Mazda6: all-new sedan to debut in Moscow in August

By Tim Beissmann
July 25th, 2012

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The first official images of the all-new Mazda6 have been revealed ahead of the sedan’s world premiere at the 2012 Moscow motor show on August 29.

The unveiling of the third-generation sedan will be followed one month later by the new Mazda6 wagon, which will make its public debut at the 2012 Paris motor show on September 29.

Both body styles are expected to go on sale in Australia in the first quarter of next year, replacing the second-generation sedan, wagon and hatch variants that first hit the market in February 2008. Mazda has no plans at this stage to produce a hatch variant based on the third-generation vehicle.

The Mazda6 sedan unveiled in Moscow has been built to Russian specification, and teams Mazda’s 2.0-litre direct-injection ‘SkyActiv-G’ petrol engine with the six-speed automatic ‘SkyActiv-Drive’ transmission (both of which are already available in the Mazda3 SP20 and Mazda CX-5 in Australia).

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is expected to be offered in Australia alongside the 2.2-litre ‘SkyActiv-D’ diesel, also found in the mid-sized CX-5 SUV, while other engines may also join the range in time.

A comprehensive teaser campaign has ensured there are few surprises in the new Mazda6’s exterior styling, which embraces the ‘Kodo’ design language of the original Mazda Takeri concept first seen at the 2011 Tokyo motor show.

The second car after the CX-5 to be built from the ground up using Mazda’s new SkyActiv technology, the new Mazda6 will become the first model to feature the brand’s ‘i-ELOOP’ regenerative braking system, which is designed to further enhance the car’s fuel economy.

Mazda Australia expects the third-generation Mazda6 to build on the success of the outgoing model, which is currently the third best selling medium-sized car in the country behind the locally made Toyota Camry and the Japanese-built Honda Accord Euro.

Expect more details to be revealed in the lead up to the Moscow show at the end of next month.

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Ryan

Front looks good but the back end looks a little like a Hyundai i45
- MisterZed
  
  Well, Mazda are smart for trying to copy the success of the i45. They definitely didn’t try to copy the Camry.
  - Housecat84
    
    Whilst I see the resemblance, I’d say the next gen 6 was penned before they knew what the i45 would look like. What it reflects is the collective shifting attitudes/thinking of car designers..
    - MisterZed
      
      I doubt it. The i45 was released in September 2009 in Korea – do you think Mazda penned the design before that??
      - Amlohac
        
        They actually did.
        
        Never the less, the 6 has been out for longer than the i45 so it seems logical that the i45 should have more up to date tech in it. It would be stupid of Hyundai to release a new vehicle that wasnt up to current standards.
        
        Saying that, i’m more than sure the 6 will eat the i45 alive in terms of specs, price, and general quality when it is eventually released, and in turn Hyundai will release a new i45 a few years down the track which will try and trump the 6. Honda will probably do the same with the Euro, Etc and so on such is the nature of progress.
        
        Duh…
      - MisterZed
        
        Hyundai are already making their own in-house 8-speed automatic (not borrowed from ZF like everyone else), so in a way, they’re already ahead of where Mazda will be next year, and even many years down the track. The new Sonata is due in 2014 and will no doubt include the new 8-speed.
      - Amlohac
        
        But will the 8-speed be any good?
        
        2 extra cogs doesnt automatically mean it will be amazing.
      - Sydlocal
        
        There is one thing that Mazda have over Hyundai and by a HUGE margin. Driving dynamics, body/suspension control and steering feel. It will take Hyundai more than a generation or 2 to catch up there. All the gears and “looks” etc in the world mean nothing when it comes to how “fun” a car is to drive and that is where Mazda have it all over Hyundai and many other manufacturers for that matter…
      - Baji
        
        Like the others have said, an extra 2 cogs doesn’t mean that its a better transmission. A transmission isn’t all about the number of gears, but about how its ratios are chosen with regards to the characteristics of the engine its being paired to as well as the programming of the transmission control unit.
        
