When the Mazda 6 came out in 2003 it had the best driving dynamics in its class, but four years later there's more power and more size everywhere else in the segment. We got our first glimmer of hope for a new 6 last summer when we tipped you off to some photos of a Mazda 6 test mule and now it seems we've stepped up to a fully-camouflaged prototype.
The new Mazda 6 looks to be bigger and wider than the previous model. Rumor has it that the 6 will ride on the CD3-2 platform that currently underpins the Ford Mondeo and Volvo S80. Power could come from Ford's new 3.5L cyclone V6 and a 2.5L four cylinder. The vehicle should be very versatile with sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants and a hybrid may be on the way as well.
Unless you count the B-Series pickup, the Mazda 6 needs a makeover more than anything else in the zoom-zoom lineup. With Mondeo guts, the Ford 3.5, and Mazda's legendary driving dynamics, the new Mazda 6 may be quite the handful for the competition.
Thanks for the tip, Aaron!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
starlightmica @ Mar 1st 2007 8:48AM
Volvo S80 is built on the EUCD platform derived from C1, not a CD3.
Elliott @ Mar 1st 2007 8:59AM
Hot! It's sad when I thik that there are so many people who have never taken a 3, MX-5, CX-7, 5, RX-8, or 6 for a test drive and don't know what you mean by "legendary driving dynamics".
akintz @ Mar 1st 2007 9:20AM
Aren't these shots of the 2008 model? At least, according the Read link...
Michael Karesh @ Mar 1st 2007 9:22AM
Much bulkier look than currently, with a hint of Toyota Avalon or Nissan Maxima. Could be good, as the Mazda6 hasn't had enough "road presence," it blends in a bit much.
Thanks for the correction starlightmica. I was wondering why it was news to me that the S80 and Mondeo shared a platform.
My price comparison site's page for the current Mazda6:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Mazda6.php
akintz @ Mar 1st 2007 9:38AM
I don't know about Avalon and Maxima in it... I see more of a TL design in the front than anything else. Of course, that's mostly the grill and what little I can see of the headlights.
Dandy @ Mar 1st 2007 9:40AM
Hard to tell from the camo, but I think it's going to be a looker. I can't say the same for the wheels, though. They look like previous gen Passat wheels. Stop it, already! They're UGLY!
Rob @ Mar 1st 2007 9:44AM
Hopefully they won't add too much weight to the new model- that's one advantage of the current 6 that I'm not eager to give away.
Bill @ Mar 1st 2007 10:35AM
Mazda,
Please be careful. Don't get all porky, and don't try to go after the Accord/Camry market. You did that in the 90's and look what happened. I like your cars, and I want to keep buying them....
MikeW @ Mar 1st 2007 10:39AM
So they are giving up the front control arm/multilink virtual axis suspension. Doesn't the Mondeo have a version of the Focus' rear 'control blade' suspension
http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=50&limit=1&limitstart=3
not so much zoom zoom anymore, a straight line ZOOOM
Even motortrend picked up on the oddly spaced gear ratios in the GM/Ford joint 6 speed automatic
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0703_crossover_suv_comparison/engine.html
64%, 64.1%, 76.7%, 70.7%, 74.2%
compared to the AW 6 speed auto (still used in the Lincoln MKZ) 57.1%, 65.6%, 74.2%, 74.4%, 79.7%
http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=50
'We gonna need a bigger set a tires'
sydbot @ Mar 1st 2007 11:32AM
So is there anything bad about being a smaller car for the segment? I find its smallish-midsize a lot easier to handle on the road and, just as important, in the parking lot. One thing for sure, (at least with my Dad's '06 2.3i) Mazda needs to send some engineers over to Audi and figure out to get some great exhaust acoustics. The exhaust sound from inside the car...does not sound appealing. I have not driven the V6 model, and when I drove an '07 2.3L I can't say I remembered hearing a flatchulant-like sound coming from the back, so maybe they changed that. I hope that Mazda tunes the 3.5L for a while instead of taking shipment right from Ford, spread out the Zoom-Zoom. I have been thinking about a 2.5L 4 for Mazda, but it would actually be better, I think, if they put direct-injection on the 2.3L, and then tuned it for more low-end torque, fuel economy should do quite well. Oh yeah, Mazda...loosen up the springs a tiny bit on the new 6. She handles great, but could be a little softer.
Bob-omb @ Mar 1st 2007 12:08PM
I wish Mazda would just make their own cars by themselves. I don't want a Mazda6 with a Ford engine. Sigh.
Nr9 @ Mar 1st 2007 12:16PM
i thought the CD3-2 is used in the fusion, milan and mkz, edge, mkx, cx-9, and not the mondeo and S*0
Shawn704 @ Mar 1st 2007 1:00PM
The Mondeo and S80 are on the EUCD, the larger verison of the C1 platform. The Mazda 6 will use the newly updated CD3 platform called the CD3-2. The Fusion/Milan/MKZ and the Edge/MKX/CX-9 are based on the CD3 orginally used in the 2003 Mazda 6. The Fusion/Milan/Fusion will switch over to the CD3-2 when they are due for a redesign in the next couple of years unless Ford is planning to bring one global CD platform which will have to be the EUCD.
RMc @ Mar 1st 2007 1:21PM
Jeez, I pray the Ford doesn't get in the way and screw this one up. Let Mazda do the development and then let Ford rebadge it into a Fusion, etc; not the other way around. I think the 500, er, Taurus is proof enough that Ford can't design a decent car to save it's life. (Perhaps that's a bit too literal!)
There is hope being based on the Modeno but the family 3.5l engine is going to be a parasite on a likely otherwise great car (like the Ford 3.0 is now.) Hopefully Ford will let Mazda develop the 2.5 on their own. Should be a great car in that case, especially if they decide to blow it again for the MazdaSpeed version and can afford to add direct injection to the pedestrian trims.
Please Ford, don't get in the way of Mazda continuing to have the best car line-up for us enthusiasts.
Jim in Tampa @ Mar 1st 2007 1:41PM
If it's even close to the great looking Mondeo, the 6 is going to be a sweet car!
DDL @ Mar 1st 2007 2:39PM
Seems a little light on the horsepower. The new Honda will probably be up witht the Altima over 260.
Bob R. @ Mar 1st 2007 3:56PM
#11, even if that motor was on Wards 10 Best Engines for 2007? I drove an MKZ with the 3.5L V-6, and I have to say, I was very impressed how quiet and smooth it was. Th only thing that was a minor dissapointment was there was no +/- mode for the automatic.
To MikeW, do you know if GM changed around the gearing in the transmission when it goes into their vehicles?
#15, I don't know what you mean light on hp. Fords 3.5L V-6 makes 263 hp in the cars and 265 in the Edge/MKX. I guess maybe cause the article says 250hp??
Anyways, even though the 6 is under camoflage, the lines look good, and to me it has a little Lexus IS350 in the front lights. Hopefully Mazda will come through with a car that was just as good as the 2003 Mazda 6.
Ken @ Mar 1st 2007 4:15PM
So far, so good. As long as Ford stays away and lets Mazda do what it does best it should be great. I can't wait to see some uncamouflaged pictures.
Bobby @ Mar 1st 2007 4:53PM
The current generation Mazda6 is a great car. I found it's size to be perfect. Going bigger to compete with the Big Boys can negate those great handling dynamics if they are not careful. And that was probably the only strong point for the 6 in the segment anyway.
Jim @ Mar 1st 2007 5:08PM
I was hoping the new 6 would have decent gas mileage, but with it getting biger, probably not. Oh well...