New Mazda6 a go for Frankfurt, sales begin this fall
Current 6 pictured above
Last month we speculated, but now we're pretty sure. Winding Road (via "the Republic of Moldova's premier automobile website", Auto.tihai.md), has learned that the all-new, next-gen Mazda6 will officially debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall. European sales should then follow promptly in November. We think the new 6 will be based on the new Ford Mondeo platform, but should still be more of a niche player that emphasizes sporty driving characteristics. The Mazda6 has never sold in the same volumes as the Camry/Accord, but still manages to find buyers who appreciate the Zoom Zoom experience, even in a family vehicle. No news has been issued about which bodystyles will make the jump to the new platform or whether or not a new Mazdaspeed6 will appear based on this next generation. The current Mazda6 lineup includes sedan, hatch, wagon and Mazdaspeed versions. Whichever models carry over, we expect (hope?) some version of Ford's 3.5L Cyclone V6 will be offered in the top models, and a 2.5L four-cylinder in the base 6.
[Source: Carscoop via Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bgdc 6:19PM (6/18/2007)
Wonder if that 3.5 will make the new 6 just as nose-heavy as the 3.0 did. The 6 is a nice car but Mazda sorta missed on a few counts - lack of power, poor balance, tight interior.
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stefan 6:24PM (6/18/2007)
@ bgdc
The mazdaspeed 6 dident lack power.
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bgdc 7:11PM (6/18/2007)
Mazdaspeed6 had a whole host of other issues:
1. Overweight.
2. Haldex FWD-bias AWD system
3. Poor gearing - no freeway cruising gear
4. Crappy clutch
5. Peaky engine - same engine that hamstrings the Mazdaspeed3 and CX-7.
Zaphod 6:40PM (6/18/2007)
My wife drives a Mazda6 and it's a wonderful car. We have the 4-cyl and I think it has plenty of get-up and go for being a 4400lbs car w/ a 4-banger. And driving in SoCal, you need to be able to do things quickly when driving :)
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jason 6:55PM (6/18/2007)
The greatest enemy to the Mazda6 is sitting only a few feet away at the dealership- the Mazda3! I've spoken with several Mazda employees and dealership employees who have admitted this to me. I've also met numerous folks online who were interested in the Mazda6, but drove off the lot in the Mazda3 instead. The driving dynamics are as good or better in most areas and the 2.3L Mazda3 feels as powerful in most driving situations as the 3.0L Mazda6.
I had decided on the Mazda6 when I was shopping back in 12/05. The most balanced and fun to drive version, save the Mazdaspeed6 of course, was the 2.3L Mazda6 i Sport with 5-speed manual. I liked the feel of it better than than the manual 3.0L version costing thousands more.
It was only when I was unable to locate the color combination (Lapis Blue or White with black interior) I wanted that I decided to try out the 3. I went with the 5-door Touring version of the 3 with manual transmission. Loving every minute of it.
The current 6 is a very good car, but they could make it an incredible car if they can create a mid-sizer as good as the 3. Instead of a nose-heavy V6, the turbo 2.3L makes a lot of sense. It works well with the automatic in the CX-7. Then give us a Mazdaspeed version with twin turbos and well over 300hp? =)
bmoredlj 10:51AM (6/19/2007)
The heaviest Mazda6 with a four-banger is under 3300 lbs., not 4400
Ben 8:10PM (6/18/2007)
The Mazdaspeed6 does have a FWD biased AWD system, but it is never 100/0 unless in reverse or the handbrake is up. Upon WOT it is 50/50, confirmed on a dynometer.
It is however VERY heavy, 3600ish LBS.
The engine is a thrill to drive, turbo lag is very small, but the power drop off is definately there. It has been confirmed that the reason for the car closing the throttle plate so early is because Mazda HAD to limit the power the engine made.
Also, there is a TSB for the early model clutches, the new models come with a more driveable unit, though I actually prefer my on/off clutch.
Gearing is actually what most drivers desire, there is no downshift necessary during highway cruising for passing, hence the larger 6th gear.
I have owned 2 Mazda6's as well as a Mazdaspeed6, and they are wonderful cars.
Our 2.3L is definately missing in the power department, but it's relatively lightweight for it's size, and definately out handles anything in it's class.
The past 3.0L was a decent engine, but for it's weight the power output could never compensate, making it actually slower around an AutoX course.
Some actual insight into the new Mazda6.
It will indeed debut at Frankfurt, I can 100% confirm that.
I can also 100% confirm the engine choices for the new models. The 4CYL version will get a slightly larger 2.5L MZR, making slightly more power and slightly better fuel economy, while retaining similiar weights of the past engines. The 6CYL version will make it overseas this time, and it's going to be a Japanese engine. Mazda has a 3.7L 300HP motor ready to go, it will be seen in the 2008 CX-9 and will make it in the 2008 Mazda6. This will be a full Mazda motor, built from the ground up in Japan, but expect the basics of the engine to be used in other Ford models. The 3.7L has already passed "California" testing, which is a major step. Expect Direct Injection on the 3.7L as well.
Look here for the CX-9 3.7L info.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccvl/2008ccvl.htm
The Russian's think the car will look like this:
http://news-img.caradisiac.com/IMG/jpg/Mazda6_4-2.jpg
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seoultrain 10:09PM (6/18/2007)
holy crap, 300hp? is that the regular or mazdaspeed? if the former, will it stay fwd?
chaztip 9:31PM (6/18/2007)
Does this mean that the next gen fusion/milian/mkz will be based of the ford mondeo? I thought Ford felt it was too expensive to bring to the US?
