No plans for new Mazda6
Mazda’s mid-size car faces uncertain future, but as long as the Mazda6 is built it’ll be in local dealersThe model that really got the Mazda ‘zoom-zoom’ ethos rolling, the Mazda6, is facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to carsales at this week’s 2022 Mazda BT-50 launch, Mazda Australia chief Vinesh Bhindi said he was unaware of plans for a new-generation Mazda6 but also said there were no signs that supply would dry up from the factory in Japan any time soon.
The future of the Mazda6 has been the source of speculation for years as global buying preferences have drifted away from sedans and wagons to SUVs (and in Australia, utes).
The current Mazda6 has been discontinued in the United States due to poor sales. But then that’s the US, where they also discontinued the Mazda CX-3 small SUV for the same reason.
It had been expected a new Mazda6 would migrate to the new Large Product Group (LPG) rear- and all-wheel drive architecture and family of longitudinal four-cylinder and inline six-cylinder engines.
But while LPG has been confirmed as the basis for the incoming 2022 Mazda CX-60, as well as the all-new CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 SUVs, there is no word on a new-gen Mazda6.
“Mazda Corporation have said their focus now is on the large platform SUVs along with technologies – five hybrid, five plug-in hybrid and three EVs – in the 2025 period,” said Bhindi.
“That is where their focus is.
“What does that mean for a 6 sedan type replacement? That is a globally shrinking market … so at this stage Mazda6 is here to stay as it is.
“The market may continue to shrink but we will continue to have that in our line-up.
“But the future of it, which way it goes, is there a replacement? If any of the speculation or rumours that flow around … only time will tell.”
Bhindi has a personal reason to back the Mazda6 as he professes it is his favourite car to drive in the line-up.
The original Mazda6 launched in Australia in 2002. It replaced the 626 in the line-up at a time when the Japanese company needed a boost after a period of forgettable engineering and styling.
It was the first sheetmetal proof of Mazda’s sporty new zoom-zoom ethos, which was being promoted heavily in TV ads at the time.
Throughout its lifespan it has sold as a sedan, hatch and wagon and as a hot MPS model.
The current third generation has been around since 2013 and been through two significant updates in that time including turbo-petrol power in 2018.
The Mazda6 has been a leader in the medium passenger car segment since its launch. In 2021 it was the number two seller, albeit with just 1491 registered, emphasising the segment’s decline.
In the Mazda range, it only outsold the MX-5 sportscar and MX-30 EV in 2021.
Related: Mazda6 Atenza 2021 Review
Related: Mazda SUV avalanche explained
Related: Mazda BT-50 2022 Review
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