Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Mazda
Spy Shots: 2009 Mazda6 caught naked with new curves
by John Neff on Feb 28th 2008 at 12:22AM 
Click above to view high-res spy shots of the 2009 Mazda6
Last September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we made the claim that the new Euro-spec Mazda6 was bringing sexy back to the midsize sedan market. The version slated for sale in the United States will do the same, but not because it's identical to the one designed for Europe. It's not. These spy shots from Brenda Priddy & Co. show a completely naked prototype that was caught in Detroit. Though at first glance it looks exactly like the 6 that debuted in Frankfurt last year, closer inspection reveals many changes to the car, which corroborates reports we've heard that the U.S. version is also markedly different underneath its skin. Follow the jump for a review of the changes in store for U.S. customers. Gallery: 2009 Mazda6 - spy shots
Gallery: 2008 Mazda6
[Source: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Co.]
Up front, we've noticed that this Mazda6 prototype features an open grille with a single crossbar, as opposed to the honeycomb-like grille of the European version. The lower air intake is also entirely different, with a pair of fog lights now placed as far apart as possible. Finally, the hood on this caught car features a pair of soft subtle creases, whereas the bonnet of the Euro-spec model gets a single, sharp crease down the center. The headlamps and taillights are completely different, and the rear of the car is also all new. The U.S. version will feature a pair of sporty exhaust tips integrated into its rear apron, which itself also features more curves than the Euro version. It's difficult to know in this case whether we should be envious of our kin across the pond as we know nothing about the mechanicals of the car you see above. Whether the two cars turn out to be identical in that respect or not (probably not), at least we're guaranteed a design that is both unique and familiar at the same time.
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 8)
Sam 10:05AM (2/28/2008)
Where the designers got the idea that americans like protruding tail lamps is beyond me... They did the exact same thing on the previous generation Mazda 6 and it made the back look as awkward...
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Richard 10:09AM (2/28/2008)
Back is nice, front is not so great.
I never have liked the Mazda front fender idiom, although Bruno Sacco of Mercedes copied it as soon as he possible could.
It will be interesting to see what the next Legacy looks like - as I see the 6 as its true competition.
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Mazda03 10:12AM (2/28/2008)
FINALLY a picture of our Mazda6! It looks new and fresh but where
European 6 looks upscale ours looks just average. Europe got the
classy headlights and tail lights, where ours look cheaper. The Euro
tail lights flow up into the side crease and ours does not, so we dont
get that nice smooth flow. We also dont get the crease on the center
of the hood. They also moved the fog lights out to each side on the
US model, which in my opinion does not look as good. The inetgrated
exhaust pipes look good though! Overall, a goodlooking package, but
WHY did they give us cheap looking headlights and tail lights, they
looks so 90's.
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MikeW 10:18AM (2/28/2008)
The front end is horrible.
That is one of the worst front turn signals.
How are you supposed to see them if you even 45 degrees off axis?
Where are the lateral repeaters? [like the rest of the planet gests]
The bow shaped arc of the trunk reminds me too much of the Oldsmobile Intrigue.
and where are the low mounted retro-reflectors?
[like the current car, and new world version]
They need to fix this terrible styling, fast.
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A&W 10:24AM (2/28/2008)
Darken the tail-lights like the euro version and the back end is good. Replace the front end with the euro version with a tiny bit more bright work on it. OR put the exhaust tips on the euro version and other-wise bring it as is!
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PJ 10:26AM (2/28/2008)
Love it.
I suspect the camera angle is playing tricks with the front end. It's a long zoom shot that makes it look narrow. And protruding fenders always look worst from this angle. A less-zoomed shot, or a head-on or profile, will likely do it justice.
I agree about the foglight/lower grille brightwork. Needs to go.
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Paul C. 10:29AM (2/28/2008)
What else is new? Once again the US and Canada get stuck with crap!
