Frankfurt 2007: The new Mazda6 brings sexy back to the midsize market

Click for high-res live shots that have been added to the media pic gallery

Although rumor has it this isn't the exact Mazda6 we'll be getting Stateside, we finally saw the car in the metal with our own eyes and like what we saw -- a lot. Not as conservative (not that Mazda usually is) as the Accord or as odd as the Camry, this all-new 6 manages to be exciting in an understated way. Lots of nice curves and details without a lot of bling. In person it has an almost BMW feel about it, very athletic and sophisticated. The hatch and wagon in particular look very rakish. Unfortunately we overheard one Mazda exec mention that the U.S. might only get the sedan this go-around, which would be a bit of a letdown. We liked the hatch and wagon variants and because we were just looking at both of them in the new version, we know that the engineering is already done.

Some of the new features we expected look like they made it to the production car. We just had the pre-release post a little while ago and most of that info has remain unchanged. There is a rundown of specs after the jump in case you want to check it out. Things that make this new 6 a near-near-luxury car are here, like xenon headlights, LED detailing, heated seats and an engine starter button. Pricing still hasn't been announced, but it will probably stay pretty close to the outgoing model to stay competitive in this uber-important mid-sized sedan market.

U.S.-spec cars will likely get an optional 3.5L V6 in addition to the base four-cylinder, but the Europeans have more choices. The new car weighs less than the '07 model and will more efficient with fewer CO2 emissions to boot. We're really hoping Mazda brings it over as-is and offers all three versions if for no other reason than to further distinguish its uniqueness among its rivals.

[Source: Mazda]

Press Release:

Mazda at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2007
Mazda Motor Corporation's 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show
stand celebrates an evolution of Zoom-Zoom with the world
premiere of the all-new Mazda6 and its smaller brother, the
all-new Mazda2 (first shown at Geneva earlier this year) now
with a diesel offer -- the first two new-generation models
to be completely new developed. Frankfurt also sees Mazda
celebrating 40 years of the Mazda rotary engine, and a new
look to its sports car icon, the Mazda RX-8, with its 40th
Anniversary Special Edition.

World premiere: All-New Mazda6 – Zoom-Zoom Evolution

Taking centre stage at the Mazda stand at this year's Frankfurt
show is the world premiere of the all-new Mazda6, which is the
company's second new-generation car to be developed from
the ground up. As it did when it was first launched in 2002, the
all-new Mazda6 is poised to set a new standard in its class. It
is more refined, more mature, more premium with exquisite
quality – and represents an evolution of Zoom-Zoom.

Mazda6 at a Glance
• Second of the new-generation models representing an
evolution of Zoom-Zoom after the all-new Mazda2
• 3 body styles: sedan, hatchback and estate
• 65 mm longer, 15 mm wider, 5 mm taller, with a
50 mm longer wheelbase (sedan and hatchback)
than the first-generation Mazda6
• Exquisite craftsmanship: body gaps greatly reduced
and higher quality materials introduced for a greatly
improved premium feel
• Mazda's Karakuri rear seat system (hatchback and
estate): one-touch seat-drop function from a latch
in the boot panel and an all-new boot tonneau cover
for the estate that automatically moves up when the
rear liftgate is opened
• Sporty performance feel enhanced by new six-
point mounting system for the high-mount double
wishbone front suspension and electric power
assisted steering
• Excellent coefficient of drag (Cd) lowered to 0.27
(down from 0.30) for the sedan and hatchback, and
to Cd 0.28 (down from 0.32) for the estate
• New 2.5-litre petrol engine (170 PS). Also available
are 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and the MZR-CD
2.0 turbodiesel (140 PS)
• 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines' fuel efficiency and
CO
2 levels improved by approximately 10 percent
• Active safety: large disc brakes, ABS, DSC, electronic
traction control and brake assist (standard in
Europe)
Stopping distance from 100 km/h is 39 m on dry
ground among the best in the class (Mazda in-house
measurement)
• Passive safety: Mazda's stiff and strong Triple-H body
shell and up to six airbags (depending on market)
• New safety equipment includes Adaptive Front
Lighting System (AFS), parking sensor, an extensive
field of vision, Mazda's first active headrest, crushable
brake and clutch pedals and extensive pedestrian
protection measures
• CF-Net (Cross Functional Network): combination
of switches on the steering wheel which provide
integrated control of navigation, audio, air
conditioning, driving information, and other systems.
Centralised display at the top of the instrument panel
to minimise movement of the driver's line of sight
• Independent air temperature controls, and optional
(standard depending on grade) advanced keyless
entry system with engine start-stop button
• A BOSE® premium sound system with eight speakers
and a Bluetooth® hands-free mobile-phone interface,
are optional (standard depending on grade)
• Driver's seat armrest with adjustable front-back slider
mechanism

