This is the all-new Mazda 6, which goes on sale in the UK early next year. It features Mazda’s new weight-saving and fuel-saving SkyActiv technology and aims to make serious sales headway in a global market dominated by rivals such as the Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat. It has been shown for the first time at the Moscow motor show this week.
However, some Mazda sources believe the 6’s striking looks and advanced technology could allow it to steal sales from established premium models such as the BMW 3-series.
In Europe, most attention will focus on the 148bhp version of the all-new 2.2-litre diesel engine, which could deliver CO2 levels as low as 105g/km.
Launched as a 4.8m-long saloon at this today's Moscow motor show and set to be followed by an estate at next month’s Paris motor show, the Mazda 6 is built around the company’s all-new scalable steel platform.
The floor structure is built from continuous steel box sections for greater strength and rigidity and the upper body is attached directly to the floor, creating a single structure. Compared with the current car, the platform is eight per cent lighter and 30 per cent more rigid, in line with Mazda’s Sky Activ technology goals.
Hiroshi Kajiyama, program manager for the Mazda 6, revealed that his engineers initially managed to save 100kg on average before putting more weight back in to improve other areas of the car. "The initial concept showed a greater weight saving, but after that we added some safety technology, lengthened the wheelbase and bit and added some other improvements. That added 50kg, but the weight saving and overall efficiency package is still best in class."
The new 6’s 2830mm wheelbase is 105mm longer than the current car, allowing 43mm more knee room. The windscreen and A-pillars have been moved forward by 100mm; Mazda says this helps to give the 20mm wider cabin a much airier feel.
The suspension mounting points are part of the structure’s most rigid section, which should improve ride and handling and the accuracy of the new electric steering set-up. The next 6 gets MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link design at the rear. Mazda says it has aimed to make all aspects of the car’s handling and driver feedback smooth and linear.
To that end, Mazda engineers say they have worked hard on making all the controls, including the brakes and manual gearshift, operate with a fluid efficiency. Refinement characteristics have been specially tuned to please Western ears.
Kajiyama confirmed to Autocar the car had been tuned on UK roads for a month during its development to ensure that its ride and handling was uncompromised.
"UK roads are unique. The focus throughout development of the Mazda 6 was to achieve best in class driving performance, so it was important that we made sure our solutions worked on every type of road. It was very challenging, because the UK roads present new difficulties, but we found solutions."
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XF
I just noticed the rear 3/4 is an XF rip off. If Apple can patent whote and black elaborate design soon car maufactuers will patent design themes such as the hoffmeister kink and voluptuous wings?
Not Jag but Hyundai
Not Jag they should be worried about but Hyundai. The back is pure i40. I like the new 6. Superb tech... can we have an MPS model again, even if only 10 people buy it. Or how baout the V6 from the US version.
No hatchback and goping upmarket sounds a bit Honda Accord, and despite also being a great car we all know how well that sells!
Oh dear
Pity more of the concept hasn't made it to the showroom. To my eye, this one's not as handsome as the present model, and is way overbusy in its swoopily fussy details. Estate could be better perhaps.
bits and bobs
OK so it has a slight look of a new Volvo at the front, side on new Camry etc etc , however, as a whole I really do like it, but want to see it in the flesh as I found I didnt like the new 5 at the front. Being much larger - I think it may not look as disjointed. The prices are very competitive, the consumption excellent, the crap coming out the back is another achievment. Having had two "6"'s it can be more or less guaranteed that reliability will be even better than a fridge yota and whilst the BMW will beat it on performance, I know which service bill I would prefer to have, and its not German !! Well done Mazda, must get a test drive - and I love the idea of 4wd