With the 2012 Moscow Motor Show (August 31 to September 9 for the public) just around the corner, Mazda has released a full set of photos and all sorts of details on its all-new 2014 Mazda6 mid-size model, which in some parts of the world including Europe, will also be offered as a station wagon.
The Mazda6 is the (more mundane looking) production version of the aggressive Takeri Concept from 2011 and it encompasses the firm's new "KODO – Soul of Motion" design language as well as a full range of SKYACTIV technologies.
"We have created a design in which the wild and dynamic expressions of motion artistically realise a powerful presence," says chief designer Akira Tamatani. "Simply looking at the car heightens one’s expectations about the driving experience even before actually riding in it."
These latest photos provide us with a first glimpse of the interior which is less glamorous in styling than the exterior. Mazda says it has used soft materials on areas frequently touched by occupants, such as the door trims and the upper part of the dashboard panel and has paid special attention to details.
The mid-sized sedan model rides on a 2,830mm (111.4 inches) long wheelbase that is 105mm (4.1 inches) longer than previous '6'. On the outside, the saloon measures 4,865mm (191.6 inches) long, 1,840mm (72.4 inches) wide and 1,450mm (57.1 inches) tall.
Compared to the previous model, the front wheel has been moved forward by 100mm in relation to the A-pillar resulting in reduced front overhang, while the rear deck is also shorter.
According to Mazda, the new 6 offers 20mm (0.8 inches) more shoulder room for the front passengers. At the back, there is 43mm (1.7 inches) greater knee clearance, 37mm more legroom (1.45 inches), while the length of the rear seat cushion has increased by 20mm (0.8 inches) and the seat back height by 33mm (1.3 inches). Furthermore, the rear centre arm rest has been enlarged by 60mm (2.6 inches).
The trunk, which has a 32mm wider opening than on the previous model for easier loading, has a cargo capacity of 483 liters.
According to Mazda, the new SKYACTIV-Body structure makes wider use of ultra-high tensile steel reducing weight, while at the same time improving torsional rigidity by about 30 percent
The car employs MacPherson struts up front and a rear multi-link suspension while there's also a new column-type electric power assistance. The Japanese automaker claims that the new Mazda6 will be a driver's car.
"In developing the third-generation Mazda6, we pursued Mazda’s intrinsic core value: ‘driving pleasure’," says Hiroshi Kajiyama, the new Mazda6 programme manager.
"We wanted to create a car that reacts and behaves exactly as you expect it to. Part of this involved carefully crafting those parts of the car which you often touch to feel as though they are an extension of your own body."
At least in Russia, the 2014 Mazda6 will launch with an initial choice of two new four-cylinder gasoline engines, the SKYACTIVE-G 2.0-liter that generates 148hp (150PS) at 6,000rpm and 210Nm (155 lb-ft) at 4,000rpm and the SKYACTIVE-G 2.5-liter delivering 189hp (192PS) at 5,700rpm and 256Nm (189 lb-ft) at 3,250rpm.
Both powerplants will be offered with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions and a standard i-stop idling stop system.
The 2.5-liter unit will also be the first Mazda engine to employ the brand's new i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system that begins charging a capacitor the moment the driver takes his foot off the accelerator. The electricity stored is used to power electric components throughout the car instead of the engine thus resulting in further improvements in fuel economy.
The European specification version of the Mazda6 sedan as well as the Station Wagon model will premiere at the Paris Motor Show in late September, with more details about the powertrain choices that will include a diesel engine to be announced later.
Mazda's Honda Accord and Ford Fusion / Mondeo rival will be introduced to global markets starting in late 2012.
28 Comments:
It's okay.....but a disappointment after the Takeri concept.
...and high hopes gently fade away. Too much Mazda 6 and not enough Takeri. The redeeming element will be the "promise" of the Skyactive Diesel engine offering and its high mileage - I hope NA gets its sooner than later.
Good job Mazda, this is a winner in my book
uh that's the point genius, it is supposed to look like a Mazda 6.
great looking car but i expected so much more!!! the interior is nothing, the front is cool but everything after just seems mid 2000s
I thought the point of every design is to look as good and sexy as possible, not to conform to some stereotypes (unless we're talking about Porsches)
Copy of a Volvo S60.
Beautiful car... and I like the German-like interior... it is so much better than typical cheap and plastic Japanese cabins.
Not bad, but hopefully there is a MazdaSpeed version with a turbo and AWD on it.
the overhangs are massive!
Yep, and it only took the 20+ years to get there
Wow, not exactly what I expected after seeing the teaser pics, but still very good looking.
What the new Fusion should have been.
the horizontal lines looks cheap, they should use mesh for the grille and something else on the bottom. I think the facelift version will look better.
It's not bad. The back end is a little more conservative than I thought. However it's competing against the VW Passat, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. The 2.5 4 cylinder is probably going to be the engine to start in the US. At 189 HP and 189 Ft Lbs of torque it is got the most power in it's class for a baseline non-performance engine. Also this thing weighs less than 3000 LBS. That puts it hundres of pounds lighter than all of it's rivals.
So you have to figure it's power to weight ratio must be best in class for the 4 cylinder. As for the interior again a little conservative but classy. For that reason I think it should attract more buyers. The previous 6 was a bit too swoopy and the interior was not that great. So the question is what will Mazda do for a performance option? In my mind there are 2 ways to go here. 1) Do a 2.5 or 2.0 Turbo skyactive engine. Mazda already can get 265 HP out of the turbo 4 for the Mazdaspeed 3. I see no reason why they could not achieve this with a a smaller skyactive 2.0 turbo. Again the lighter weight should give it a performance advantage of the the Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima turbo. 2) Mazda has been threatening with a turbo diesel for a long time. This could be a prime opportunity to do a turbo diesel with decent HP and collasol torque.
May I correct as follows: too much BMW 3-series - just look at the side view of the back (pic No.31) and the headlight corner... Too much copy-paste!
Really meh.
a winner here, i would buy this
I was hoping for something that was more radical.
Wrong, the new Sonata has 198hp and new Kia Optima has 201hp.
Nagyon szép!
They've totally taken the aggression out of the design. It looks tame now. After getting excited over the Takeri concept this production model is a disappointment.
She seems somewhat cumbersome, while her front mask and body design have a strong personality(albeit grotesque in a way).
Skyactive petrol and diesel units are gems, in my notion.
The car is too big for this kind or curvy style. The curvy styling is only good for a medium size car.
With this size, it should look a bit chunky and less curve.
Wish you would apply that thought to the horror to the left of your name.
It's a matter of taste :)
I have a Mazda 3 2012 Skyactiv and my girl friend a CX-5 and the gas saving is amazing.
I put gas every 3 weeks, I don´t drive too much neither, but in average, 32 miles/gal is nothing bad.
My girl friend is making 28miles/gal, using the Cruiser mode frequently.
My Mazda 3 specs says 40miles/gal and if the 6 can offer something similar, I will be changing soon.
And how big do you think Mazda6 is?
You americans are all fuel-hog lames!!!
45 - 55 mpg is what you expect from Mazda 6 not mere 30 as you get. But I guess you'll never have performance fuels out there like 97-99 octan petrol we buy in Europe. I only tank my 2003 Mazda 6 with 98+ petrol and it's 5-8mpg better than from standard 95. Anyway, I bet that this boring look of new 6 is only going to hit States and Europe will receive much more Takeri and less Ford Scorpio!
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