Mazda 6 2007 News

Battling torrential rain for most of the journey, the all new Mazda 6 was still able to show us that the Japanese marque is determined to keep its ‘best selling import’ record

The second generation Mazda 6 is bigger physically, has greater power, and comes in at a few hundred dollars cheaper than its predecessor.

A softer 2-litre diesel engine is available now but has less power and torque than the current 105kW oil-burner that arrived for the Mazda 6 last year.

One million things on four wheels were sold for the first time in a calendar year during 2007, proving that, despite the worst efforts of the RTA

The next example of Mazda's second generation Zoom-Zoom product will star on the Mazda stand at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney from 11–21 October 2007.

There have been rumours for more than a year about something new from the British brand, and the confirmation came with the single press picture released at the Frankfurt Motor Show.The shot asks more questions than it answers. Still, it is obvious the car in the picture is a big departure from the chunky off-roaders that fill out the Land Rover line-up from the flagship Range Rover down to the near-new Freelander II.It is lower, much smoother and appears to have only two doors. And it has a swoopy roofline which is more like the new BMW X6 crossover coupe (also revealed at Frankfurt) than a traditional off-roader.It also promises much lower fuel economy, up to 10per cent better than the Freelander II, as well as luring younger buyers to the brand.The newcomer could be displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, instead of fighting for space at Frankfurt in a Ford family group, which included the all-new Jaguar XF, Mazda6 and facelifted Ford Focus, but there is no firm timing for showrooms.“Next year would probably be too early. But we are not talking about the timing,” says Land Rover's Natasha Waddington. “We are just showing this picture for the moment.”The Land Rover teaser comes as another luxury brand, Mercedes-Benz, gets ready to downsize on the four-wheel-drive front.It has a GLK soft-roader ready for next year that will slide in below its existing ML and GL four-wheel-drives as a rival to the Freelander II and BMW's X3. But the GLK, which is based on the mechanical package used for the C-Class sedan, is not coming to Australia.“The GLK is not going to be made in right-hand-drive. We could not make a business case,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says. “There is not enough volume. We would have liked it, but on the right-hand-drive side there is only Australia, the UK, South Africa and Japan. Not enough to make the numbers work.”The sneak peek of the new Land Rover comes at a good time for the company, which is on the auction block together with Jaguar and, most likely, Volvo as Ford looks to cut costs and complications to get it back into the black.It also shows Land Rover wants to follow Jeep into a more-youthful area of the four-wheel-drive business.The American company has been very successful in the US in turning Jeep into more than just a heavyweight off-road company, although its soft-shaped Compass has not done well in Australia. The Patriot, which is even newer, promises better results.Land Rover has its own model to copy, though, as it has done very good business with the city-focused Range Rover Sport. It is much more like a car to drive, even with its boxy body.The other Land Rover news from the Frankfurt show is a stop-start engine system that will be fitted to its vehicles from 2009. It is claimed to improve fuel economy by up to 10 per cent by killing the motor when the car is stopped in traffic, but it is only promised for manual transmission vehicles with more work needed on an adaptation for automatics. 

I like Chrysler. I like its management, its freehand styling and its gumption to mass produce cars that were last seen as Hot Wheels models in a toy store.If it's about looks, Chrysler and its subsidiary Dodge have it in spades.Chrysler's products will hypnotise you into visiting a showroom where, in a trance-like state, you will buy the classiest thing ever built on four wheels. That's when the spell will end.The Chrysler Sebring, rival to the Toyota Camry, Mazda6 and Honda Accord, breaks my heart. It's a very ordinary product from an outstanding company.There is not one area where the Sebring outshines the Camry.It has a hint of the famed styling madness that we love, like its straked bonnet, but is generally styled for an older audience.A tad conservative, it's nicely balanced, though the front bumper is too long and the car is not distinctive enough for passers-by to give it a second glance. Sebring 0; Camry 1.Inside it's a Tupperware party that has overdosed on Fruity Lexia with lots of hard, multicoloured plastic, mostly browns.The seats are leather-trimmed and the front ones are heated. But they are most uncomfortable, with a bulging squab a bit like a lumbar support with a hernia.There are appreciated features like a cupholder that can heat or cool, a tyre-pressure monitor, a quality audio system, a split-fold rear seat and cruise control.The 2.4-litre motor is also used in Hyundai's Sonata and Mitsubishi Outlander, though you wouldn't pick the relationship.The Sebring's engine is a modest performer, 0-100km/h in a weary 11.3sec but it is economical.The economy is because at no stage does the raw vacuum-cleaner sound of the motor relate to what's acutally happening at the wheels. Push hard on the accelerator and no one will know what you've done.The lack of go isn't helped by a four-speed auto with ratios designed for country touring on flat roads.Handling is good. In motion, the Sebring will glide through corners and mid-corner bumps with ease. The lifeless steering points well and ride comfort is commendable.The excellent standard safety equipment includes ESC and six airbags, and the solid chassis inspires confidence.Some good, but more bad about this car. C'mon Chrysler, you can do better. 

