Mazda’s new flagship simply begs to be driven. Designed to operate as an extension of their driver, both the wagon and sedan versions of the new Mazda6 make their collective debut at the Paris Motor Show. The newest manifestation of the “KODO – Soul of Motion” design theme, these cars are destined to turn heads, drawing upon the sleek beauty of the TAKERI and SHINARI concepts that preceded them. And with ultra-efficient SKYACTIV technology underneath, there are no concessions to performance or fuel economy.
The all-new Mazda6 – now in its third generation – is also the first mass-production model equipped with i-ELOOP, Mazda’s unique brake energy regeneration system. It’s the most recent ingredient to Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, the company’s building block strategy for uncompromisingly efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles. i-ELOOP joins the innovative i-stop idle-stop system and SKYACTIV powertrains, chassis and body (introduced on the CX-5) to set a new benchmark for fuel economy and CO2 emissions (3.9 l/100km & 104 g/km*) in Europe’s all-important CD-segment – without any sacrifice in performance.
Drivers will experience a remarkably linear response from the choice of five SKYACTIV engines (two diesels and three petrol powerplants) transferring power to the wheels via six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The SKYACTIV-Chassis’s clever steering and suspension ensure superior handling in a car that responds to driver input with precision. The SKYACTIV-Body, meanwhile, offers class-leading safety thanks to highly rigid impact-absorbing structures and innovative load paths to disperse impact energy away from the cabin. And to help the driver prevent accidents from happening in the first place, the new Mazda6 features an impressive array of advanced active safety technologies. Even when a collision is unavoidable, they work to diminish its severity for occupants and pedestrians – and even the vehicle itself.
Specially developed for the KODO design, Soul Red Metallic, an all-new body colour, uses a unique process to deliver unprecedented levels of depth, shading and vividness that accentuate Mazda6’s stunning form and character lines. These start at Mazda’s new family face – the signature wing grille and glinting “eyes” with their halo ring light and LEDs extending the wing outwards – and flow through the powerful shoulders and haunches supporting the rear-leaning cabin, and finally, the strong yet harmonious rear.
Pointing to the power, agility and resilience of the new Mazda6, KODO is not just a facade, either. Look at the interior, where form meets function in a highly ergonomic cockpit built to make driving as enjoyably effortless as possible. Everything is exactly where it should be: Even the repositioned A-pillars, moved rearwards relative to the current model, contribute to a stress-free experience by widening the driver’s field of view. Passengers await a relaxing atmosphere in the cabin, which features sporty comfort and segment-leading dimensions accompanied by the latest infotainment technology, including 11-speaker BOSE® surround sound**.
Mazda’s designers and engineers have truly come up with a striking piece of machinery whose looks immediately divulge what’s underneath. Namely a symbiotic blend of sporty, linear performance and smooth refinement that’s destined to make a big splash in the European CD-segment when it goes on sale.