        Hyundai have a HUGE budget compared to Mazda, but what they dont have is the innovation and expertise that mazda has. Its all in the corporate culture – where mazda think outside the box and are always trying new things and not following the crowd, Hyundai have done jsut that – follow the crowd. Engineering wise they haven’t really done anything new or innovative.
        
        Give them a few more years though, and i suspect hyundai/kia will be at the forefront of innovation as well.
      - Phil
        
        It’s funny that tests have shown the 149KW 6 speed i45 is actually slower than the 125KW 5 speed Mazda.
        
        So even if the i45 ate the Mazda 6 in on paper specs, it doesn’t show on the road.
      - MisterZed
        
        US Mazda6 sales last month: 1410. US Hyundai Sonata sales last month: 20,000. What an embarassment for Mazda, being outsold nearly 13 to 1, they should be hanging their heads in shame.
      - MisterZed
        
        It’s entirely possible – the i45 weighs nearly 100kg more than the 6, after all. If both cars were the same exact weight, the i45 would blow the 6 out of the water.
      - Housecat84
        
        Definitely Possible. September 2009 is under 3 years ago. That’s not a long time to get a Vehicle from Paper to Production.
        Vehicle development and design is a lot longer than that.
        Initial Concept art, actual designs, prototyping, testing etc. Usually, they’re already designing or penning the next design (or overall theme) before or just after they release the current model.
  - Sydlocal
    
    Are you talking about in Australia or worldwide? Why I am saying this is because the Mazda6 is more “successful” in Australia than the i45 when it comes to sales and has pretty much sold more most months since the i45 was released. Other countries however are a different story.
    - MisterZed
      
      The i45 sedan outsells the Mazda6 sedan by a huge margin. The majority of Mazda6 sales are the hatch and wagon, so you’re not comparing apples with apples. FYI – last year 4872 i45 sedans were sold, compared to less than 2000 Mazda6 sedans.
      - Phil
        
        Well whilst we’re busy looking for narrow minded statistics to justify a bizarre love story for the i45, why not do a few more?
        
        Like wagon sales – how many 6 wagons were sold? 1000 vs 0 for i45.
        Or hatch sales – 3000? vs 0 for i45
        Or Diesel sales – 500? vs 0 for i45
        
        [I got a hint for your round...Panaramic sunroof sales!]
      - MisterZed
        
        6-speed automatic Mazda6 sales = 0.
        GDI Mazda6 sales = 0.
        Want more?
      - Sydlocal
        
        Well then MisterZero, why didn’t you specify “sedan only” in the first place?
        You can’t just change the goal posts when things don’t go your way!
      - MisterZed
        
        Because I was never wrong in the first place. I said that Mazda were trying to copy the success of the i45 – the Mazda6 is not nearly as popular worldwide as the Hyundai, and this article is about a global debut.
      - Sydlocal
        
        I agreed with you world wide and I even said so. I was just highlighting that this isn’t so in this country!
      - Phil
        
        He picks locations and bodystyles to suit his bizzare love fasination for the i45.
        
        I started picking bodystyles too to highlight how stupid he is to do that…..and guess what he did? He started picking fuel injection and transmissions to suggest higher sales figures for i45…….
      - Phil
        
        He picks locations and bodystyles to suit his bizzare love fasination for the i45.
        
        I started picking bodystyles too to highlight how stupid he is to do that…..and guess what he did? He started picking fuel injection and transmissions to suggest higher sales figures for i45…….
  - PIZZA
    
    Hyundai fanboy….sucks
- Edward
  
  The new i30 also looks a bit like a Mazda3. So lets call it even.
- JooberJCW
  
  Now can’t wait for an MPS version of this car…
Ugtc

Should of had 2.5L
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=737660467 Kit Ho

the rear reminds me a lot of the Passat CC, which is not necessarily a bad thing either
Schn

Rather unexpected to debut in Moscow, but I sort of saw it coming, they released the teasers a bit too early if they wanted to debut the car in late September. Still, this is a car I’m looking forward to.
- falcodore
  
  Russia is Mazda’s largest market in Europe, hence the car’s debut there. Also why they’re building a factory there.
  
