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Mazda6 gets Frankfurt premiere E-mail
Written by Michael Moroney   
Wednesday, 19 September 2007

Taking centre stage at the Mazda stand at this year’s Frankfurt Show was the world premiere of the all-new Mazda6, which is the company’s second new-generation car to be developed from the ground up. The new Mazda6 is more refined, more mature, more premium quality and represents an evolution of Zoom-Zoom.

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Along with enhanced environmental and safety performance, the car has a more emphatic Mazda character in its design, dynamic performance, packaging and craftsmanship. Mazda adopted a number of key values to embody the development concept. The new model is bigger than before. It is also 65 mm longer, 15 mm wider, 5 mm taller, with a 50 mm longer wheelbase (sedan and hatchback) for more room on the inside and one of the widest boot openings in the segment.

Mazda aims to improve its manufacturing techniques with this new model. On the outside, body gaps are greatly reduced for a look of solid quality and on the inside higher quality materials are introduced for a greatly improved premium feel.

The new Mazda6 incorporates an evolution of Mazda’s Karakuri rear seat system for the hatchback and estate. Besides delivering one- touch seat-drop function from a latch in the boot panel, the system now includes an all-new boot tonneau cover for the estate that automatically moves up when the rear lift gate is opened.

The development theme for the Mazda6’s dynamics was “driving performance that creates oneness between the car and driver.” This was achieved by a series of new features including a new, six-point mounting system for the high- mount double wishbone front suspension, the use of electric power assisted steering for a more rigid steering feel with less transmission of disturbance from the road, lowering of the car’s co-efficient of drag (Cd) to 0.27 (down from 0.30) for the sedan and hatchback, and to Cd 0.28 (down from 0.32) for the estate, and by reducing vehicle weight despite the new Mazda6’s larger dimensions.

A new 2.5-litre petrol engine has been developed from the previous 2.3-litre unit. The MZR 2.5 has a bigger bore and a longer stroke, plus freer-flowing intake and exhaust ports which together improve low and mid-range torque by 10per cent. Power is 170bhp. Also available are the existing 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and the MZR-CD 2.0 turbo diesel, carried over from the previous Mazda6.

Besides Mazda’s state-of-the-art active safety systems – including large disc brakes, ABS, dynamic stability control (DSC), electronic traction control (TCS) and brake assist (standard in Europe) – and a passive safety package with Mazda’s stiff and strong Triple-H body shell and six airbags (standard in Europe), there are further features to help the Mazda6 avoid an accident or protect its occupants if an accident is unavoidable. These include Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), parking sensor, an extensive field of vision, Mazda’s first active head restraints, crushable brake and clutch pedals and extensive pedestrian protection measures.


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