The all-new Mazda 6 has stayed true to last year’s acclaimed Takeri concept, as these first official pictures of the production car reveal.
Mazda has been selective in not showing the new 6 from all angles ahead of its Moscow motor show launch later this month, but the images reveal the Takeri’s basic design themes have carried over for production.
These include a front-end inspired by the CX-5, including a large grille, a curvaceous, stepped bonnet and sleek headlights. Mazda calls its latest design theme ‘Kodo, Soul of Motion’.
The car has not yet been revealed in profile, but the rear shot shows that the Takeri’s sloping roofline also carries over to the 6 saloon. Indeed, Mazda believes the saloon looks sleek enough not to have to offer a five-door hatchback version of the new 6.
The new 6 follows the CX-5 crossover in ushering in Mazda’s new SkyActiv technology. It is based on a lightweight new modular chassis that can underpin anything from a Mazda 3 family hatchback to a Mazda CX-9 full-size SUV in size.
Two new SkyActiv engines introduced on the CX-5 will be offered with the 6. The Moscow show car will be fitted with the firm’s 162bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual will also be offered for production.
Of most interest to UK buyers will be the 148bhp and 173bhp versions of the latest 2.2-litre turbodiesel, which will be offered with both automatic and manual transmissions.
Insiders have revealed CO2 emissions of the lower-powered diesel model will be less than 105g/km thanks to the introduction of Mazda’s new brake energy regeneration system, i-ELOOP.
This was previewed on the Takeri concept at last year’s Tokyo motor show. It features a series of capacitors behind the nearside headlamp. When the driver lifts off the accelerator, the momentum is turned into electricity by the alternator and stored in the capacitors.
This energy is used when the car is stopped by the stop-start system to power ancillaries including headlight and air con, which means the engine doesn’t have to generate electricity.
Following the launch of the 6 saloon at Moscow will be the estate version at the Paris motor show in September.