  I also think this is one good looking car, almost seems like they’re picking up where they left off in the early 90′s
Adrian

Its just there
Jakeeus

Moving away from the clear tail lights of the last few generation Mazda’s was absolutely the right move. Overall a great aggressive looking car
- Sonic
  
  Why was it the right move? The clear lights looked much more modern and cleaner. We no longer need old-school red covers now that we have LED’s.
Clem

Very Disappointed with 2.0-litre direct-injection ‘SkyActiv-G’ petrol engine! I think you all know what I want.
- Waggaclint
  
  Yeah i agree, with that motor it will be gutless just like the CX-5, Come on Mazda wheres the MPS???
  - Sydlocal
    
    Whilst it will be slower than the current 6, it shouldn’t be quite as gutless as the petrol CX5 considering it should be close to 200kg lighter. Also the article said the 2L was “expected” which to me means it is not definite yet. I hope they use a 2.5 though.
- matt
  
  yeah seems abit off but it should have about the same power to weight ratio of the current model. i wonder what the current base model uk versions with the 1.8 litre engine go like lol our 2.5 is their “sports”
- Dave L
  
  I recently purchased the current shape wagon. Whilst I like the new shapes, the specs on the SkyActiv range just don’t inspire me much (aside from the diesel). Regardless, I’m pretty happy with my recent purchase.
  - wagonman
    
    Same here. Mazda6 diesel wagon. What an excellent piece of kit.
- itwerntme!
  
  Yeah more zim zim…… than ZOOM ZOOM
- Baji
  
  Mazda have mentioned before that Skyactiv tech for the gasoline engines can be adopted to engine sizes between 1.5L up to 2.5L So im hoping mazda will have a larger engine available for the 6.
  
  i have a feeling the 2.0L is simply for bragging rights for the ‘best in class’ fuel economy.
Sumpguard

I like it. That front end treatment works better on this than the CX-5 imo.

Underpowered seems to be the new order though with mazda? Hopefully this car won’t suffer like the CX-5!
- Sydlocal
  
  The CX5 diesel doesn’t feel under-powered at all…
  I know what you mean about the petrol versions though. Much like Mazda were in the early 80s with the 2L 929. That thing couldn’t pull the skin off custard…
  - Doctor
    
    Or a greasy stick out of a dog’s arse!
    - Sydlocal
      
      LOL, that too! Especially the auto…
  - DanielD
    
    The diesel engine has some poke in the CX5, but there is still no question the car is tuned for economy over power. The gearbox is always heading towards sixth gear, even when you’d rather it held a lower gear for a bit.
Laurie

Going to be a good battle between this Mazda and Ford Mondeo oh wait thats right Fords delaying the Mondeo till Q3 of 2013 that’s giving Mazda a big head start that Ford will never make up!
- Mark
  
  to make things even more interesting the mondeo is available as hatch and wagon while the mazda will be sedan and wagon
- DanielD
  
  Don’t worry Fords quality afters sales service and support will win them through! Ok maybe Mazda will kick their butt.
Robin_Graves

Looks nice.
Spook

I hold grave fears for the interior dash treatment, if it is going to look
like what was in the spy photos of the wagon (ie similar position of the centre
display unit to the CX-5). No doubt the position is functional; it just doesn’t
convey an integrated look.

With the demise of the hatch, here’s hoping Mazda Oz will offer a “luxury”
grade for the wagon, with sunroof, bi-xenon lights, Bose sound system etc
standard.
- Amlohac
  
  Thats probably fairly certain.
  
  Hope they come through with plans for a coupe version, to replace the outgoing hatch. Then it really will look like the concept vehicle
http://twitter.com/klowik klowik

A bit disappointed that Mazda has to tone down the design that much. They should make it look close to the concept to attract more customers as they are still running a loss.
- Edward
  
  Im feeling the same. Things seem pretty conservative now compared to the last decade when Mazda first spiced up their range and Honda released the spaceship looking civic.
Kckc123