All-New Mazda6 Preliminary Specifications (for Europe)
Body type Sedan Hatchback Estate
Door 4 5 5
Seating capacity 5 5 5
Overall length without
license plate holder mm 4,735 4,735 4,765
Overall width mm 1,795 1,795 1,795
Overall height mm 1,440 1,440 1,490
Wheelbase mm 2,725 2,725 2,725
Tread
Front mm 1,570*/ 1,570*/ 1,570*/
1,560**/1,550*** 1,560**/1,550*** 1,560**/1,550***
Rear mm 1,570*/ 1,570*/ 1,570*/
1,560**/1,550*** 1,560**/1,550*** 1,560**/1,550***
* with 16x6J ST
** with 16x6.5J AL
*** with 17"/18"

All-New Mazda6 - Preliminary Specifications (for Europe)
1.8L MT 2.0L MT 2.0L AT 2.5L MT 2.0L DE MT
Engine type 4-cylinder 4-cylinder 4-cylinder 4-cylinder 4-cylinder
I4 DOHC I4 DOHC I4 DOHC I4 DOHC diesel
16-valve 16-valve 16-valve 16-valve
Displacement cm3 1,798 1,999 1,999 2,488 1,998
Max. power kW/rpm 88/5,500 108/6,500 108/6,500 125/6,000 103/3,500
Max. torque Nm/rpm 165/4,300 184/4,000 184/4,000 226/4,000 330/2,000
Fuel consumption*
(combined)
Sedan l/100 km 6.8 7.0 7.7 8.1 5.6
Hatchback 6.9 7.1 7.7 8.1 5.6
Estate 7.0 7.2 7.8 8.2 5.7
CO
2 Emission Level*
Sedan g/km 161 166 182 192 149
Hatchback 162 168 182 192 149
Estate 165 171 185 193 151
All-New Mazda6 – Preliminary Specifications (for Europe)
1.8L MT 2.0L MT 2.0L AT 2.5L MT 2.0L DE MT
Transmission 5 MT 6 MT 5 AT 6 MT 6 MT
Suspension
Front Double Double Double Double Double
Wishbone Wishbone Wishbone Wishbone Wishbone
Rear Multi-link Multi-link Multi-link Multi-link Multi-link
Brake type
Front Ventilated Ventilated Ventilated Ventilated Ventilated
discs discs discs discs discs
Rear Solid discs Solid discs Solid discs Solid discs Solid discs
Tires 195/65R16 195/65R16 195/65R16 195/65R16 195/65R16
205/60R16 205/60R16 205/60R16 225/45R18 205/60R16
215/50R17 215/50R17 215/50R17 215/50R17
225/45R18 225/45R18 225/45R18 225/45R18
Wheels 16"Steel 16"Steel 16"Steel 16"Steel 16"Steel
16"Alloy 16"Alloy 16"Alloy 18"Alloy 16"Alloy
17"Alloy 17"Alloy 17"Alloy 17"Alloy
18"Alloy 18"Alloy 18"Alloy 18"Alloy
Top Speed*
Sedan km/h 200 214 204 220 204
Hatchback 198 212 202 220 201
Estate 194 208 198 217 198