Although major carmakers maintain an international presence, they don’t always treat their markets equally. The most obvious discrepancy is in terms of features for a given model, where developing markets often have to contend with a watered-down set of standard equipment compared to their more well-off peers.
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Mazda is no exception to this setup. With its North American operations being the biggest outside of Japan, it stands to reason that its mainland customers are privileged in terms of the models it offers (the Mazda3 turbo is one such example). Now, there’s even more reason for us to eye the American market with more than a tinge of envy, as Mazda introduces the Carbon Edition for the 2021 CX-5, CX-9, and Mazda6.
It’s not as if these models weren’t already drop-down gorgeous in stock form. The Carbon Edition ups the ante where desirability is concerned, and in a market where Mazda sustained a 5.5 percent drop in sales so far this year, it’s a necessary measure to stop the slide. Just what does the Carbon Edition entail anyway? It combines exterior and interior aesthetic tweaks that make a Mazda that much more unique, the better to stand out in a sea of eager competitors.
The blacked-out side mirrors and wheels give off an almost menacing look
The look builds on the distinctive Polymetal Gray exterior body color, accompanied by gloss black accents on the exterior mirrors, along with aluminum alloy wheels rendered in a black metallic finish. It’s a little more subdued than what’s normally seen on a regular Mazda, but it does bring out the sleekness even more.
There’s more to come on the interior, featuring red leather seats set against black honeycomb trim, rounded out by red accent stitching. All Carbon Edition Mazdas will come with a touchscreen unit offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, patched to a Bose premium audio system. No changes will be made on the mechanical aspects, but most of Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of safety features will be present. Driver-assist tech such as Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go, as well as Smart Brake Support, will form part of the standard equipment.
The exterior color scheme even somehow offsets the CX-9's bulk
Mazda has yet to finalize specific features and pricing for the three special models, and that’s for the North American market. If you feel like our market likewise deserves to be graced by their presence, you might want to start drafting that petition to Mazda Philippines. Who knows?
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