Mazda has already announced that it’s working on a new rear-wheel drive vehicles that will be powered by an inline-6 or plug-in hybrid powertrains. Most recently Mazda gave a preview of the new inline-6 engine and a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Now a report claims that we will get to see the first of the new rear-wheel drive Mazda vehicles later this year.

Australia’s Wheels is reporting that the first rear-wheel drive vehicle will be the CX-50 crossover. The small crossover will be based on the new rear-wheel drive platform and will be positioned as a more premium alternative to the current CX-5. If the reports are accurate we will see the Mazda CX-50 debut later this year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Mazda recently announced that the Mazda6 sedan is dead for the 2022 model year, but it’s expected that the successor will also be based on the rear-wheel drive platform. It will reportedly arrive in late 2022. A large rear-wheel drive crossover is also in the works to replace the CX-9.