First glimpse of all-new Mazda6 25 | 10 | 2011
EIGHTEEN MONTHS BEFORE it goes on sale in Scotland, here's your first look at the next generation Mazda6. Due to be unveiled at next month's Tokyo Motor Show, the new Takeri concept gives very strong styling hints of how the car will look.
And apart from its sleek lines, the new Mazda6 will also benefit from the Japanese firm’s radical SkyActiv Technology. This includes new highly efficient petrol and diesel engines, compact, lightweight automatic and manual transmissions, new suspension systems and a new modular steel platform.
SkyActiv is Mazda's self-generated technology which it believes will offer a radical alternative to electric vehicles. It will also future-proof the company from strict future emissions regulations.
The technology will make its first 'production car' appearance in the Mazda CX-5 when it goes on sale in spring 2012.
The Mazda6 though will be the second — and potentially most important — model to benefit from SkyActiv's lighter, stiffer platform.
See more official photos of the all-new Mazda6
The Takeri concept saloon displays the firm’s new ‘Kodo – Soul of Motion’ design language, also seen on the CX-5. The result is a much bolder look than the current-generation 6 saloon: note the Jaguar XF resemblances at the rear.
What's also noticeable is the car has received a more distinctive front grille and slim, technical headlights, crisper lines and a more coupe-like profile.
Inside the cabin there's an Apple-style minimalistic premium look and feel for the driver-orientated four-seat cabin. And instead of more traditional controls, there's a BMW i-Drive style rotary controller.
The concept is powered by the new SkyActiv-D 173bhp, 310lb ft 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine which, returns CO2 emissions of just 104g/km and “excellent” fuel economy of around 65mpg.
The engine also has the lowest compression ratio of any production diesel engine, plus a clever new stop-start and regenerative braking system.
And just for good measure, the engine's mated to a new torque convertor automatic gearbox, which offers similar economy to that produced by the manual version.
Read our EXCLUSIVE drive of Mazda's SkyActiv
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill