OK; they're not the most detailed details. But we can "reveal" that like the new Mazdaspeed6 will have a turbocharged four-cylinder mill. This time out the 2.5-liter engine will be the base Mazda6 motor. Power will swell to something in the 280 horsepower neighborhood, with improved torque busting out all over. All wheel-drive will keep those horses harnessed, but no word as to whether Mazda has tweaked the system from the last iteration. Unleashing a Mazdaspeed6 is a little unusual for FoMoCo's partners. In days gone by, Mazda released the performance versions of their vanilla cars midway through the non-tweaked products' lifecycle (see: the Protege MPS, Mazdaspeed Miata, Mazdaspeed 6 and Mazda3). Still, the "early release" of the hi-po version is worth a try. The last Mazdaspeed6 was not what you'd call a volume seller.
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I wonder if this is the 1st EcoBoost in disguise.
Japanese pecking order? Accord, Camry, Altima…Mazda6; it makes total sense to put out a turbo 4cyl w/AWD version, FoMoCo. Should sell several hundred, perhaps a few thousand…obscure, low-volume products will always right the ship, no?
Let me guess… bigger/fatter/heavier than its predecessor and now only comes with an automatic?
@SunnyvaleCA: Tough to say because Mazda hasn't released those specs yet. If I had to guess, I'd say the weight was actually really comparable to the current one, if not lighter. In Europe, they sell a B-segment car called the Mazda2 that you might be familiar with. From the past generation to the current generation they actually lightened it! This was not an accident; they are trying to green up their cars a bit and improve performance by putting them on a diet during redesigns. As for size, you're right, it probably is going to be bigger than the current one – that's because everybody else's cars grew, and the Mazda6 was always a tad smaller than the competitors anyway. It's really too bad. With respect to gearbox, I'm willing to stick my neck out and say a manual will be available. They might decide to offer an optional automatic so that they can balloon sales a bit, but since this is entirely a halo car no matter what the transmission, they will probably try to purify its performance image by offering a good old stick. Also, I just remembered that Ford has a dual clutch transmission already on sale in some European cars, and the transmission IS supposed to come to the US. Wouldn't be terrible if it found its way into this car, too.
Man! What’s with the early responses? There is no reason, from the post, to be so pessimistic and negative.
That “6” in the pic is bloody gorgeous… but I fear that’s the Euro version, isn’t it.
As for FoMoCo, they’re at the bottom of my car-makers-with-a-future list. That being said, they don’t outright own Mazda (I think it’s a 33% stake), and Mazda has operated independently.
And recent Mazda product has been outstanding. The 6 (due for replacement), the 3, the MX-5, the groundbreaking in its category CX-7, etc… The 3 especially raised the standard for the category, offering leather, xenon and such esoterics in this category.
So, no, I’m not ready to say “bigger/fatter/heavier”, because Mazda does not have a track record of doing that. They also have engineers who understand, and were obsessed with, keeping things light in the MX-5 new-sheet redesign.
I am anxiously awaiting the next 6, “speed” and regular. It may be the perfect replacement for my TSX.
This is the NA-spec car in the pic. For a change, our version looks better than the EU one.
Too bad about the increase in size – but they really had no choice. Weight to stay the same though.
Kman:
…The 3 especially raised the standard for the category, offering leather, xenon and such esoterics in this category.
While I agree Mazda recent offerings have been great, including the 3. I think credit for raising the standard in the 3’s category goes to the Mini Cooper.
The 3 and MINI are in two VERY different price categories. A Fully loaded 3 is about the same as a base Cooper (without sunroof, 17″ wheels, Xenons, etc).
The MINI is a fantastic car. The 3 is somewhere closer to the Civic though.
Great news about the increase in size. The current 6 is just too small, a trait it shares with the Legacy. OK, the Altima also shrunk too much.
People are pulling away from larger SUVs, and want to downsize. But not too much. If they want a 3 or an Impreza they can always buy that and save some dough.
As the SUV and yes the CUV crowd downsizes to chase MPG, that new-sized Accord is going to look increasingly attractive.
Yes, that’s the NA version of the 6 pictured. While bigger, it’s not likely to be much heavier than the current 6.
As for a Mazdaspeed version, I was hoping for an Ecoboost 3.5 V6 making 400-odd bhp. (Lincoln’s already shown one with similar power numbers.) All-wheel-drive is a must, along with a dual-clutch transmission.
Done right such a beast would be like Mazda’s version of the Nissan GT-R, a true “halo” car that shows off Mazda engineering at its finest.
BTW, the 1st-gen Mazdaspeed 6’s engine already makes 280 bhp from 2.3 litres, so a 2.5 version has to be slightly more powerful… or not.
The focus of the upgrades for the 2.5 over the 2.3 were almost entirely NVH and fuel economy related. It wouldn’t surprise me if the 2.5 turbo didn’t have that much more power than the existing 2.3.
A 3.5 EcoBoost probably wouldn’t fit in the Mazda6 engine bay. If it did, it would probably be the 350 hp version and not the 400+ hp version. Something about the engine bay size and layout in FWD-based cars.
As one of 7 or so people who actually drove the last Mazdaspeed6, let me just say…. MAKE A WAGON VERSION!
Other than that, awesome, awesome car.
You know how you always see comparos with an M5, an AMG Whatever an S6 and some oddball souped up Holden?
That’s the Speed6. Crude, sort of a knuckle-dragger, but oh my can it get up and go.
