New Mazda 6

unkel

What do you reckon?

kikel

It's a Mondeo!! with a new face.

Looks good though

E92

kikel wrote:

It's a Mondeo!! with a new face.

Looks good though

So true. Actually, I don't like the look of it at all. It reminds me of the mediocre 626, just freshened up really.

s8n

drool. Any idea when it's launched here ?

spartacus93

Has a bit of a Lexus look to it IMO. Very Mondeo too...

It's ok, although I loved the current model when it came out first. This doesn't do much for me!

gary the great

Lexus IS220 rip off.

Look at the side and back of it, its exactly the same.

prem_vw

Agree its a total rip off of the IS200 but way nicer looking than the mondeo

JHMEG

Mmm. Not really. Liked the 6 when it came out fist even tho it became bland very very quickly.

C_Breeze

I think its gorgeous form the front espcially the flared arches a lá RX-8 and those headlights

The back section, espcially the kink in the back side widow is identical to the new Mondeo. - I dont like that.

Thumbs up though!

Unkel , where did u get that pic from?! .. im curious to see what the back is like from that angle, I quite like mazdas .

pburns

Well as a current 6 owner I've been eagerly awaiting pics of the new model. Bit confused at the mo', would need to see more angles. Also, presumably this is the hatchback?

Firstly, the Mondeo similarities are unquestionable. Less sure about the IS200 likeness. I like the front and the groove along the lower flanks. However, there seems to be a lot of metal in the area just in front of the rear wheel arch. The rear light -cluster seems to really stand proud of the body (not a criticism, just an observation)...

I don't trust my instincts until I see a car in the flesh/more pics. I'll definetely be taking a test drive 'cos I love my current 6.

It's either this or a 'slightly-used' Golf GTI/320d for my next car. The 6 is getting a bit big tho...

nialler

Lovely looking car and extremely lexus from the side, not a bad thing I suppose.

pburns

OK more pics here...

http://www.autoweek.nl/nieuws.php?id=7155

The pic posted at the top of the thread is the hatchback and is the most unflattering angle IMO. The saloon looks like an evolution of the current car but with nicely flared surfaces and a really neat rear-end. Proportions/stance look really good.

I don't see Mondeo at all any more - I see a bit of Honda Accord though...

Mmm...may have found my next car...

johnnyrotten

Nice looking motor.

ongarite

More better pics

tvr

cracking looking motor with good interior. I'd say the MPS version will be a right handful too . Makes you wonder why anyone would have a poverty spec 3 series if you can have one of these with more than 200bhp full loaded for the same price.

E92

The saloon and Estate versions look a lot better. They look more upmarket too than the hatch, which is a definate plus.

However the Estate is a reminder of the Toyota Avensis Tourer at the side, and the saloon has hints of both the BMW 3 series and Lexus IS at the same time.

cantdecide

i have a little rule about these midrange saloons- don't be heard saying how 'bloody nice the new one is'. EVER. This is defintiely true of the new mondeo.

This is because you know that sooner than you can say 'jack-of-all-trades, poverty spec, 1.6, plastic wheeltrimmed repmobile', they're out of fashion and you die a little for being foolish enough to believe the hype in the first place.

But i must say, as someone who didn't like the old 6, it looks really mature. it seems a little smaller too which, to me is a good thing because i think its the achilles heels of these cars to try to be all things to all men by taking a sporty saloon like an A4/ 3 Series and puff it up and out.

i might make and exception to my rule provided the std models aren't completely stripped out versions of the pics.

bazz26

Very nice indeed. Definately hints of Lexus IS and Ford Mondeo.

Will be interesting to see if Mazda offer a 1.6 litre (Ford derived?) engine for the Irish market. Up to know they are sensibly restisted the tempation and yet they are a good seller here. I would not be too concerned about basic models either as Mazdas generally are decent speced to begin with.

E92

bazz26 wrote:

Very nice indeed. Definately hints of Lexus IS and Ford Mondeo.

Will be interesting to see if Mazda offer a 1.6 litre (Ford derived?) engine for the Irish market. Up to know they are sensibly restisted the tempation and yet they are a good seller here. I would not be too concerned about basic models either as Mazdas generally are decent speced to begin with.

It would hardly be worth their while if the VRT changes(emissions based rather than engine sized based) are actually implemented.

Another thing is that the Mazda 3 saloon is 1.6 minimum, so perhaps Mazda wouldn't want the next model up to have the same size engine.