The world's biggest motor show is weeks away, yet the car companies are already scrambling over each other to release clues about their exhibits.Among the highlights of the 62nd Frankfurt International Motor Show are cars made out of bamboo, a boxer diesel engine and yet more “urban crossover SUVs.”Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the show.Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8 litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin clutch sport shift transmission.Dodge will also launch a crossover wagon, called Crew, which hits Australia late next year.The seven-seater is based on the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring sedan platform but with all-wheel drive and powered by 2.4-litre petrol and 2-litre turbo-diesel engines.The Crew looks like a shrunken Chrysler Voyager people mover, but with a longer nose and higher ground clearance.It will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico with production due to start in December.Subaru will use the show for its biggest new model blitz yet.Leading the line-up will be the new Impreza five-door hatchback in its 1.5 and 2 litre naturally aspirated formats, which arrives in Australia the same month.Other Subarus on show include an Impreza-based World Rally Car Concept, facelifted Tribeca luxury SUV with more efficient 3.6-litre boxer engine and five-speed auto, new Justy one-litre supermini and the world's first horizontally opposed boxer turbo-diesel engine, due to be progressively installed in models from early in 2008.Mazda will debut its Mazda6, the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage following the new Mazda2.Although Australia is yet to see the Kia cee'd five-door, the Korean company will debut its new sporty three-door Pro-cee'd, the third model in the family of cars designed for Europe and made in Slovakia.Only the bonnet and the front wing panels are carried over from the five-door model.Volkswagen will revive the 'people's car' with a concept Beetle.It is called the City Expert because The Beetle name has been taken by the more expensive new-generation car.The City Expert goes back to Beetle roots with a rear-mounted, flat-four boxer engine and a cheap price tag.VW will also reveal six new models with BlueMotion diesel technology, including the new Golf BlueMotion claiming economy of 4.5 litres/100km down 0.6-litres from the previous model, and CO2 emissions down 16g/km to 119g/km.Range on a 55-litre tank is now more than 1200km.Peugeot's 308RCZ concept will give a big hint towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Renault will show a wagon version of its Clio mini.The Clio Sport Tourer will go on sale in Europe early next year.Mini is also on the bandwagon with the return of the Clubman van.The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side.The suicide door, which opens the opposite way, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.It would make more sense on the other side, but clearly the former British car now owned by BMW is designed for left-hand-drive markets with the blinkers also on the left.Ford will show its Kuga crossover all-wheel-drive probably powered by a range of petrol and turbodiesel engines, including the 2-litre 100kW/320Nm TDCi that has just appeared in the Focus.The Kuga is based on the Iosis X concept unveiled at last year's Paris Motor Show.In a surprise move, Suzuki will show it's expanding from small cars and SUVs into the family market.Their Kizashi family car looks mean with a massive black grille, sloping lamp clusters and low-level fog lamps.Also looking mean is Saab's 9-3 Turbo X which will rekindle the spirit of the 1980s Saab 900 Black Turbo.It will feature Cross-Wheel Drive allowing torque to be split to either side of the rear axle via an electronically limited slip differential, based on information from the stability and traction control systems.However, the show-stealer is likely to be seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher when he unveils the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a lighter and faster development of the existing 430 coupe and convertible.Power is up to 380kW, weight is down 100kg and the F1 transmission has new software that cuts shift times to 60 milliseconds. 

