Australia's Easy Reading New Car News Home | News | Road Tests The new Mazda 6 will be available from December. There's a new Mazda 6 coming Home > News > Mazda Recent new car releases ..... here Upcoming new car releases ..... here 26th October, 2012 Mazda tries to provide stylish, insightful and spirited cars and the all-new Mazda 6 carries on this tradition while also offering an improved environmental performance. Mazda's environmental technology development is directed by its Building Block Strategy which first calls for thorough improvements in the base automotive technologies. The next step builds on these improvements with the sequential introduction of electric devices designed to improve fuel economy. The first such device was i-Stop, Mazda’s idling stop system introduced to Australia in 2011 with the Mazda 3 SP20 SKYACTIV. The second device, which makes its debut with the new Mazda 6 is i-ELOOP, Mazda's unique brake energy regeneration system which begins charging a capacitor the moment the driver takes their foot off the accelerator. Electricity stored in the capacitor can then be used to power electric components throughout the car. In freeing the engine from much of the duty of providing electricity to these components, more fuel energy goes directly to powering the car resulting in further improvements in fuel economy. Both i-ELOOP and i-Stop are standard across the all-New Mazda 6 range. In addition, a variety of advanced active safety technologies have been adopted. The new Mazda 6 delivers not only precise response and an exhilarating driving experience but also decent environmental and safety performance. Drawing on the full potential of both SKYACTIV Technology and KODO design, the Mazda 6 aims to take the “joy of driving” to a new level. The new model will be introduced to global markets starting late 2012. The new-generation Mazda 6 will be available in Australia from early December. 'Driving pleasure' begins before you even turn the key “In developing the third generation Mazda 6, we pursued Mazda’s intrinsic value, ‘driving pleasure’. We wanted to create a car that reacts and behaves exactly as you expect it to. Part of this involved carefully crafting those parts of the car which you often touch to feel as though they are an extension of your own body.” “The distinctive design hints at the power and agility with which the car moves. A variety of original innovations support a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. Mazda’s superb engineering and craftsmanship have realised a car that handles so well it seems to respond directly to the driver’s intentions rather than the physical manipulations of steering, braking and accelerating.” “In short, the new Mazda 6 offers the “joy of driving” that people have come to expect from Mazda, but the experience starts even before you get behind the wheel and lingers long after the drive is over.” “I can’t wait to see the look on the faces of people getting out of the car after their first time behind the wheel of the new Mazda 6.” said Hiroshi Kajiyama, the new Mazda 6 programme manager. Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more Design Features All-new Mazda 6 is the mass production model influenced of the Mazda Takeri concept car showcased at Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011. “The new Mazda 6 has a robust framework and a low, wide stance that expresses strength and stability, creating the impression of amazing vitality without detracting from the universal aesthetic appeal and beautiful form it displays as a CD car,” says the chief designer Akira Tamatani. “We have created a design in which the wild and dynamic expressions of motion artistically realise a powerful presence. Simply looking at the car heightens one’s expectations about the driving experience even before actually riding in it.” At a single glance, the exterior design conveys a sporty flare through its smooth and powerful 'physique'. The coordinated interior, in keynote black, is contemporary without compromising on a timeless feeling of luxury and quality. Exterior In the front view, the ‘signature wing’ has been adopted. It is a unifying element of the new Mazda 'family face' design. The bonnet creases extend from the tips of the front mudguards and flow into the body character lines. Together with the solid design of the 'nose', they complement the overall dynamic form of the body that expresses a strong desire for motion. Three character lines dominate the side view – an elegant line that extends forward from the rear tyre, a rear mudguard line suggesting driving force from the vehicle’s rear quarter, and a front mudguard line denoting strong 'shoulders' supporting nimble forefeet. Mazda suggest that the combination of these lines capture the form of a predator crouched and poised ready to leap forward in an explosion of movement. The rear view displays stability through the well balanced proportions of the wedged body, prominent rear guard and compact cabin. For the head lights, signature LED luminescence and halo ring light guides are adopted for the first time in a Mazda mass production vehicle. The first use of “Soul Red”, a new colour devised from a unique technological process developed by Mazda, that balances depth and shading which accentuate the car’s dynamic form, and vividness