Skyuser

Ford need to sue the pants off these dudes. ITS A MONDEO.

maidhc

Skyuser wrote:

Ford need to sue the pants off these dudes. ITS A MONDEO.

The chances are that isn't an accident... Ford are a major shareholder in Mazda, and probably the sole reason why it still exists.

pburns

There's a definite Mondeo-likeness in the hatchback C-piller. That's about it as regards similarity to the Ford however. Probably a consequence of platform-sharing, it's no big deal either way.

The saloon is a bolder, more modern evolution of the current model - no bad thing. Compare the wheel arch blisters, fuel flap and where the bumper meets the rear wing:

RoundyMooney

cantdecide wrote:

i have a little rule about these midrange saloons- don't be heard saying how 'bloody nice the new one is'. EVER. This is defintiely true of the new mondeo.

This is because you know that sooner than you can say 'jack-of-all-trades, poverty spec, 1.6, plastic wheeltrimmed repmobile', they're out of fashion and you die a little for being foolish enough to believe the hype in the first place.

Good point, very well made.

dmcg1

Just seen some blurb from Frankfurt motor show, it's a unique chassis, and definately not a ford.
looks fantastic and throw in mazda driving dynamics and reliability - should be great!!:)

prospect

Looks fat.

Nothing special though, just the typical bog standard blah you'd expect, with an aggressive touch to the noes and headlights.

Not objectionable though.

jonnner

Does anyone know when we will see it in Ireland?

E92

jonnner wrote:

Does anyone know when we will see it in Ireland?

Good question. I have no idea.

On the related topic, when is the new Mazda 2 due to arrive?

Skyuser

E92 wrote:

Good question. I have no idea.

On the related topic, when is the new Mazda 2 due to arrive?

Is that not the car that was given away on the late late show.

dmcg1

Saw the late late too, reckon the car on the show - Mazda2 I think is here in Oct, Mazda6 arriving Nov my local dealer says!

It BeeMee

bazz26 wrote:

Very nice indeed. Definately hints of Lexus IS and Ford Mondeo.

Will be interesting to see if Mazda offer a 1.6 litre (Ford derived?) engine for the Irish market. Up to know they are sensibly restisted the tempation and yet they are a good seller here. I would not be too concerned about basic models either as Mazdas generally are decent speced to begin with.

The little piece of blurb on yesterdays Irish Times only mentions 1.8 (118bhp) upwards, starting price expected to be around €26,500

bazz26

It BeeMee wrote:

The little piece of blurb on yesterdays Irish Times only mentions 1.8 (118bhp) upwards, starting price expected to be around €26,500

118bhp from a 1.6 litre petrol engine is not very impressive these days not to mind a 1.8 litre. My car is almost 5 years old now and had around 127bhp from launch.

barryfitz

Its much better looking than a mondeo IMO

E92

The new Mazda 6 will use the same engines as the old one. So that means a 1.8 minimum. The 6 is based on the Mondeo Mk4, so, maybe in time there will be a 1.6(but if the much talked about VRT changes come in, then there will be no need for a 1.6, and nobody buys a 1.6 apart from here, so I don't see them offering a 1.6 in the future either).

The engines in the new 6 are all Mazda engines(the MZR family, as seen the the soon to be discontinued current model 6, and MZR-CD for the oil burners, also featured in the current model 6) and are NOT found in Fords.

pburns

E92 wrote:

The new Mazda 6 will use the same engines as the old one. So that means a 1.8 minimum. The 6 is based on the Mondeo Mk4, so, maybe in time there will be a 1.6(but if the much talked about VRT changes come in, then there will be no need for a 1.6, and nobody buys a 1.6 apart from here, so I don't see them offering a 1.6 in the future either).

Good point. AFAIK the existing 1.8 will be revised to have an 11% improvement in economy (and subsequently an improvement in CO2 emissions). If VRT is changed from engine capacity to official CO2 figures there may be no need for a puny engine. BTW, there are no bodywork parts shared with the Mondeo and the engine range is entirely different.

If the promised improvements in interior finish/refinement bear fruit and given that the Mondeo-platform has already received rave reviews for driving dynamics, can anyone explain how spending 10-grand more on a comparable A4/3-series/IS200 can be justified? Sure the 2.0d BMW is the best in the business but the bodys a minger. The new A4 is still FWD and in photos at least looks extremely boring (to my eyes). The Lexus' only trump card is RWD and the diesel engine is not particuarly special for this class of car.

maidhc

pburns wrote:

can anyone explain how spending 10-grand more on a comparable A4/3-series/IS200 can be justified?

