World Debut For Full Mazda 6 Family At Geneva
Mazda will reveal one of the most important new model ranges in its history when the covers come off the all-new Mazda6 family of cars at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday 5 March, 2002.
The event will not only mark the European debut of the distinctive Mazda6 saloon and sporting Mazda6 hatchback, which were revealed recently at the Detroit Auto Show, but also the world premiere of the stylish five-door Sport Wagon version.
The Mazda6 is a completely new car that has been developed to compete as a true ‘driver’s car’ with the best brands from Germany in the important midsize market segment. It has been developed as the centre-piece of Mazda’s all-embracing ‘Zoom-Zoom’ brand strategy and is the first full-scale embodiment of the Mazda brand DNA and the company’s new ‘emotion in motion’ design philosophy.
This all-new model has been designed to convey real passion to Mazda’s customers and it does so by delivering exciting styling, a dynamic driving experience and exceptional functionality while achieving top-class levels of comfort, safety, craftsmanship, performance and environmental compatibility. All three body styles combine eye-catching elegance with an athletic and purposeful stance.
In order to deliver outstanding performance and handling, Mazda has also developed an extensive range of new engines, transmissions and drive systems for the Mazda6.
The new four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve petrol engine is available in three displacements: 1.8-litre (88 kW), 2.0-litre (104 kW) and an advanced 2.3-litre
(122 kW) with Mazda’s Sequential Valve Timing.
In order to specifically meet European demands, Mazda has also developed an all-new direct-injection 2.0-litre diesel engine with a next-generation common rail system. This will be available in two variants – 88 kW and 100 kW.
Transmissions will be offered in four-speed automatic, five-speed manual and a five-speed ‘Activematic’ form, which supplements automatic operation with a pseudo-manual mode. This Activematic transmission is used in conjunction with an electronically controlled four-wheel drive system which will eventually be available on a special version of the Sport Wagon.
An all-new multi-link rear suspension has also been developed to be used in conjunction with double-wishbone front suspension for optimum handling and ride characteristics.
The four-door saloon and five-door hatchback versions of the Mazda6 go on sale across European markets in petrol engine form during late spring and early summer. The Sport Wagon versions and the diesel engine derivatives will follow later in the year to build Mazda6 into a comprehensive range which will meet the demands of a wide market segment. Prices will be announced closer to the sales launch.
Mazda’s development team set out to create the Mazda6 as a worldwide benchmark in the midsize vehicle segment, using an all-new platform powered by a new family of four-cylinder engines. Their research and benchmarking process involved detailed examinations of many competitive vehicles, especially the BMW 3-series, the VW Passat, the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
They sought to integrate all of the positive attributes of great midsize cars into a single vehicle that would assert a new level of leadership. While they realised that a competitor might meet the new Mazda6 in an individual aspect, their goal was for the new Mazda midsize range to be recognisably superior overall. The result is a stylish car with fun-to-drive attributes – a ‘no excuses’ driver’s car.
In particular the Mazda6 delivers in five key areas which the development team identified as vital for success: stability, steering responsiveness, predictable handling, braking power and ride comfort.
The powertrains, chassis systems, body structure and interior layout are all balanced to deliver a seamless driving experience under all driving conditions and to delight even the most demanding drivers.
Naturally safety was at the forefront of the development programme and as a result the Mazda6 has been engineered to meet or exceed crash safety standards in all major world markets. In addition to Mazda’s highly-acclaimed Triple-H structure, the comprehensive passive and active safety technology includes smart new dual-stage airbags as part of a system of up to six airbags for the Mazda6, plus a new Crashable Pedal design.
Comfort and convenience were high priorities too, so the Mazda6 provides a spacious cabin with excellent ergonomic positioning of the seats and controls. The class-leading load-space volume of the saloon is enhanced by remarkable flexibility in the hatchback and wagon, which both feature a ‘one-touch’ system to fold the entire rear seat structure. This ‘karakuri’ seat system instantly creates a completely flat load floor simply by pulling one handle.
Mazda Corporation President Mark Fields states: "Mazda6 is much more than a wonderful new midsize car. It is, in fact, a strong statement of the new Mazda Motor Corporation. With the Mazda6, and the many new vehicles that will follow, we are returning to our roots as a builder of fun-to-drive vehicles.
"Our development team concentrated on areas that matter most to customers. They have delivered total driving enjoyment, a comprehensive safety package, new petrol and diesel engine families, fresh new exteriors and a spacious and well-crafted interior package. They used the ultimate in computer-aided design and engineering including tools and processes to develop these cars with passion at lower cost, faster speed and, above all, at the highest levels of quality.
"We believe that at the heart of Mazda lies something special – a ‘spark’ that has attracted millions of customers worldwide. That spark still lives and it burns in the heart of our next-generation products. With the Mazda6 we are about to take one giant step toward re-igniting the Mazda spark around the world."
Linear Mode