which expresses sportiness. Interior The cabin offers generous space for the driver. Three meters laid out symmetrically in the meter hood heighten the expectation for exciting driving. Passenger side space provides a sense of both openness and safety with the decorative horizontal line extending through the centre panel to the air-conditioning louvres as well as the encircling form of the dash. Soft materials are used for areas frequently touched such as the door trim and the upper part of the dash. The instrument panel The solid, decorative instrument panel features 2 colours, ‘Bordeaux metal’ and ‘Dark metal’. White scale markings appear to stand out from the meter face which feature a combination of spindle groove and honeycomb patterning to achieve a feeling of depth and quality craftsmanship. An encircling metal ring completes a tasteful design which conveys a zeal for driving Craftsmanship New generation Mazda products are developed under the design craftsmanship concept which incorporates the designer’s aesthetic sense into a base of detailed and precise engineering. Full-scale implementation of this concept with the new Mazda 6 enabled a high-quality, premium finish with a harmony of form and quality while not compromising on functionality. Attention was paid not only to areas passengers see and touch but also to the feel and sound of operating the vehicle in order to provide a sense of unity throughout the car. An overall feeling of quality appeals to all the senses. Details of all parts, including design motif, moulding, and surface grain and gloss treatments are carefully executed according to a consistent philosophy In the cabin, the instrument panel is laid out horizontally, and a smooth continuity between the upper area of the instrument panel and the door trim provides an impression of simplicity and neatness Care has been taken to ensure metal-like decorations, such as satin chrome plating Parts which the driver often handles, such as the steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever are carefully crafted to achieve a smooth and consistent feel The lay-out of the instrument display and operating devices surrounding the driver’s seat has been optimised in consideration of both the characteristics of human vision and arm and hand movements. Packaging A spacious and comfortable environment is provided within the elegant body form. It offers an environment where the driver can relax and concentrate on the pleasure of driving. Mazda ambitiously claim a feeling of anticipation is stirred every time you look at the car, grasp the wheel or adjust the mirror. Two fundamental aims directed the development of the packaging. The first was to realise spacious, comfortable cabin that perfectly matches KODO design. The second was to refine the Human Machine Interface (HMI) to provide a interior environment where the driver can feel completely at ease to enjoy the drive. The new Mazda 6 packaging achieves all three aims and provides driver and passengers with a environment in which to savor the “joy of driving”. The 2,830 mm long wheel base for sedan and 2,750 mm for wagon allows a spacious backseat area, ample interior space and a broad canvas for the unrestrained expression of KODO Large 19 inch diameter wheels make for a feeling of stability Compared to the previous model, the front wheels has been moved forward by 100 mm in relation to the A-pillar resulting in reduced overhang. The boot of the sedan is also shorter than the previous model. The car’s stance, with the bulk of the mass toward the rear, gives a sense of explosive power ready to be unleashed at any moment Shoulder room of 1,450 mm in the front seat (20 mm wider than the previous model) and a large radius corner on the centre console ensure comfortable seating The sedan’s rear seats feature ample legroom with knee clearance 43 mm greater than the previous model and amongst the best in the segment. Legroom on the sedan is 984 mm, an increase of 37 mm over the previous model. The length of the rear seat cushion is increased 20 mm and the seat back length increased 33 mm. The rear center arm rest has been enlarged by 60 mm The wagon’s rear seats feature increased legroom with knee clearance 22 mm greater than the previous model. Legroom on the wagon is 955 mm, an increase of 8 mm over the previous model. The length of the rear seat cushion is increased 30 mm and the seat back length has increased 11 mm. The rear center arm rest has been enlarged by 60 mm The sedan’s boot was designed from an ergonomic perspective. Upper opening width is 32mm wider than the previous model, for easy loading. A swan hinge enables easy and smooth opening and closing of the boot lid An adjustable front seat combined with adjustable tilt and telescopic steering wheel enable precise adjustment of the driving position A multi commander allows intuitive control of an array of functions such as audio, the navigation system and the sensitivity of the automatic windshield wipers via the centre display Trip management information is displayed on a 3.5-inch multi-information display in the meter cluster. Navigation information is shown on a 5-inch display located in the centre panel. By separating information into categories and showing them on two different displays, readability and operability were further enhanced