Mazda has announced that it will be unveiling its 2013 CX-9 crossover SUV at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show, October 18 - 28. Highlighting a stouter “refreshed” design than the 2012 CX-9, the latest version has a more aggressive front that’s all bumps and forward-thrusting angles.
It’s the second of the latest Mazda cars to use the full range of the company’s SKYACTIV technologies to improve fuel efficiency. In addition, the 2013 CX-9 uses Mazda’s regenerative braking system called i-ELOOP, which uses capacitors to recover braking energy electrically rather than through flywheels.
Safety features includes a suite of assisted driving features such as Mazda’s Forward Obstruction Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System and a High Beam Control System that automatically dips the headlamps when a vehicle is sensed approaching in the opposite lane.
Under the bonnet, the 2013 CX-9 retains the MZI V6 3.7-liter petrol engine with a six-speed automatic gearbox putting out 273 bhp (204 kW) and 366 Nm (270 ft-lb) of torque at 4,250 rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at a modest 12.7 liters per 100 kilometers (18.5 mpg) city and 8.4 l/100 km (28 mpg) highway. Backing this up is a Macpherson front suspension and multilink rear suspension. The end result is 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a leisurely 7.9 seconds, but the top speed makes up for this at 225 km/h (140 mph).
Source: Mazda
There's an interesting number in that context: Jeff Dukes from Purdue University did the math on how much ancient fossilized biomass is in a liter of gasoline, and comes up with a mind-blowing 23.5 metric tons per liter. (paper title: "burning buried sunshine")
A railroad car could carry the plant mass equivalent of four to five liters of gasoline, in other words.
Imagine how many railroad cars of fossil energy is in every tank of gas we carry in even the most puny ones of our gas powered vehicles...