Autoblog

Click on the image above for our high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda6

The 2009 Mazda6 is an all-new midsize sedan from Mazda that was designed, engineered, developed, and will be manufactured completely on U.S. soil. While the Japanese and European markets have been enjoying the new 6 (Atenza) since late last year, the North American market finally gets to bask in the sleek new bodywork, along with a bigger engine under the hood. Follow the jump to see if the latest product from team "Zoom-Zoom" can compete head-to-head with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima.

All photos copyright Michael Harley / Weblogs Inc.

It's been two weeks since our last podcast -- we tried to do one last week, but technical difficulties scuttled the effort. With that in mind, we packed some extra content into Autoblog Podcast #93. It's the usual rollicking good time where we discuss our current Autoblog Garage occupants, hit a few news items like the neo-M1 concept from BMW, Suzuki's content addition to the SX4, and the unveiling of the new Mazda6. Most importantly, we burn a healthy amount of minutes on the new Knight Rider suckfest. We also take a few emails from our podcast at autoblog dot com address. Thanks for your hour and seven minutes!

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Mazda's 6 is having a tough time finding love in its home market where it goes by the Atenza moniker. 7Tune is reporting that Mazda's going to flip the script and introduce three new variants of the Atenza; a coupe, a convertible, and a high performance version called the Mazdaspeed Atenza for JDM consumption. Mazda looked to the holy-grail BMW 3 series for inspiration, though that car is rear-wheel-drive, and hopes to achieve the same build quality with its Atenza line.

The vehicles in 7Tunes renderings are more conservatively styled than the current 3-Series, though that's hardly a bad thing. We think the renderings are easy on the eyes, with clear RX-8 influences, though all suffer from a basket-handle spoiler tacked on to the trunklid. It's tough to imagine the Mazdaspeed Atenza amounting to anything other than a tasty snack for the monstrous M3, though we're sure the Mazda will comport itself sportily. If any of this conjecture rings true, it's tough to go wrong benchmarking the icon of the segment.

[Source: 7tune]

Move along, hardly anything to see here. Still, it's always interesting to chart the changes. KGP photographers demonstrated the importance of keeping the glovebox stocked with trailmix, which allows these sharp shooters to outlast their quarry driving around in preproduction mules of upcoming models. Mazda's new 6 has already had its exterior snapped (see gallery below), but the interior has also received some attention. A new steering wheel is the most noticeable change compared to the already-revealed European model, though the instruments are also tweaked and the start button has been relocated closer to the shifter. Hopefully we'll meet the new 2009 Mazda6 in person in just a couple weeks at the 2008 New York Auto Show, because if not, we'll have to wait until at least the end of year at the next LA Auto Show.


[Source: Inside Line]

The CX-9 was Mazda's first vehicle designed specifically for US consumption, and one Motor Trend SUV of the year award later, Mazda may be on to something. Sales momentum has increased steadily for the seven-seat utility vehicle, with 3,000 units flying off dealer lots in October alone. Mazda's flexibility allowed the automaker to transform in 18 months a minivan that would likely retail for less than $30,000 into a hot CUV with a price tag reaching $40,000. The Hiroshima-based automaker will leverage those lightning-fast production capabilities and its Ford-shared global architecture bin to produce more vehicles for US tastes, and we're happy to hear it.

Since Mazda seems to have a handle on CUVs (it has four in the US already), we can only guess what exclusive product the development team in Irvine, CA will give us next. A zoom-zoom version of the Honda Ridgeline would be interesting, as would a US-unique Mazda2. We'd like to put in a vote for Mazda utilizing the RX-8 platform to create a sporty RWD sedan, but we're sure everyone the world over would want that.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Several prototypes for the next-gen Mazda6 have been spotted in recent months, but most were covered with enough camouflage to prevent prying eyes from catching a glimpse of the car ahead of its launch early next year. New renderings that have just been released allow us to peel away the protective camouflage, however, revealing a car that retains the sporty 'Zoom-Zoom' look of the current model.

Sharing its platform with Ford's new mid-sized Mondeo sedan, the new Mazda6 is expected to grow several inches in both length and width compared with the current model. New to the range will be a 3.5L V6 developing around 250 hp, which will likely be eclipsed by an even hotter motor, possibly turbocharged, for a new Mazdaspeed 6/MPS model a year down the road.

Though the renderings only show a sedan, the current five-door hatchback and wagon variants are also expected to continue on for the new model, though the current generation wagon and Mazdaspeed6 have been shelved for the '08 model year. Let's hope that Mazda's new weight saving initiatives that were used for the new Mazda2 will also be applied for the six.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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]

Another day, another dose of spy pics of the new Mazda6. Bigger than the previous model, the new 6 is rumored to be sitting on the CD3-2 platform found under the Ford Mondeo and Volvo S80. We expect some version of Ford's 3.5L Cyclone V6 in top models, and a 2.5L four cylinder in the base 6. One of the most versatile and fun to drive vehicles in its class, we're hoping to see similar sedan, hatchback, and wagon versions of the new 6 return to showrooms when the model debuts next year as a 2009 model. There's even talk of a hybrid version in the works.

The new platform couldn't come at a better time for Mazda. Even though it has been an engaging ride, competition in this segment is cutthroat and just about every competitor has surpassed this mid-size Mazda in power, size and driving dynamics. Still pretty heavily camouflaged, these new pics offer a few more glimpses of exposed sheetmetal. The Car Connection spies found this advanced prototype just outside Ford's Detroit engineering operations. They said to expect familial styling, with the prominent front fenders a lá Mazda's RX-8, MX-5, CX-7 and CX-9.

Click the read link for several larger photos.

[Source: The Car Connection]

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!

[Source: World Car Fans]

As Esquire magazine appears to have forgotten to post its "10 Most Awesome Autos" feature from its May issue online, Terry Box at the Dallas Morning News has been kind enough to accommodate list fanatics. The men's magazine actually made a pretty good show of picking its 10 favorite cars under $50,000. No defining criteria other than price and editorial opinion appears to have been employed, so take these for whatever they're worth. In no particular order and without further delay, the envelope, please ...

• Lotus Elise ($42,990):
• Chevrolet Corvette ($44,490)
• Mazda 6 ($19,670)
• Infiniti G35 coupe ($33,200)
• Ford F-150 ($19,640 to $37,005)
• Audi A3 3.2 DSG ($34,700)
• Subaru Legacy GT ($28,795)
• BMW 3-Series ($30,900 to $44,900)
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ($29,149)
• Chrysler 300C SRT8 ($42,695)

 So, did Esquire get it right, or is it missing something? 

[Sources: Dallas Morning News; Esquire; Lotus]