Mazda6 MPS: mid-size performance flagship could return | CarAdvice

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Mazda6 MPS: mid-size performance flagship could return

MAZDA MAZDA6
By Jez Spinks |
FIND DEALS

A Mazda6 MPS could return to the road by 2014 with the team behind the Japanese company’s new Mazda6 range pushing for a revival of the flagship performance variant.

The MPS badge was last applied to the first-generation Mazda6, launching in 2005 with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that put 190kW of power and 380Nm of torque to all four wheels via a six-speed manual.

A lack of demand for the vehicle in the US market curtailed its lifespan but the project manager of the new, third-generation Mazda6 launched this week in France says the company is again investigating an MPS version.

The new Mazda6 MPS could again employ all-wheel drive, though Mazda’s program manager for the Mazda6, Hiroshi Kajiyama, says regular versions of the company’s mid-size car could also gain all-paw traction.

“All-wheel drive is kind of a chief factor to establish the brand [in US],” said Kajiyama-san told CarAdvice through an interpreter. “BMW has all-wheel drive, and Audi is enjoying the benefits of all-wheel-drive [vehicle offerings] a lot.

“We are looking at the possibility of introducing all-wheel drive [for Mazda6] but it’s not going to be available in [immediate] timing.

“We are looking at MPS but it’s a different study; we are looking at it separately to [regular range]. That kind of [performance] character… there are many people who want to own that type of vehicle. There are many people anticipating this model will come out again.”

The engine line-up for the new Mazda6 that reaches Australia in the first quarter of 2013 will comprise a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol and 2.2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel.

The majority of current Mazda vehicles use normally aspirated petrol engines but Kajiyama made it clear the engine for any potential Mazda6 MPS would be boosted for extra performance.

“A turbocharger is necessary for MPS, of course,” he said.

Kajiyama said it was too early to consider a power target for the new Mazda6 MPS.

With the previous 6 MPS’s 2.3-litre direct injection turbo transferring into the Mazda3 MPS hot-hatch, a new hot version of the Mazda6 would be expected to offer closer to 250kW.

The designer responsible for the new-generation Mazda 6, Akira Tamatani, said the company was keen to produce an MPS version, and said a launch year of 2014 could be possible if Mazda management gave the green light to the project.

Mazda has been struggling financially in recent years, so the company’s latest Skyactiv vehicles – such as the CX-5 and Mazda6 – will need to fire in the marketplace to help the new MPS’s cause. Mazda says the CX-5 is already exceeding expectations globally.

The previous Mazda6 MPS cost $48,600.

Click to read full details about the new Mazda6.

 

 

 


 

  • http://baji192.wordpress.com/ Baji

    MPS6 with 6 speed short throw manual, 2.5L SkyActiv TwinTurbo 4 with 250kw, AWD, same handbrake setup that cuts out AWD and ESP, and the rumoured 4 door coupe body style?????

    YES PLEASE BRING IT ON MAZDA!!!
    PS. please make it around the same size as the previous one. the new 6 is just too big.

    • AMG63

      Bring it on.  Can’s wait. 

      Let’s face it the current mps donk came out in 2005/6 and the others have just started to match/overtake it in terms of KW power (if not NM).  Imagine what the extra 9 years is going to bring to the table.  I’ll have one in silver please!

    • JamesB

      It’s improper to twin-turbocharge a 4-cylinder, but yes, build the MPS please?

      • Baji

        Ah what i meant to say was twin sequential turbos. a small one for low rpm and a larger one that kicks in later. Same setup as in the SkyActiv Diesel engine.

    • Mazdaman

      I’m 2nd in the line
        

  • DanielD

    Baji there is no way Mazda would shorten the car, because it would need new panels and be wayyyy to expensive. If it gets here it will be based on the standard car with some go fast bits.

    • Baji

      I dont see why they can’t do that. If its too costly, why is the new mazda6 wagon both shorter in overall lenghth as well as wheelbase as the new mazda6 sedan? As far as im aware, the SkyActiv Platform is a modular platform which can accomodate for varying sizes. Besides, everything A-pillar forward is essentially the same on all body styles.

  • http://www.ozmazdaclub.com/ Tien – OzMazdaClub.com

    Yes Mazda Do It!!

    • Zaccy16

      Yeah can on mazda! hopefully they make a wagon version as well!

    • http://ozmazda.com/ OZM

      bring it on but dont make it a yuppy DSG auto…..bring on an old skool manual.

  • Noddy of Toyland

    It wasn’t a lack of demand in the US that killed the second gen MPS, it was the fact that they had a bigger, restyled version with a 204kW V6, which made the output of the MPS obsolete. Now that it is a global model again minus the V6, and the current trend for turboed engines, should see the return of the 6 MPS.

  • Able

    Just do it Mazda! Make a 6 MPS while you’re at it – the Liberty GT has gotten sloppy.

  • Mike

    Please build it, but auto or dsg for us city dwellers please!

    • Noel

      Yes yes yes……….if there’s no auto this will fail, just like the last one.  

      • http://ozmazda.com/ OZM

        If its deemed to be a sportz car manual only Mazda….lads we arent yuppie latte drinking yanks….

        • Mike

          OZM – I’d hardly call a Mazda 6 MPS a sports car. Just a “fun version” of a family car.
          Most of us don’t want a manual for a daily driver. Happy to have one for a weekend car but don’t have the funds for a 911!

          • Dave W

            If the engine doesn’t overpower the chassis and the car handles great, I don’t see why it can’t be called a sports car.

  • ABCDEFG

    They must create a shooting brake diesel MPS to cater for a very very small amount of clients.

  • F1orce

    250kW of torque steer!

    • Zaccy16

      It will be AWD so no torque steer!

      • F1orce

        Yeah didn’t see that lol..

        Thanks 

    • Phil

       This isn’t the TRD Aurion.

      • F1orce

        Yeah i know the TRD Aurion was a shoddy after thought.  

  • http://5reasonreviews.com/

    Should be great if they get the 4WD worked out

  • Altezza

    Please make this into reality Mazda, don’t just talk.

  • Mazdaman

    wonder if mazda will call their 4 door coupes Hardtops like they used too be or merc ‘invented’ the class

  • DCTfan

    release a DCT version of the 3 MPS already……….. more marketing etc..

  • falcodore

    Would be all kinds of awesomeness!!! : )

  • Ron

    Whre do I pay the advance …… MPS it IS …