Mazda will expand its Australian diesel models later this year, with a Mazda3 diesel to join the Mazda6.The new addition is expected to arrive in September and will be available in sedan and hatchback. It will have the same engine as the Mazda6 diesel.The two-litre common-rail turbo diesel produces 105kW and 360Nm. It has a claimed fuel consumption of six litres/100km.It will be available only in Maxx Sport trim and will have a rear spoiler, 16-inch wheels and unlike the petrol models, will have Electronic Stability Program as standard.Mazda spokesman Alistair Doak said the company expected to sell more than 100 Mazda3 diesels a month. Mazda sold 2758 Mazda3s last month, making it the second-most popular small car, behind the Toyota Corolla.When the Mazda6 diesel went on sale, Mazda originally forecast 50 sales a month, but Mr Doak said it had been closer to 100.He said there were no plans to expand the diesel range in Australia.“They will be our two diesel passenger cars, the ones that sell the most in Europe,” he said. “None of our Japanese competitors has diesel and we're introducing a second.”Mr Doak said there were no plans for diesel engines in the CX-7 or CX-9 because those cars were primarily for the North American market, where diesels were not in demand.The Mazda3 diesel will be followed by a new Mazda2 model.The smaller Mazda will go on sale in October and is expected to cost about $16,000 for the base model.Mr Doak said buyers could expect the new Mazda2 to be comparable in price to the present car, which started at $16,335 for the Neo and rose to $20,290 for the Genki model.But unlike its rivals, which have 1.3-litre entry models, Mr Doak said the Mazda2 would be sold with only a 1.5-litre engine.He said the Mazda2 was a vital part of the overall line-up, with the car coming third in sales to the Mazda3 and Mazda6.The current car has been on sale since December 2002. So far this year Mazda has sold 3045, up 30 per cent on last year's figures.The car's styling brought it into line with the rest of the Mazda line-up.Mazda is also expected to carry over the existing three models the Neo, Maxx and Genki. 

The Mazda3 diesel will join the Mazda6 and is expected to arrive in September. It will be available in both sedan and hatchback form and will have the same engine as the current Mazda6 diesel.The 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel produces 105kW and 360Nm and has a claimed fuel consumption of 6L/100km.It will only be available in the one Maxx Sport trim level and will feature a rear spoiler, 16-inch wheels and, unlike the petrol models, Direct Stability Control will be a standard feature.Mazda spokesman Alistair Doak says the company expects to sell more than 100 Mazda3 diesels a month, but says it will be a reasonably small percentage of overall Mazda3 sales. Mazda sold 2758 Mazda3s last month, the second-most popular small car, behind the Toyota Corolla.When the Mazda6 diesel went on sale, Mazda originally forecast 50 sales a month, but Doak says it has been closer to 100 models a month.He says there are no plans to expand the diesel range further in Australia.“They will be our two diesel passenger cars, the ones that sell the most in Europe,” he says. None of our Japanese competitors have any diesel and we're introducing a second.”Doak says there are no plans for diesel engines in the larger CX-7 and yet-to-arrive CX-9 because these cars are primarily for the North American market, where diesel isn't in demand.The Mazda3 diesel will be followed by the new generation of the Mazda2. The smaller Mazda will go on sale in October and is expected remain at about $16,000 for the entry model.Doak says buyers can expect the new Mazda2 to be comparable in price to the current car, which starts at $16,335 for the Neo and rises to $20,290 for the top-line Genki model. But unlike some of its rivals, which offer 1.3-litre entry models, Doak says the Mazda2 would be available only with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine.“I don't think there is a lot of benefit going to a 1.3. Certainly there isn't that much difference on cost,” he says.Doak says the Mazda2 is a vital part of the overall line-up, with the light car running in third sales spot behind Mazda3 and Mazda6.The current car has been on sale since December 2002. So far this year Mazda has sold 3045, up 30 per cent on last year's figures.The car's styling brings it into line with the rest of the Mazda line-up, he says.“Mazda has always established a reputation as being a style leader and the Mazda2 should do so in the light-car segment,” Doak says.Mazda is also expected to carry over the existing three model names; Neo, Maxx and Genki.Safety has been at the forefront of the car's appeal, with the option of curtain and side airbags and ABS in the current model. The newcomer is expected to add dynamic stability control to the safety kit. It sheds about 100kg in weight over its predecessor.Using high-tensile steel, Mazda says it has been able to slice out weight without compromising safety, body rigidity and noise, vibration and harshness. This has benefits for fuel economy, with Mazda saying it has improved up to 15 per cent over the current car. The 60/40 split rear-fold seat carries over, but luggage space is down from 280 to 250 litres.The 1.5-litre develops 76kW at 6000 revs and 136Nm at 4000 revs, down from 82kW at 6000 revs and 141Nm at 4000 revs.