Mazda cleans up its act

Mazda's CX-7 SUV is set to ditch its highly polluting petrol engine for a diesel powerplant featuring groundbreaking exhaust-cleaning technology.

The revamped five-seater is fitted with a special catalyst system that uses an additive called AdBlue to reduce the amount of poisonous oxides of nitrogen it emits. The Japanese firm says this will help it to meet tough Euro V regulations.

The 171bhp 2.2-litre diesel is also much better on economy and CO2 output than the old turbocharged petrol engine,  recording a combined 37.7mpg and 199g/km. That halves the annual road tax to £205 a year.

The CX-7’s swift but comparatively thirsty 2.3-litre petrol unit has been dumped in favour of the new diesel taken from the 6 range. A single, highly specced model will be sold, with equipment likely to include xenon lights, heated leather seats, cruise control, parking sensors and a nine-speaker Bose sound system.

The CX-7 diesel will make its debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor show, before going on sale in October. Prices are set to start at around £25,000, a rise of £1,000 over the petrol model.