Driving Dynamics Mazda’s fundamental belief is that a smooth linear response to driver input is the basis of driving pleasure, and full enjoyment cannot be attained through speed and power alone. This was the motivation for the introduction of SKYACTIV Technology throughout the car including the engine, transmission, body and chassis. Aiming to realise both agility and linearity by uniting the driver and car, Mazda concentrated on providing outstanding levels of high performance via a control system that responds to the driver’s intentions. In terms of acceleration characteristics, this means natural, linear acceleration in response to pedal operation without a hint of jerkiness or delay. For cornering characteristics, this means faithfully responding to steering input, providing immediate feedback from the road and mildly increasing roll so that no steering adjustment is required to maintain the desired cornering line. Finally, for braking characteristics, this means braking performance that gives the driver the feeling of being in complete control, including when releasing the brakes. Closely concentrating on human sensitivity in this way, Mazda strove to balance fundamentally contradictory characteristics of motion: refined, supple motion and light, agile motion. Impressive driving performance including high-speed straight-line stability that gives the feeling of complete control has been realised, thus providing an enjoyable, comfortable drive regardless of distance Chassis and Body The all-New Mazda 6 has a finely tuned aerodynamic performance by rectifying airflow under the vehicle and minimising the trailing vortex by directing the airflow upwards via the tail up design of the main silencer. CD target is 0.27 (depending on equipment level) for the sedan and 0.28 for the wagon. This contributes to high-speed stability as well as an improvement in fuel efficiency SKYACTIV-Chassis front strut and rear multi-link suspension systems, which deliver agile driving performance in the low to mid speed ranges and stability in high speed driving SKYACTIV-Chassis column-type electric power assist steering system offers precise control by responding to small steering inputs as needed without forcing changes in the positions of the hands holding the wheel and contributing to a linear steering feel. The new control assist enhances straight-ahead stability and prevents steering pull on rough road surfaces The optimised brake booster curves deliver effective, precise and assured braking performance all the way up to high G areas attributable to easily-controllable initial pedaling and enhanced stability enabled by higher brake cooling efficiency Robust SKYACTIV-Body structure makes wider use of ultra-high tensile steel and results in a weight reduction while at the same time improving torsional rigidity by about 30% for the sedan and 45% for the wagon Engineering efforts in NVH performance focused on achieving a degree of quietness in the cabin and making a pleasant yet appropriate engine sound under acceleration. The improved NVH performance mainly comes from effectively blocking noise paths from the engine and the road to the cabin and designing parts to effectively absorb sound energy Powertrain SKYACTIV-G (petrol engine) equipped models offer abundant torque characteristics at low engine speeds enabling acceleration that precisely matches the driver’s intentions in various driving situations, contributing to a precise and linear response; high-quality ride and superb fuel economy performance The SKYACTIV-G 2.5 makes its debut in all-New Mazda 6 and offers maximum torque of 250 Nm @ 3,250 rpm and maximum output of 138 kW @ 5,700 rpm SKYACTIV 2.5 also features a balance shaft that contributes to the mitigation of engine vibration and low noise output SKYACTIV-G 2.5 comes with the 6-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission. Precise and responsive driving performance is supported by both SKYACTIV-Drive which is designed to control driving force and gear speed linearly in response to acceleration pedal input SKYACTIV-D 2.2 Diesel is combines a low compression ratio of 14:1 and optimised combustion timing to provide class-leading torque, engaging performance characteristics and excellent fuel economy SKYACTIV-D 2.2 offers maximum torque of 420 Nm @ 2,000 rpm and maximum output of 129 kW @ 4,500 rpm SKYACTIV-D 2.2 also comes with the 6-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission Safety Aspects Environmental and safety performance was further enhanced in the all-New Mazda 6 so customers can enjoy driving with peace of mind. In terms of environmental performance, the addition of i-stop and i-ELOOP improves the already outstanding fuel economy achieved with SKYACTIV Technology. The foundation of the new Mazda 6’s safety performance lies in its handling that responds immediately to the driver’s input, excellent visibility and the crash-worthiness of the highly rigid SKYACTIV-BODY. On top of this, an array of advanced safety technologies, ‘i-ACTIVSENSE’, has been used to support the driver in the safe operation of the vehicle. For example, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) assist driver awareness and improve field of vision at night. Environmental performance The new Mazda 6 is the first model to adopt the “i-ELOOP” brake energy