drive only.

Paired with four trim options, New Mazda CX-9 is offered in seven contemporary colours, including Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Grey Metallic, Sonic Silver Metallic, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Titanium Flash Mica, Jet Black Mica and Snowflake White Pearl Mica.

Now offering even better value, Mazda anticipate more than 6,500 sales of New Mazda CX-9 in the first year.

New Mazda CX-9 is available now, to learn more or find your closest dealer, visit www.mazda.com.au.