KUWAIT CITY, March 19:  Customer satisfaction and delight is at the heart of our strategy for the present and future, said Yousef Al Shaya, CEO of Kuwait Automotive Imports Company-KAICO (Al Shaya & Al Sagar), sole distributors of Mazda cars in Kuwait, as he spoke at the launch of the new Mazda CX-9 2013 family SUV at the Mazda showroom late Monday evening with company executives and the media in attendance.
A 3-person entertainment group from the United Kingdom was on hand to thrill the crowd with some neon lighting performances prior to the unveiling of the new vehicle.
Al Shaya spoke of the strong bond of relationship between KAICO and Mazda’s core values dating back 44 years. He stated that in line with KAICO’s commitment to providing the best services, the company has over the years modernized its facilities for sales and after sales to provide customers maximum satisfaction. ‘We truly believe that customer satisfaction and delight is at the heart of our strategy for the present and future”, he noted.
For his part Ashish Tandon KAICO General Manager, emphasized that Mazda with its new CX-9 pushed the boundaries of tradition to achieve the unachieved in building the better car for the discerning few. With this CX-9, we believe Mazda is not only worth building but also worth owning with pride as it is craftsmanship that comes with performance and safety, said the GM.

Safety
Presenting the features of the new Mazda CX-9, Brand Manager Mohammed Osman stated that the new model has overcome a challenge by managing to combine technical and performance characteristics with maximum safety factors, noting that the successful combination has brought Mazda ten global awards worldwide. Mazda CX-9 takes the crossover SUV to an entirely new level of sophisticated, sporty style.  Drawing on Mazda’s “KODO-Soul of Motion” design theme, Mazda CX-9 gives concrete form to the vitality of dynamic motion, inviting the driver to come aboard, take the wheel, and enjoy all that the road has to offer. At the front, CX-9’s signature wings are more massive than any other Mazda to emphasize the imposing beauty and character of this high-end SUV — a look further enhanced by the wider chrome-plated areas and chrome-plated fog-lamp bezels which also add to the refined air of quality.  At the rear, the bumper corners have a sharper, tauter look to intensify CX-9’s impression of well-planned stability and heighten the air of restrained power just waiting to be unleashed.  The rear combination lamps feature Mazda’s new-generation design to create a rear view both striking and character-filled.
And this sporty, high-quality look is carried over to the interior with style and luxury that makes CX-9’s character even more distinctive and satisfying.

Pure driving pleasure is the promise, and Mazda CX-9 delivers.  It begins with a high-power 3.7-litre V6 DOHC engine that moves CX-9 with dynamic yet effortless style.  All-aluminium construction, four valves per cylinder and variable intake valve timing give this lightweight power plant tremendous torque and power right across the rev range for instant, exciting response.  As an added bonus, V6 design makes the engine extremely compact allowing more space in the luxurious cabin.  Gear ratios for the six-speed Activematic transmission were carefully chosen to keep the engine in its sweet spot to give the driver sparkling acceleration at all times.
The Active Torque-Split All-Wheel Drive assures all this power is delivered to the road.  Taking input from various sensors, this advanced system automatically adjusts torque distribution depending on traction conditions, with up to 50% of the drive power going to the rear wheels for sure grip in virtually all road conditions.

Macpherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension are integrated with an ultra-rigid body to give the driver a smooth, comfortable ride along with sporty, linear handling.
In the cockpit, meters feature satin-silver finish rings with a metallic luster, and the new-generation white illumination creates a look both stylish and highly legible.  The Bordeaux Metal decoration panels glow with a deep, refined metallic luster to further enhance CX-9’s look of class and quality. 
The perforated center panel spots leather upholstery to add to the cabin’s sporty elegance.  Mazda’s new-generation shift knob is not only supremely functional, fitting snugly into the palm to make gear-shifting faster and more accurate, it also visually emphasizes Mazda CX-9’s dynamic performance.
And the smooth leather cover on the steering wheel gives a comfortable, reassuringly positive grip as well as adding one more touch of quality to the cabin. 
Inside its sleek sporty body, Mazda CX-9 offers the generous cabin space expected from a three-row SUV, taking full advantage of its 5,096mm length, 1,936mm width, 1,728mm height and 2,875mm wheelbase.

Additionally, high-quality features and a wide range of equipment are also standout characteristics of CX-9 which include the infotainment system featuring the latest audio, navigation and speech-recognition systems based on an intuitive HMI (Human Machine Interface).  
A USB connector has been added to the audio system and the Bluetooth profile has been upgraded to AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile) version 1.4, allowing the user to repeat tracks, shuffle tracks, and select folders via steering wheel controls.
The navigation system allows users to easily update map and other software data via an SD card. The system shows current road conditions and selects optimal routes as well as also giving Forward Obstruction Warning as it detects the possibility of an imminent collision, warns the driver via audible warning chime and a visual warning in the meter cluster.

The system also uses the Lane Departure Warning System to recognize lane markings on the road surface and issues a warning to the driver via audible warning chime and a visual warning in the meter cluster.
The capacity of the telephone directory is dramatically increased to a maximum of 1,000 contacts, and the procedure for initiating calls is simplified using speech recognition for greater convenience with speed-dial function enabling users to call frequently-used numbers with simple commands.
A High Beam Control System automatically switches between high and low beams to ensure good night visibility for everyone.     Blind Spot Monitoring monitors the blind spot on either side of the car, detects vehicles approaching from behind in adjacent lanes and alerts the driver.


By Iddris Seidu
Arab Times Staff