Mazda to take the CX-60 rallying in Hokkaido

Think Mazda CX-60, and more than likely you'll think of a sleek yet powerful crossover SUV that's ready to cruise in style in both the city and the highway. With a potent turbocharged six-cylinder SkyActiv engine under the hood that's available in either gasoline or diesel, it's more than capable of covering ground at high speeds with ease.

But what if we told you Mazda is set to join a rally race with the CX-60? That's right, the stylish CX-60 is set to join this year's XCR Sprint Cup Hokkaido rally competition, which will be held from September 5 – 7, 2025, at the Tokachi area.

According to the automaker, Mazda's participation in the rally aims to hone its technology through competition in a harsh rally environment to gain knowledge and real-world data. This would then be used to make better production vehicles that can exceed customer expectations.

The CX-60 that will compete at the rally competition will be called TCP Magic with Toyo Tires and will see Mazda, Toyo Tires, and TCP Magic work together during the race. The designated driver and co-driver of the CX-60 will consist of Mazda Development engineers Kazuhiro Terakawa and Miyoko Ishikawa, respectively.

Under the hood, the Mazda CX-60 that will join the rally competition will use the 3.3L SkyActiv-D turbo-diesel engine. No exact specifications were mentioned, although we won't be surprised if it still makes the factory stock output of 254 PS at 3750 rpm and 550 Nm of torque at 1500 – 2400 rpm. Power is then sent to an 8-speed SkyActiv transmission with AWD. Since it's a rally race, the CX-60 will be fitted with Toyo Open Country R/T tires.

With the Mazda CX-60 set to compete next month at the XCR Sprint Cup Hokkaido, we'll be curious to see how the crossover SUV will fare against the competition.