TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Mazda 6 hatch under a cloud
Chief designer for Takeri concept allows room only for sedan, wagon in next Mazda6 rangeHatchback variants of the Mazda6 look set to become a thing of the past, according to the designer of the company's Takeri concept car.
Speaking with Australian journalists yesterday, Akira Tamatani explained that market research clinics were telling Mazda that the company need not continue with the hatchback Mazda6.
"Australia used to have a very high mix or ratio of hatchback," Tamatani said through an interpreter. "When we looked at the global market, UK and Australia were the countries that had a high mix of hatchback [sales]. We communicated with these people in the UK and Australia, through clinics, and the users of hatchbacks actually are using the function of the rear liftgate only maybe once a year."
Tamatani-san believes that the next Mazda6 range, which is believed to be due either near the end of 2012 or early 2013, can do without the sporty hero body style. Instead, both sedan and wagon variants will be sportier than before, boasting same KODO styling theme that has distinguished the Takeri concept in Tokyo.
"The sedan we are going to develop has to be extremely sporty and that is going to be outstanding and distinctive when we compare with other competitors... so then we decided we are going to have only sedan and wagon."
Steve Maciver, Mazda Australia's public relations manager, was quick to dispel any suggestion the canning of the Mazda6 hatch was a done deal in the next generation.
"Obviously Takeri is a concept — and it's a hint of what the next mid-sized car from Mazda is going to look like. In terms of Mazda6 there are still a few balls up in the air. Nothing has been absolutely finished, signed off, decided-on as of yet… the car isn't here yet. It's still a while away. So there's still a few things on the table, including body styles. With that in mind, we're going to continue to work, looking to see what the market needs in Australia — and making sure that we cover that market. That's where we're headed."
Maciver admitted that the hatch is the most popular body style in the Mazda6 range, but couldn't provide a precise split in sales between hatch, wagon and sedan. Nor would he confirm that there's friction between Mazda Australia and the head office over this issue.
"What I can say is that we're in ongoing discussions with Japan — on many products, including future Mazda6 mid-size car... we're of the opinion that we need to keep pushing for the right cars for our market. What that's going to be is probably not a problem that [we and we] alone in Australia are not going to make. If there's going to be a decision it will probably be on a global level."
Maciver wouldn't confirm the launch schedule for the next Mazda6, but if the new model is around 12 months away or perhaps longer, it leaves little time for the development of a hatchback if work on the five-door derivative is not yet started or well advanced.
From what has been learned about Takeri and Mazda's move upmarket with the new Mazda6, the car will be larger to suit the North American market — and is further aimed at Mazda's developing business in Russia and China. None of those markets are known for buying hatches over sedans. It's the two developed right-hand drive markets (Australia and the UK), where the lack of a hatch in the model range may be felt.
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