Spy Shots: 2008 Mazda6
by John Neff on Jul 20th 2007 at 12:25PM 
click above image to view more shots of the 2008 Mazda6 partially uncovered
Though spy shots of the 2008 Mazda6 have been snapped before, the automaker has done a good job obscuring the car's new shape from the camera's lens... until now. Chris Doane has managed to track down a production prototype wearing little camo that reveals exactly what Mazda has planned for the new 6. Clearly a bigger car than the current model, the new 6 should be about two inches longer with a similar stretch in its wheelbase. It appears the car's new front clip features larger headlights and a grille that plunges down the front bumper above another long lower air intake. Doane also managed to snap a view of the interior, which looks very high-tech with its hard lines and edges. It reminds us of the inner dwellings of an RX-8, in fact.
Priddy tells us that the new Mazda6 is expected to be motivated by Ford's now ubiquitous 3.5L V6, and there'll be a 180-horsepower 4-cylinder model, as well. Of course, MazdaSpeed will eventually debut its own hyper kinetic version, and a hybrid is also in the works.
Check out all our shots of the V6 Mazda6 in the gallery below, and you can take a peek of the 4-cylinder model over at Winding Road.
[Photos: Chris Doane / Brenda Priddy & Co.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Juan 12:37PM (7/20/2007)
Why is there an Altima in the background? Rather peculiar. But nice interior and I'm glad they only made the car longer by 2 inches... Don't want another "boat" in the midsize sedan category
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Chris 12:43PM (7/20/2007)
It was testing against an Altima Coupe.
Ligor 12:38PM (7/20/2007)
At first look I though it was a Nissan,
that front end is very much Nissanish, but once I looked at the side and rear, it seems thay have done a good job differentiating it from the Altima.
Interior is nothing new or revolutionary and sort of big and boring.
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the marais 12:46PM (7/20/2007)
Why has the new Altima become a benchmark of sorts? -- Looks like new Mazda 6 and new Opel Vectra seem to capture some of its design elements. Maybe all mid-sized cars are just converging -- all seem to offer similar pricing, engine choices, interior appointments, etc., and now proportions. The new 6 has big shoes to fill -- especially since it was the car that other Japanese companies were impressed with.
Can we assume then that the 2009/10 Ford Fusion will share this essential platform? At the moment the 6 and the Fusion feel very similar when one is sitting inside them.
Don 3:20PM (7/20/2007)
I was thinking the same thing: boy that thing looks big.
Tool 12:44PM (7/20/2007)
Wow, Mazda is on a tear. All of their stuff looks great, even if it is a bit derivative. But then again, how often are any of the designs from the Japanese automakers truly original?
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mojobunny 12:32AM (8/08/2007)
When Saturn Vue decided to copy CRV.
polar 12:47PM (7/20/2007)
I'm excited to see the wagon variant.
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TBlueMax 1:08PM (7/20/2007)
I'm also looking forward to the wagon variant with the updated V6. Wonder how long it will take for it to show up on dealer lots after the initial release of the sedan?
Chris 1:21PM (7/20/2007)
The wagon variant wont be made this time around.
Chris 1:30PM (7/20/2007)
Also forgot to mention no 5 door variant this time either.
J 12:52PM (7/20/2007)
I passed a few of these in a convoy led by a CX9 on a Florida interstate. They were testing alongside the Altima and a Camry.
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John R 12:52PM (7/20/2007)
The wheels on this car look really nice. The car itself, despite all the camo, looks pretty exciting.
Hopefully when the Mazdaspeed 6 makes its appearance the AWD system will be a little lean more towards RWD. IMO the Subaru AWD on the 2.5 GT Spec B is nicer as it has more of a RWD bias.
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trinitron 12:53PM (7/20/2007)
It is being benchmarked by the altima but that does not mean that its the only car. There is probably an accord and a camry somewhere off camera.
That grill is too damn big and pointy. Huge grills are cool when they are rectagular, but that hage arrow on the nose is distracting.
+1 for the boring interior.
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John R 12:53PM (7/20/2007)
that is "will lean a little more towards RWD." Bad typo
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Jonathan Hicks 1:07PM (7/20/2007)
I hope the sedan will come in 2.5L four, 3.5L V6, Mazdaspeed turbo, and hybrid versions. Will there be 5-door hatch and wagon variants?
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Sean Flanagan 1:03PM (7/20/2007)
Not for nothing, but this smacks of Acura TL. Identical pentagon grille with "wings" coming off the centered emblem, nearly identical DLO, similar upper-dashboard layout (minus the screen), similar IP.
It started to really bother me, so I did a quick exercise.
Look at the rear 3/4 spy shot above.
Here's a press photo of the TL rotated about 20°:
http://www.flanaganid.com/tl_new6_1.jpg
And here's the shot of the TL overlaid on top of the spy shot:
http://www.flanaganid.com/tl_new6_2.jpg
Maybe I missed something and they're using a modified TL mule, but there are very few places where you can clearly see a difference, most notable in the taillights and depth of the rear bumper.
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Compy386 1:04PM (7/20/2007)
So if the base V6 will be the 3.5 with 260 HP, then does that mean the Mazdaspeed version will be a Twinforce 3.5 with 400 HP? I sure hope so :).
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MikeW 2:32PM (7/20/2007)
3.7V6 300hp 6 speed stick + haldex.
Compy386 2:34PM (7/20/2007)
Awww no 400 HP Twinforce? Drat.