This looks great but Mazda have to be kidding themselves to be putting in a 2l engine from the 3 (SP20) which only produces 113kw and 194nm of torque. The Accord Euro and the Optima (which are 2 of many competitors) produces 148kw and approx 230nm -240nm of torque. I hope they will fit a retuned version of the Skyactiv 2.0l producing at least the same, if not better than the Euro and Optima.
- Mike
  
  The 2.0L is for Europe, I think we (hopefully) get a new SkyActiv 2.5L with ~150kw.
  - itwerntme!
    
    one would hope
- Ted
  
  I would love to see the V6 in the car as in US, we need this engine for Australian – maybe a Sky G version would be nice !
  - Daniel Dacey
    
    The V6 won’t be sold in this generation of 6 anywhere in the world. It dies along with Mazda 6 production in America.
PoisonEagle

I have no doubt this will be an outstanding car. Such a stark contrast to the dowdy looking Malibu shown yesterday…
http://www.facebook.com/antmindel Anthony Mindel

Cant wait to see what the next generation Accord Euro will look like,as it and the 6 have always been arch rivals,but the Euro always comes a few months later,and is usually slightly better looking…
- h-man1
  
  I disagree I reckon the first gen 6 hatch looked really good and definitely better than the 1st gen accord euro. Though the euro definitely is a much better drive. should be an interesting battle.
Nada

I’d trade in my current 6 for it, IF the consumption is better that the pathetic 11L it currently guzzles.
- ray
  
  my 2007 6 is doing 11L/100 KMs
- Sydlocal
  
  What sort of driving are you doing? If that is around a city in stop-start driving that is not that bad. They definitely aren’t the most economical in their class but they are not that bad. My wife’s GG6 lux auto gets low 7s and sometimes high 6s if you try on the highway. The average around town/city (Sydney suburbs) is close to 10 without even trying to drive for economy. I wouldn’t call it a guzzler.
  - Nada
    
    Mainly city driving, take it on longer trips on hwy it’s economical, the ‘mixed’ consumption figures are way off… I’d expect around the 11L mark for a 3.0 with a burble
    - Sydlocal
      
      If it was a 3L in those sort of conditions it would be closer to 13-15L/100km. My sisters V6 Commodore drinks over 16 in the city.
      - Garrywhopper
        
        We’ve all seen your sister after she’s drank 16ltrs in the city
      - Sydlocal
        
        Good call!
Sydlocal

I’m sure it will be a good car, but I bet is still won’t have proper rear seat air-vents. Vents on the floor under the front seats just don’t cut it….
- Baji
  
  AGREED! THats one thign thats always annoyed me about mazda, no rear airvents. The ONLY mazda vehicle to have that is the CX-9, and even that still misses out on 3rd row vents.
  
  Weight cutting excercise or cost cutting? or both?
  - Sydlocal
    
    Probably both, who knows. It seems to be a common thing with most Japanese cars regardless of brand. Maybe they don’t like them??!!!
Al

The grill feature that leads to the headlight is a nice touch.
Similar grill/light config as an evo X.
I’m sure this car will be a success
Adrian

This car is only interesting if your previous car was a camry. The Rounded curves of the side panels and lights are very 1990′s. Think ford taurus. The light clusters at the rear are boring, look at the funky designs the Euro’s and Koreans are doing with their 3D tail light designs. Where are the sharp cut lines in the body panels and something that saya “Progressive” I hope they throw in a Mazda cardigan when you buy this thing.
- Sydlocal
  
  The headlights are nothing like the late 90s Taurus as they don’t look
  oval shaped to me. I guess if you squint you could see some similarity
  in the tail lights…
  There are some sharp lines in the body panels within the curves, just look at the side on shot on other posts where the bonnet, guard and door meet at the A pillar and side mirror. Maybe we should all wait to see it in the flesh or after the full release?
  - Adrian
    
    yeah, I meant the side panels and rear look taurishy. Not the headlights
Gus

“The 2.0-litre petrol engine is expected to be offered in Australia..” .. I’ve read in several other car websites that we should be expecting the 2.5L to be offered to the Australian market.
Campbellscotty

Looks great just give it some balls to match the look Mazda and you’ll sell heaps

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Mazda6: all-new sedan to debut in Moscow in August

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