First Look: 2014 Mazda6
Mazda has unveiled the 2014 Mazda6 ahead of its debut at the 2013 Moscow Auto Show. The new mid-size sedan’s design is heavily influenced by the Takeri Concept that we saw at the 2012 New York Auto Show. This is a good thing.
It’s a striking piece of work, following the Kodo design language of the CX-5 CUV. Its taut sheetmetal gives it a sporting appearance which is particularly noticeable in the front wheel arches and rear haunches. Mazda’s five-point grille is present and accounted for, and looks more natural than on CX-5. The interior is less inspiring, but is no less attractive. A central display and three-pod gauge cluster dominate the dash, with a subtle color insert, running the width of the dash, adding some visual flair.
The only engine specs available at present are for the Russian-market 6 (details for the US/Canada are still being finalized). They include Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter gas engine. Mated to either a six-speed manual or a Skyactive six-speed autobox, it produces 134 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Like previous 6s, power is channeled to the front wheels. A 2.5-liter Skyactiv four-pot is also available, generating a matching 189 horsepower and pound-feet of torque. Sadly, the 2.5 is only available with the slushbox transmission.
Mazda’s regenerative brake system, called i-ELOOP (arguably the most entertaining technology to pronounce in the entire automotive universe), makes its production debut on the 6. With a claimed a 10-percent improvement in real-world fuel economy, it should be a boon to fuel sippers, so long as the Japanese brand can work out the on-off nature of regenerative brakes. Additionally, the 6 is getting i-stop, Mazda’s start/stop system. With a claimed restart time of only .35 seconds, it looks to be one of the best start/stop setups on the road.
The 2014 Mazda6 should make its North American debut at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show at the end of November, with sales to begin in early 2013.
Please scroll down for the official press release from Mazda.
Mazda to Showcase Redesigned Sedan With All-New Technology and Safety Features
Aug 28, 2012
MOSCOW, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — From design concept to final production, the all-new 2014 Mazda6 has been a feast for the eyes. Spawning from its TAKERI Concept beginnings, which made its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show last November, the redesigned Mazda6 was adapted for more practical wheels-to-road use yet did not sacrifice style or its appeal of being a game-changer in the mid-size vehicle segment. The second Mazda to feature the full suite of SKYACTIV®[1] technologies, the Mazda6 will launch in Europe this year with an added slew of all-new safety features and fuel efficiency-improving technologies. The vehicle is expected to go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in early 2013.
Similar to TAKERI, the Mazda6 features a bold new front fascia with a five-point "signature wing." Part of the KODO "Soul of Motion" design language, this new family look evokes a tempered aggression, controlled yet taut beneath the three dominant character strokes that flow alongside the sculpted body. The Mazda6 sits on a 111-inch long wheelbase, allowing for a roomier interior and ample storage space. Compared to the previous generation, the front wheels have been pushed forward nearly four inches in relation to the A-pillar, resulting in reduced overhang while the rear deck has been shortened, further enhancing the vehicle’s lower, leaner and longer stance.
Under the hood of the Russian-specification Mazda6 is a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine that offers 134 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 155 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The SKYACTIV-G 2.0 can be paired with either the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. A SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine also will be available in the Russian market and boasts 189 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 189 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. The SKYACTIV-G 2.5 will be available with the SKYACTIV-Drive transmission. Final specifications for other global markets, including the U.S. and Canada, will be disclosed at a later date.
To feed the rest of one’s senses, the interior offers a driver-oriented cockpit with knobs and controls within intuitive reach. The luxurious interior overwhelms in its clean simplicity and quality materials. Cavernous but comfortable, the 2014 Mazda6 features a new instrument panel in two new metallic finishes – Bordeaux and Dark – as well as soft fabrics on frequently touched surfaces such as the door trim and along the instrument panel. The instrument cluster is presented with white scale markings on a dark spindle groove-and-honeycomb pattern to accentuate clarity and readability. An encircling metal ring provides a distinctive finishing touch.
Wrapped in an all-new "Soul Red" metallic paint finish, itself developed through a unique technological process that balances depth and shading while providing vividness, the Mazda6 rests upon 19-inch, five-double-spoke alloy wheels, which offer added stability to the dynamics of the vehicle’s SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis. The SKYACTIV-Body structure utilizes more ultra-high tensile steel resulting in fewer materials used (and a lighter weight) while increasing torsional rigidity by almost 30 percent. The SKYACTIV-Chassis has a finely tuned front strut and rear multi-link suspension system, which deliver agile driving performance in the low- to mid-speed ranges and precise handling in high-speed driving. Engineering efforts also improved NVH performance to target class-leading quietness as well as optimizing the under-floor design to further improve aerodynamic airflow to a class-leading 0.26 coefficient of drag (Cd), which also contributes to increased fuel economy.
Additional environmentally-conscious, fuel-efficient systems in the Mazda6 include the production debut of "i-ELOOP," the Mazda-engineered, world’s-first capacitor-based regenerative braking system. In real-world driving conditions, which feature frequent acceleration and braking, i-ELOOP will improve fuel economy by up to 10 percent. The "i-stop" idling stop system also is available and offers a class-leading engine restart time of 0.35 seconds. The accelerated restart equates to a smoother, barely noticeable pick-up as well as significant improvement in stop-and-go fuel economy. Also, an award-winning single-nanotechnology in the catalyst improves the exhaust gas after-treatment process and reduces the amount of precious metal required.
For the Russian-specification 2014 Mazda6, all-new safety features coupled with the brand’s current array of advanced technologies offer an added sense of security and stability. Providing hawk-eyed vision in the moonlight, signature LED headlights paired with halo ring light guides are adopted for the first time in a Mazda production vehicle. With the available Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), the headlights beam and embrace curves on the road just as the vehicle does for added visibility.
Other featured safety systems include:
High-Beam Control (HBC): Uses a sensor to detect oncoming vehicles and automatically adjusts between high and low beam to avoid blinding other drivers at night.
Hill Launch Assist (HLA): Helps prevent the vehicle 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): Causes the hazard lights to rapidly flicker on and off in the event of panic braking at speeds of 31 MPH or higher in order to warn vehicles behind.
Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM): Goes into effect at speeds of 19 MPH or higher and detects vehicles approaching from behind or driving in the blind spot area on either side, and alert the driver should s/he turn on the indicator signal to change lanes.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS): Uses a camera to judge the position of lines on the road and alerts the driver of unintentional lane departures, thus minimizing the risk of collision due to driver inattention or fatigue.
Smart City Brake Support (SCBS): Uses a near-infrared beam sensor to help prevent collisions and, in cases where prevention is not possible, reduce the impact of frontal collisions at low speed (up to 19 MPH) by automatically applying the vehicle’s brakes.
More information on the 2014 Mazda6 will be announced during a press conference on Wednesday, August 29. All specifications and technologies disclosed will be specific to the Russian market.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and b-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
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