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Rick 10:36AM (2/28/2008)
Wow, greatly disappointed. I was looking forward to the US 6. I was going to wait for it's debut to buy it, but decided 2 weeks ago I could not wait that long. I'm glad I didn't wait, they killed, DESTORYED, the sweet Euro design they had. The tail end is too small, the headlights are smaller, the bumper is whacked, they ruined the design. Vety sad. I can't understand why they had to mess with the car just for the US!
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bamboo 10:41AM (2/28/2008)
Oh what the hell!!!
My wife and I both really like the 6 and decided to hold off till the new model came out. We both really liked the one shown at the Euro show, but both can't stand the front end in the spy shot.
Cross my fingers this is just like a super base model, and they will do something different on other models.
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X3S2000 10:49AM (2/28/2008)
Anyone else think the front looks like the (ugly) Mercedes R-Class?
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Seoultrain 12:39PM (2/28/2008)
that was my first thought when I saw the front view. I can't believe no one else posted that until the 5th page.
3seriesisking 1:39PM (2/28/2008)
By George, you're right.
polar 10:53AM (2/28/2008)
So, are we going to at least get a Hatchback style here then?
I'm still pissed they canned the wagon.
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antrow 10:58AM (2/28/2008)
I love the Euro-spec one and hate the US version. The Euro-spec looks classy and expensive where the US version looks like a blown up Mazda 3, no offense to the 3 intended.
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Toby 11:51AM (2/28/2008)
I see a bunch of 'OMG's over a trim level grille and a color that 'NEVER' looks good on sedans.
This grille has also already been seen here:
http://www.coremazda.com/forums/mazda-news-rumors-speculation/880-here-she-pics-2009-mazda6-2.html
I think all this fainting over it being 'ruined' are just a touch dramatic.
Once you see a dif color and a dif angle you will all relax a bit.
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A.N.E. 12:17PM (2/28/2008)
FWIW, the grill has the same features (emblem and body-colored horizontal crossbar), but are very different grills. You have eyes, nose, and mouth, but you and I look very different.
A.N.E. 12:10PM (2/28/2008)
Not making conclusions till all the trims are revealed, but this thing is watered down.
Jewel leaf patterns in headlamps. Gone! Look like cheap Ford headlamps now.
Sporty and aggressive grill. Gone! Now el cheapo.
Foglamps that look like fangs. Gone! Now are disfigured molars pulled to the side.
Center crease on the hood that emphasizes aggressiveness. Gone!
Taillamps look a bit forced into place. They too are considerably cheaper looking due to the cheap plastic chrome trim. Nothing so cheap looking as plastic chrome.
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Mazda03 9:51PM (2/28/2008)
I agree 100% with your opinion! Very well put!
ricotubbs 12:39PM (2/28/2008)
Lets all take a breath. There's no need to have to be placed on suicide watch over two spy photos. You're OK...I'm OK. OK?
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Iridium 1:04PM (2/28/2008)
Way to go Ford, you screwed up another fantastic car. This thing is just the old Mazda6/Ford Fusion with a new body on it. It will probably be made in the Michigan plant that makes the current 6. That is why it looks like crap. They had to try and make the look of the new world spec 6 fit the proportions of the old car and it just didn't work right.
The Euro 6 is built on the new Mondeo platform, which is a platform that could kill the Accord and Camry. The nice thing about the new Malibu is that it is designed on a European platform and is truly a fantastic car. The new Camry, Accord, and Malibu are all built on larger platforms than the old generation 6. The new Mondeo platform is also bigger than the old 6 which was bulit on the older Mondeo platform. That is why th e6 was such a good car when it first came out. SO the argument that they didn't use the new platform becuase they needed a bigger car is just wrong.
Ford is stuck in the stone age in America. Instead of bringing a car based on the fantastic euro focus they give us a new body on the old car. Instead of allowing Mazda to import the world spec 6 to truly compete, they just make them rebody the old 6. Ford is too afraid that Mazda will show them up again like they did when they released the 3 based on the new Focus platform and sales skyrocketed. Ford just can't take another car that shows how terrible the Fusion actually is in direct competition.
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