Mazda to Showcase First EV at Tokyo Motor Show

Mazda is planning to reveal its first battery-powered vehicle at next month's Tokyo Motor Show, reports say.

News of the Japanese car manufacturer's plans for an electric vehicle (EV) has been circulating around since June of this year, when Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto told reporters that their first EV offering will hit the market next year.

Despite the scheduled unveiling, the battery-powered vehicle is far from complete, with reports saying that it is still in the development stages.

Prototypes of the vehicle spotted during testing saw it with a CX-30 crossover body, but Mazda says its new EV will have a brand-new look that has nothing to do with the CX-30 design.

The electric powertrain will run on a 35.5kWh battery, delivering 142 hp and 264 Nm. Charging options and mileage range have not yet been revealed, but experts are assuming it will be around 200-225 kms due to battery size.

Comparatively, its biggest competition, the Nissan Leaf has 258 hp and 243 kms of range for its base model. Likewise, the Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Kona, and Nissan Leaf e+ have even larger batteries and more power.

According to Mazda, the upcoming EV will be wedged between the CX-5 and CX-3, which means it will be similar in size to the aforementioned EVs from other brands.