Official: New Mazda6 revealed

We’ve covered the first four official teaser videos of the all-new Mazda6 in recent weeks, as well as the first image that appeared on Mazda’s Russian website recently, but now Mazda has presented the real deal ahead of the vital new model’s debut — not at September’s Paris Motor Show, but the Moscow International Automobile Salon on August 29.

Seen here for the first time in four official images and a fifth YouTube video that shows the car from most angles is the third-generation Mazda6, which motoring.com.au will drive at the international launch immediately after its Paris showing in two months.

As we said in the Mazda6 article published earlier today, the production versions appear almost entirely faithful to the sleek Takeri concept that previewed the new Mazda6 sedan at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, with the exception of a shorter bootlid and rounder roofline.

As evidenced by the first front and rear action shots, that includes a bold new signature feature line that spans the full width of the front-end, intersecting both headlights and echoed at the rear by a prominent chrome bootlid garnish.

Conventional foglights replace the concept’s boomerang-shaped units, just as traditional wing mirrors have been fitted instead of the show car’s dagger-like mirrors, but the edgy triangular headlights remain true to the Takeri, as does the long front overhang, pumped rear wheel-arches and the low-slung coupe-like roofline.

As has also been well documented, the next Mazda6 sedan – which will also spawn wagon and, possibly, coupe derivatives – will be based on the full suite of Mazda SKYACTIV technologies, including a lightweight platform already employed beneath the CX-5, new petrol and diesel engines, and new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions - all wrapped in a bigger, sexier four-door body.

After the CX-5, the new Mazda6 - which is known as the Atenza in Japan – is the second Mazda model to feature all of the Japanese brand’s SKYACTIV technologies and its new Kodo design theme.

“Our team endeavored to exploit the full potential our new SKYACTIV technologies and create a car that would bring driving dynamics to an entirely new level for our customers, so that when driving the new Mazda6 they would feel as if their intentions and the car's responses are perfectly synchronized,” said Mazda6 Program Manager Hiroshi Kajiyama.

“But we also sought to accomplish much more than that. We strove to design a car so attractive and enticing that our customers would fall in love at first glance and continue their love affair for years and years to come.”

Expect the new Mazda6 to go on sale in Australia early next year, powered by direct-injection 2.5-litre petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines – with the latter likely to reduce combined fuel consumption to a Toyota Camry Hybrid-beating 4.2L/100km – both mated to fuel-saving idle-stop and, for the first time, Mazda’s new i-ELOOP regenerative braking systems.

Mazda says the latter represents stage two of its ‘building block’ environmental development strategy, which will eventually include hybrids.

“The new Mazda6 draws on the best of Mazda's technical expertise and craftsmanship across all domains, from dynamic performance and design, through to environmental performance and safety,” it said.

“It stands as the flagship model for a new generation of Mazda products. It features a sense of dignity, style, luxury feel and comfort expected from a vehicle in the CD segment whilst offering the pleasure of responsive and agile driving, which is at the core of the Mazda brand.”

Mazda will unveil a SKYACTIV-G petrol-powered Six in Russia, with six-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission.

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