Well Autocar said the Mondeo was a better buy than the 3 series, and in the Uk there is not the same massive difference in price!

People will still buy "prestige" cars for just that... prestige in the company car park.

E92

pburns wrote:

If the promised improvements in interior finish/refinement bear fruit and given that the Mondeo-platform has already received rave reviews for driving dynamics, can anyone explain how spending 10-grand more on a comparable A4/3-series/IS200 can be justified?

The badge is why you can spend the 10 g's more. Aside from that, it is pretty pointless alright.

The other reason why speding the extra on a premium badge car is that normally Irish spec premium badge cars tend to be as well equipped as they are elsewhere nowadays, cars like the Mondeo/6 etc will be bought in the cheapest possible variant, and anyone who wants to spend extra on a high spec model is throwing money down the toilet, whereas on a premium badge car, a high spec model is much easiuer to sell because of the badge.

On every level apart from that, theres not much about an A4/C-class etc that is better than a Mondeo/Avensis etc.

maidhc

E92 wrote:

On every level apart from that, theres not much about an A4/C-class etc that is better than a Mondeo/Avensis etc.

The A4 had windy uppy back windows the last time I checked.... and I'm pretty sure the A6 has a 2 speaker wireless as standard... I bet it can even pick up radio Luxembourg!

A Zetec mondeo (which in fairness many people opt for) isn't a huge increase over the LX and has sufficient goodies to put it at least on par with the premium cars.

r0nn13

Skyuser wrote:

Ford need to sue the pants off these dudes. ITS A MONDEO.

As Ford OWN part of Mazda, I think suing themselves would be a bit mean

The New Mazda 6 is based on the same Floor plan as the new Mondeo:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_EUCD_platform

But the Jap Mazda 6 is not using the same floor plan :eek:

barryfitz

Seen it in Mondello Yesterday, Nice looking machine I have to say. Much prefer it to a mondeo although the colour and the Lighting were p1ss poor. It was inside a windowless dome with fancy lighting.

fletch

Yeh it was fairly uninspiring and even the 18inch wheels looked tiny on it! But yeh infinitely better looking than the new Mondeo.

gocfella

Neither generation MAZDA6 was based on a FORD platform!!

Chassis/Floorplan was designed from scratch solely by MAZDA. Neither did they share any engines at all. This is particularly interesting.

MAZDA chose to ignore FORD's already competent MONDEO chassis for the original MAZDA6 and have again ignored the newer, competent EUCD platform for the new MAZDA6. It is a common (and understandable ) misconeception that these cars share floorplans and/or engines. No engine has ever been used in both cars.

BTW Both gens of the MAZDA6 were universally considered the only other car in class to more or less match the Mondeo's excellent driving dynamics and anyone who has driven both will confirm this. They are light years ahead in terms of handling and dynamics than the equivalent Passat, Vectra, etc.

bazz26

Zombie thread!

Somebody shoot it.

Biro

gocfella wrote: »

Neither generation MAZDA6 was based on a FORD platform!!

Chassis/Floorplan was designed from scratch solely by MAZDA. Neither did they share any engines at all. This is particularly interesting.

MAZDA chose to ignore FORD's already competent MONDEO chassis for the original MAZDA6 and have again ignored the newer, competent EUCD platform for the new MAZDA6. It is a common (and understandable ) misconeception that these cars share floorplans and/or engines. No engine has ever been used in both cars.

BTW Both gens of the MAZDA6 were universally considered the only other car in class to more or less match the Mondeo's excellent driving dynamics and anyone who has driven both will confirm this. They are light years ahead in terms of handling and dynamics than the equivalent Passat, Vectra, etc.

I'd actually sooner the Mazda in terms of handling, simply because I can never get fully comfortable in a Ford, something with the seating position. That to me is quite important in a car that claims to be the best around to drive!
The new Mondeo and New 6 don't share the same platform, however any digging I can do on the previous 6 and previos Mondeo bring back up the same results - that both share the same platform with the same multi-link rear suspension design, but the front suspension is different, Mazda's own on the 6, not the same as the Ford's. The engines are different alright.

gocfella

Basic CD3 platform used in both generation Mazda6 was developed from scratch by Mazda at a cost of $1bn. Mk4 Mondeo used modified floorplan from Mk2/3 Mondeo. I'm sure.