Competes with: Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry
Looks like: The already-sporty Mazda6 got a hunky face-lift
Drivetrain: 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual; U.S. drivetrain info still to come
Hits dealerships: Second half of 2008
If you were thinking about buying a new midsize sedan, we advise you to wait until the redesigned 2009 Mazda6 makes its way to U.S. shores. The radically redesigned Mazda6 — seen here in sedan, hatchback and wagon versions — will make its way to the U.S. in late 2008. We’re not sure what all the power plants will be, but the models that debuted in Frankfurt today feature an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets 170 hp. Rumor has it Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 used in the Edge SUV will also go in the Mazda6 — that could mean more than 250 hp.
But that’s just conjecture at this point. What we do know is that the new Mazda6 is lighter than the previous generation, has a more aerodynamic shape, a new suspension and a new interior. The interior looks to upgrade what was one of the better treatments when it debuted in 2003, but has since been surpassed by others. The new Mazda6 looks to borrow some of the high-quality interior bits we enjoyed in the new CX-9 crossover. Many more photos of all three versions of the Mazda6 are below, and we’ll post concrete news about the U.S.-bound cars as soon as it comes in.
Managing Editor
David Thomas
Former managing editor David Thomas has a thing for wagons and owns a 2010 Subaru Outback and a 2005 Volkswagen Passat wagon.