Mazda should have introduced a Mazda9 (after the old 929) as a large car than grow the ‘6 into a D segment vehicle leaving the ‘3 as small-mid C segment. There’s no good mid-size anymore. My ‘6 seats four 6’+ adults in our carpool and we’re just as comfortable as a Bonneville and better off than the last gen Exploder. Don’t even ask about the Saturn SL…
Oh, and there are no manual transmissions for the transverse Cyclone V6. Stop wishing it were otherwise ’cause it isn’t going to happen. There is a 6spd manual for the I-4 thankfully.
What is this D-car stuff? It will still be CD. It has moved to the CD3-2 platform shared with the upcoming 2010 Fusion. The weight is probably up about 100 lbs. The current Fusion is about 3200 in base configuration versus 3100 for the 2008 Mazda6 and the goal was to not increase platform weight at all.
The new length is now probably 190 inches – about equal to the Camry, five shy of the Accord and TEN shy of the Taurus, which is a true D-car. It will hardly be a large or unwieldy car. If you want something tight and small, that’s why Mazda makes the 3, and it gets a significant refresh for 2010, I believe.
RobertSD,
Mazda is putting in a 3.7-litre V6 in the new 6, so to say a 3.5 Ecoboost wouldn’t fit… turbos don’t take that much space, especially the new ones integrated into the exhaust manifolds.
If Mazda didn’t want to add the cost/expense of AWD then they’d limit it to 350 hp, then “manage” the torque like the MS3, but that would still be a kick-butt machine.
As for a 2.5 turbo, Mazda certainly would want a greater separation between a 263-hp MS3 and the MS6, so any smart product planner would want to add a few more ponies here.
Okay, I thought I’m pretty well connected and up-to-speed on things automotive… but what’s this EcoBoost talk? How does a 3.5 V6 put out 400hp in warranty-able street trim?
Any links?
Thanks.
Mazda should have introduced a Mazda9 (after the old 929) as a large car than grow the ‘6 into a D segment vehicle leaving the ‘3 as small-mid C segment. There’s no good mid-size anymore.…
I agree. Way too many cars have been moved out of the original size class and have afflicted by “new car bloat”. Bigger, longer, heavier, which requires more power seems to be the curse of almost all redesigns. The 6 was a great alternate to other cars because they kept the size in check, though is is a bit lacking in refinement and overall NVH. I had hoped that the Fusion would have been more 6-ish than it is. I believe that the “zoom zoom” people will provide the stick…
[Answering my own question]
“Ecoboost” = Turbo’ed Direct Injection.
Thougtht it was something new…
Just have to add my two cents here. I currently own a Titanium Mazdaspeed6 GT. I have been following the divergence of North American and world versions of the Mazda6 with much dismay. I have to say that I am pleased with the end result of the North American Mazda6 with the exception that the V6 will not initially be offered with a manual transmission. I could be way off base, but I think TTAC may be off on the facts somewhat, unless I totally missed some news items which is possilbe.
The Mazdaspeed6 is set to debut in Paris next year I believe. It will have a 2.5 turbo DI powerplant. This is the world version of the car that is not available here. Additionally, there have been news items quoting Mazda officials stating that the Speed6 will not likely be available in the US as the price to develope two distinct Speed6 models (on different platforms) cannot be justified due to limited volumes. Also, the quoted power rating was 280hp for the upcoming Speed6 model. Selling a Speed6 in the US with a 280hp I4 turbo would essentially be a reduntand model as the 3.7 V6 is likely to make very similar numbers for hp and torque and will at some point be available with AWD. The Speed6 was a pretty slow seller last time around and with most of the power of the 2.5 turbo and AWD being offered on the 3.7 V6, not to mention an automatic transmission that US buyers mostly prefer, the new Speed6 for the US doesnt make much sense from a sales perspective. I guess we will see what happens.
I appreciate Johhny Lieberman’s comments and thought he did a great review of the car when it came out. I commented on it, but it was months after the review so I am sorry I missed his imput. The only thing I disagree with him on his opinion of the exterior styling (subjective, no problem) and suggesting the Subaru Legacy GT out classes the Speed6 inside and out. Since I was considering the Legacy at the time of my purchase, I got pretty familiar with it and just cannot agree. I will admit though that the Subaru has a slight edge on the interior.
@mxfive4
While I agree Mazda recent offerings have been great, including the 3. I think credit for raising the standard in the 3’s category goes to the Mini Cooper.
How are these two in the same class? The Mazda3 is 177″ long, while the Mini is 146″.
For comparicon’s sake, a E46 BMW 3-series wagon is only 176″.
The looks of the original MS6 didn’t work for me. This one fixes that problem.
Now hopefully it’s also more fun to drive.
What the heck is the “zoom-zoom” company doing in not offering a manual witht he V6 in the new Mazda6!? I own an 04 Mazda6 with the V6 and if it hadn’t been available with a manual, I’d probably be driving a car from another manufacturer (though the Mazda3 with the stick would have still had an outside shot). How can you expect people to buy into the “zoom-zoom” image if you don’t offer your cars with a stick as well as the requisite auto? Is this another sign of the Fordifying of Mazda?
As far as the size of the current Mazda6, I’m 6′ and my wife is 6’1″. When we test drive cars, we always tried sitting in the backseat with the other person in the driver’s seat and we had no problems with space, not to mention the nice big trunk for carrying our luggage on trips.
Will it still have the vaunted full-size SUV rivaling 39+ feet turning radius as the current model?