regeneration system, which contributes to an improvement in fuel efficiency in real world driving situations. The “i-Stop,” Mazda’s original idling stop system is introduced to the new Mazda 6. This system boasts a engine re-start time of 0.35 seconds. The i-Stop system is a standard feature across the whole new Mazda 6 range All-new Mazda 6 models equipped with the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 litre clean-diesel engine deliver combined cycle fuel economy of 5.4 litres per 100 km with CO2 emissions of 141 g/km for both the sedan and wagon All-new Mazda 6 models equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5 litre petrol engine deliver combined cycle fuel economy of 6.6 litres per 100 km with CO2 emissions of just 153 g/km for sedan and 155 g/km for wagon Award-winning single-nanotechnology in the catalyst improves the exhaust gas after-treatment process and reduces the amount of precious metal required Safety performance Moving the bottom of the A-pillar rearwards by 100 mm, compared with the outgoing model, and mounting the rear view mirror on the door rather than the base of the A-pillar helps enhance the forward and peripheral visibility High-Beam Control (HBC) uses a sensor to detect on-coming vehicles and automatically changes between high and low beam to help avoid blinding other drivers during night driving Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) predicts curvature based on the degree of steering input and vehicle speed and turns the headlights in the direction that the vehicle is actually heading. This improves visibility when driving at night Hill Launch Assist (HLA) helps prevent the Mazda 6 from rolling backwards while the driver’s foot moves from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal when taking off on a hill. Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) cause the hazard lights to rapidly flicker on and off in the event of panic braking at 50 km/h or faster in order to warn vehicles behind Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) comes into effect at 10 km/h or faster and detects cars approaching from behind or driving in the blind spot on either side and warns the driver when he or she turns on the indicator to change lanes Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which is applied for the first time of Mazda, comes with BSM. Lane Departure Warning (LDWS) uses a camera to judge the position of lines on the road and warns the driver of unintentional lane departures, thus minimising the risk of collision due to driver inattention or fatigue Adaptive Cruise Control uses a radar to measure the speed of traffic ahead and adjusts cruise control speed accordingly. Adaptive Cruise Control will reduce the cars speed to match that of slower moving traffic ahead and will then resume the previous set speed once the road is clear Passive Safety Technologies - The lightweight yet rigid SKYACTIV-Body provides suitable crashworthiness and is designed to attain top safety ratings in tests around the world A multi-load path structure and a front end with an X-shaped cross-section increases impact energy absorption, further improving safety performance in frontal, side and rear-end collisions The anti-whiplash design of the front seats helps to reduce neck injury in the event of a rear-end collision There are two impact beams in the front doors. The upper beam has a round cross-section, and the lower beam has a double-ridged cross-section. The lower rear beam also has a double-ridged cross-section, helping to improve strength The All-New Mazda 6 Specifications Dimensions - sedan Seating capacity: 5 Coefficient of drag 0.27 Overall length without number plate holder 4,865 mm Overall width 1,840 mm Overall height 1,450 mm Wheelbase 2,830 mm Track front (17” tyre) 1,585 mm Track front (19” tyre) 1,595 mm Track rear (17” tyre) 1,575 mm Track rear (19” tyre) 1,585 mm Dimensions - wagon Seating capacity: 5 Coefficient of drag 0.28 Overall length without number plate holder 4,800 mm Overall width 1,840 mm Overall height 1,480 mm Wheelbase 2,750 mm Track front (17” tyre) 1,585 mm Track front (19” tyre) 1,595 mm Track rear (17” tyre) 1,575 mm Track rear (19” tyre) 1,585 mm Engines (Preliminary data) SKYACTIV-G 2.5 Petrol Displacement 2,488 Valves 16 Camshaft drive By Chain Fuel injection system Direct injection Compression ratio 13.0:1 Max. power 138 kW @ 5,700 Max. torque 250 Nm @ 3,250 Recommended fuel type Regular unleaded (91-RON or E10) Fuel tank capacity 62 L Fuel economy 6.6 litres per 100 km CO2 emissions 153 – 155 g/km Powertrain FWD Transmission SKYACTIV-Drive (6-speed automatic) SKYACTIV-D 2.2 Diesel Displacement 2,191 Valves 16 Camshaft drive By Chain Fuel injection system Direct injection Compression ratio 14.0:1 Max. power 129 kW @ 4,500 Max. torque 420 Nm @ 2,000 Recommended fuel type Diesel Fuel tank capacity 62 L Fuel economy 5.4 litres per 100 km CO2 emissions 141 g/km Powertrain FWD Transmission SKYACTIV-Drive (6-speed automatic) Chassis (Preliminary data) Front suspension MacPherson Strut Rear suspension Multi-link Tyre size 225/55 R17 or 225/45 R19 Steering type Rack and pinion Brake type front/rear Ventilated discs/Solid discs Brake diameter front/rear 297/278 mm Stay tuned for pricing details (in due course). 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