2014 Mazda 6 REBORN

2014 MAZDA 6 REBORN IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

Posted By Mike Blackmore

Mazda 6 Model lineup

The next-generation Mazda 6 will be produced in both sedan and wagon variants, although drivers in the United States will never see the wagon. The exterior design of the new model is a drastic revamp from its predecessor, a practice in stark contrast to Mazda's competitors that ever so subtly massage their existing designs (we're looking at you, Honda). Based on the brand's Kodo design language, the new Mazda 6 is at once unmistakably Mazda, thanks to signature elements such as the 5-point grille, and something entirely new, with a powerfully poised silhouette reminiscent of a Jaguar XF. It's a highly stylized, eye-grabbing new appearance that is downright surprising for this segment.

The new Mazda 6 will land on U.S. soil with a 4-cylinder SkyActiv engine, with a diesel option potentially arriving later. This same SkyActiv classification is also applied to the chassis and body, both of which Mazda claim are designed for great efficiency. This isn't hard to believe, because at 2,992 pounds, the new car is a whopping 337 pounds lighter than the current model. While this is all packed into a package that's slightly smaller than its predecessor, it also is resting on a slightly longer wheelbase - an ideal layout for both driving dynamics and interior and storage space.

The European-spec vehicles we tested are offered with summer tires wrapping either 17- or 19-inch wheels, though that will change to all-season tires for the U.S. market.

Under the Mazda 6 hood

2014 Mazda 6 SkyActiv Engine

While the European 2014 Mazda 6 range includes a 2.2-liter diesel and an entry-level 2.0-liter gasoline engine, the latter will never make it to the power-hungry buyers of the United States, because its outrageously high 14.1:1 compression ratio necessitates 91 octane. Instead, we'll get the larger 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, which boasts direct injection and a still-crazy-high 13.1:1 compression ratio. Pumping out 189 horsepower at 5700 rpm, it's the most powerful Sky Activ mill to date, thanks largely to the extra half-liter of displacement. Matching this horsepower figure is a stout 189 lb-ft of torque, which peaks at 3250 rpm. Despite a fairly traditional design (read: non-hybrid), clever engineering enables Mazda to achieve claimed fuel consumption figures solidly in the mid-30-mpg range.

The 2.5-liter engine can be mated to a traditional 6-speed manual transmission with a typical Mazda short-throw shifter, or to an all-new 6-speed automatic. This new unit features a full lock-up clutch design that improves responsiveness, as well as paddle shifter's and "kick down" throttle-pedal functionality. Both transmission options send power to the front wheels only.

Also worth noting is the addition of Mazda's new i-ELOOP system, which borrows some of the functionality of many hybrid vehicles by regenerating power through the vehicle's braking system, enabling battery-free operation of the car's electrical systems and improving overall efficiency. This capacitor-based system will be available as an option later in the model year.

Visit www.lamazda.ca today for more details and pricing with lots of pictures.