Mazda CX-30 Epic Drive in Kazakhstan

The Mazda CX-30 Epic Drive was a marketing event where Mazda tested the capabilities of the CX-30's i-Activ all-wheel-drive system by driving a 520-mile route through diverse and challenging terrain in Kazakhstan, including city traffic, gravel tracks, and the Singing Dune of Aityn Emel National Park. This 2020 event, held during Mazda's centenary year, showcased the vehicle's ability to handle various conditions and provided a platform to experience remote Central Asian landscapes.

Key Aspects of the Kazakhstan Epic Drive:
Objective:
To demonstrate the flexibility and real-world performance of the Mazda CX-30's all-wheel-drive system.

Route:
The drive covered a 520-mile (837 km) journey from Almaty, Kazakhstan, towards the Chinese border, passing through natural highlights like the Singing Dune and parts of the historic Silk Road.

Terrain:
The route was designed to be challenging, featuring a mix of driving conditions from city streets and modern highways to dusty gravel roads and off-road tracks.

Vehicle:
The focus was on the Mazda CX-30 with its i-Activ all-wheel-drive system, which provided excellent traction on low-grip surfaces.

Significance:
This "Epic Drive" was part of a tradition of challenging adventure drives by Mazda, celebrating their centenary by putting their vehicles to the test.

Other "Epic Drive" Events:
Mazda has a history of organizing "Epic Drives" to showcase their vehicles' capabilities:

New Zealand (2020):
The Mazda CX-30 was also tested on the uneven gravel roads and challenging terrain of New Zealand's South Island.

Central Asia (2020):
Before the Kazakhstan drive, another event explored the natural wonder of Lake Baikal in Russia.

Historical Drives:
Earlier in 1977, three Mazda 323s drove from Hiroshima to the Frankfurt Motor Show in Europe.

Mazda CX-30 Skyactiv-X Specifications:
▪ Length/width/height/wheelbase – 4,395/1,795/1,540/2,655 mm
▪ Ground clearance – 180 mm
▪ Kerb weight – 1,542-1,631 kg
▪ Towing capacity (braked) – 1,300 kg
▪ Cargo volume – 422-430 litre
▪ Engine – 2.0-litre (1,998 cc), 4-cylinder in-line, petrol

▪ Max output – 180 PS (132 kW) at 6,000 rpm
▪ Max torque – 224 Nm at 3,000 rpm
▪ Transmission – 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic; FWD/AWD
▪ 0-100 km/h manual FWD/AWD – 8.5/9.0 seconds
▪ 0-100 km/h automatic FWD/AWD – 8.8-8.9/9.2 seconds

▪ Top speed manual FWD/AWD – 127/127 mph (204/204 km/h)
▪ Top speed automatic FWD/AWD – 127/127 mph (204/204 km/h)
▪ Fuel consumption manual FWD/AWD – 47.9/43.5 mpg (5.9/6.5 l/100km) combined
▪ Fuel consumption automatic FWD/AWD – 43.5/40.4 mpg (6.5/7.0 l/100km) combined