2013 Mazda Mazda6 Estate
There's a refreshing realism about Mazda at the moment. The Japanese automaker is undergoing a radical evolution from a Ford-supported brand into one that has to stand on its own two feet, and it's reinforcing its independence by being innovative.
Take the 2013 Mazda6, for instance. It was introduced in saloon form in Russia a couple of months back. Here at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, we get the wagon variant.
No two ways about it: The new Mazda6 is a good-looking car. It's also packed with innovation. This isn't add-on technology but a fundamental rethinking of how things should be done when designing a car. The new Mazda6 exudes efficiently intelligent thinking.
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Highlights From Paris
2013 Mazda Mazda6
2013 Mazda Mazda6
2013 Mazda Mazda6 Estate
2013 Mazda Mazda6 Estate
What is it? Mazda's underdog 6 — a car that has to do battle with its erstwhile group partner Ford Fusion — is back in all-new guise. Sporting a swoopy new shape and improved levels of quality and refinement, it's about to make the saloon market a whole lot more exciting.
What's hot? Just look at it. When is the last time you saw a volume wagon that was so appealing? OK, so Ford's Fusion-derived Mondeo is pretty good-looking, too. But the Mazda is dripping with expensive-looking design details, including those halo-style lamp clusters. Mazda's Skyactiv technology also features heavily, ensuring maximum efficiency and performance.
What's not? Fans of the old model will be disappointed to hear that no hatchback version will be offered this time around. If you want an easy-access load space, you'll have to plump for the wagon, which is hardly a compromise, given that it shares the same striking aesthetic as the saloon.
How much and when? The Mazda6 will go on sale in both saloon and wagon guises toward the end of the year. Price and specification details have yet to be confirmed, but we'd wager the 6 will be priced competitively — albeit slightly more expensive than the outgoing model — starting at around $32,000.
Anything else I should know? There's also a new 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine pumping out 192 horses. The bigger new gas engine will be the fastest option for the 6, completing zero to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds.
