The CX-5 compact crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. has been named the 2012-2013 `Car of the Year Japan'; thanks largely to the vehicle's new Kodo design theme and SkyActiv technology.

It is for the second time in ten years that a Mazda vehicle has bagged the `Car of the Year' award. In 2005, Mazda's MX-5, which is called the Roadster in Japan, had received the same honor.

The fourth Mazda to have won the award, the CX-5 was one of the several passenger cars which hit the Japanese markets during the period of between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012. The eligibility criteria which the cars launched during the mentioned period had to meet was the condition that their sales should have crossed the `500 units' mark.

That the CX-5 is witnessing robust sales is evident from the fact that, in the nine-month period since its February 2012 launch, Mazda has received as many as 37,000 orders for the car in Japan; over 33,000 in Europe; and more than 128,000 orders worldwide.

About the CX-5 receiving the `Car of the Year' award, Mazda executive officer Kiyoshi Fujiwara thanked the Mazda fans for their "warm support and encouragement," and added: "Spurred on by this honor, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to the task of crafting cars that only Mazda can, in order to continue winning the support of our fans and customers into the future."