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Ben 7:44AM (6/19/2007)
FWD for the majority of vehicles, possible AWD option down the line.
RockStoneSteel 11:36PM (6/18/2007)
Now if Mazda could just market the Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 in a 2 door coupe or 2 door hatchback, I'd be at the dealer tomorrow. It's difficult to think of anything with 4 doors as "Zoom-Zoom". 4 door cars rank up there with the minivan on the ole' stodgy meter (and it don't matter if it's got 500hp).
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Stéphane Dumas 9:34AM (6/19/2007)
RockStoneSteel, I taught of the same thing,a Mazda 3 2-door hatchback/coupe. It reminds me of a edited picture by Photoshop then I saw a couple of years ago of a Mazda 3 hatchback edited into a 2-door hatchback (and an other into a convertible!), the result was handsome, too bad I didn't taught of saving the picture :_(
Also, imagine a Mazda 6 (and come to think of it a Mazda 3 as well) Mazdaspeed AWD with Ford's Twin-Force engine version of the Cyclone/Duratec 35 (who can also use E85), we could have a "new age muscle-car" or "muscle-car new age" and for those who wants lots of MPG, bring the diesels versions offered in Europe with the Duratorq Ford-Peugeot engines in North America!
mr.ed 11:53PM (6/18/2007)
My biggest bitch is the turning circle, which affects the driving experience many times a day. Then mileage, but wasn't so bad last weekend on a trip to Chicago with hours spent idling/creeping in traffic but still yielding close to 25 mpg. All actual open road speed was about 10 mph over, or 75-80. This in a 6 wagon, listed at 3400# empty, about 4000 loaded in our case.
The silver painted plastic interior trim is cheap looking. The grey vinyl needs some warmth, like Toyota uses in the Camry. The black vinyl/ABS isn't as rich as that in the 3 or MX5. The red gauges are invisible at dawn or dusk. Otherwise, we like it.
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Doogs 11:55PM (6/18/2007)
Hasn't it already been confirmed by Mazda that the new 6 will carry over the sedan/wagon/5-door model range?
Personally, I'd love the 5-door morph into something more resembling the Mazda3 5-door. I prefer hatches (I hate trunks), but the 6 wagon is just too...wagonish for my tastes.
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BM 12:52AM (6/19/2007)
"resembling the Mazda3 5-door. I prefer hatches (I hate trunks), but the 6 wagon is just too...wagonish for my tastes. "
But the 3 5-door is almost as frumpy, yet lacks the useful roof rack. The 6 5-door has almost as much cargo space as the wagon with seats down (22/58 vs. 34/60 ft^3), and significantly more than the 3 (17/44), plus the rear seats fold almost flat, which the 3's don't. If the 3 5-door looked like the 3 sedan or the 6 5-door, it would have been no contest; but last month's incentives made a 6i Touring with an aftermarket sunroof installed only $150 more than a similarly equipped 3s Touring with the Moonroof and CD-changer package. So having gone in with the idea of buying a 3, I chose the better-looking car with more space for gear. The drecky spoiler which is standard on US models proved easily removable, although I do hate paying extra for standard accessories which look like crap and serve no useful purpose, not to mention hit the ceiling of my garage. While the sunroof was being installed I had a 3 5-door as a loaner for a week, and I certainly could have lived with choosing it, even preferring some things while disliking others.
Coming from a 12-year-old 626 V6, I would be hard pressed to say the 6i doesn't feel as powerful, and it handles better, though not as well as the 3s. But for my needs and preferences, it was a better compromise. And I don't think there's anything close to either available in the US market.
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Doogs 7:40AM (6/19/2007)
"But the 3 5-door is almost as frumpy, yet lacks the useful roof rack. The 6 5-door has almost as much cargo space as the wagon with seats down (22/58 vs. 34/60 ft^3), and significantly more than the 3 (17/44), plus the rear seats fold almost flat, which the 3's don't.
I don't know if it is the actual rear overhang or an illusion of the rear glass length, but the 6 and a lot of other traditional wagons (3-Series Wagon, Subaru Legacy, etc) look a lot frumpier than the abbreviated Mazda3 and its predecessor, the Protege5.
I like the 6 5-door, too, with my major issue being that I own four dogs, and a more upright liftgate/hatch thing makes them easier to load.
Either way, I really, really hope Mazda nails this car.
Bryan 12:53AM (6/19/2007)
My reason for the 6 not selling in more volume is because of its size. Its just too small. And it feels and looks small. Complete opposite of the the 3.
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Stone 9:07AM (6/19/2007)
Yeah, the 6 is "small", but as a current 6 owner I would loathe to see this car grow into a bloated ugly mess that the Camry and Accord have turned into.
Elliott 9:47AM (6/19/2007)
Well... I'm excited!
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Reuben 10:06AM (6/19/2007)
Ben, thanks for the tip about the 3.7 in the cx9. I would love to see this in the 6 but my bet stays with the 3.5 as lincoln will be getting a 3.7 version of the duratec (probably the same engine in the revised cx9). In any case im looking forward to this car, I only hope it has the same handling attitude with a little more speed.
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