New Mazda 6 Spotted

[NOS2006]

We've already seen a good preview of the 2009 Mazda6 with the unveiling of the Japan-specific Atenza, but apparently the car has received a few modifications in its translation to the U.S. market.

Take a close look at this finished pre-production Mazda6 and you’ll instantly notice the differences! Changes to the front fascia – including the foglamps (and their location), as well as the grille inserts – are very obvious – and there are even more differences around the back!

The U.S. spec Mazda6 differs from the car previously introduced with a very different look in the rear. Different taillights set them apart, as does the location change of the third brake-light. The license plate moves up in the U.S. version, exhaust tips look sportier and the Mazda emblem shrinks slightly. Look closely and you see even more changes with the rear fascia.

The new 6 is lighter, slightly bigger and more fuel-efficient than the model it replaces. It is believed to be powered by a 3.5 liter V6, although official details have not yet been released.

Expectations are high for the new Mazda6 — the first model almost single-handedly reinvented Mazda and was the fastest vehicle the automaker ever produced to exceed 1 million units sold worldwide.

For more pics, please see http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda6.html

[cire]

The rear design of the U.S. model looks much better than the Euro/Japanese version. The U.S. version is much more voluptuous, sculpted, and appealing. The front end design is fine, but they need to inset the foglights like the Euro/Japanese version to give the U.S. version a more narrow, sportier feel. The only lament I have with the U.S. design is the headlight/taillight optic elements; it appears as though the Euro/Japanese version has better detailed, more upscale optic elements in the headlights and taillights.

Overall, the car is gorgeous. I am glad that there are mainstream midsize sedans like the Mazda6 (plus the Altima, Malibu, and Aura) to offer attractive, interesting, alternative entries to the bland appliance-like Camry/Accord mainstays. I think Mazda has another hit on its hands with this new generation Mazda6.

[PONTIAC06]

I think I like the Atenza front fascia better, but the 6's rear end is gorgeous! I was never a big fan of the original 6, but this car is just stunning.

[Intrepidation]

I liked the headlight design of the Jaoan/Euro version better, but it's a minor complaint. The car looks fantastic.

[siegen]

They improved the tail lights, they don't look like a Sebring anymore. I hope they don't do much to the wagon tail lights, those were nice as is. Unfortunately they destroyed the front end. It looks puny, insignificant, and not sporty whatsoever.

Hideous:

Cookie?

Georgous:

On closer examination, they didn't even change the shape of the head lights that much from the previous shots. But it just looks so cheap. Perhaps it's the angle of the photo? Hard to say. All I know is that wagon is hot! and that sedan is not!

Edited February 28, 2008 by siegen

[PurdueGuy]

need more angles! Looks pretty darn good so far.

[NOS2006]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the face either. It kind of looks RX8-ish to me, and I'm not a fan of that car. It also looks like from the A-pillar forward could go on one of their vans...

[Intrepidation]

Hey cool, we're getting integrated exhausts!

[Lamar]

need more angles! Looks pretty darn good so far.

+1 on both.

[Bimmer325]

Yep, they ruined it.

I don't understand why cars like this have to be dumbed down for the U.S. market.

[ZL-1]

IMHO rear license plate area and the whole front suck compared to the Euro model.

[ToniCipriani]

The front of the US version looks like they took the current Mazda3 hatch and squashed it flat.

[Drew Dowdell]

G.A.S.

[VenSeattle]

My opinion... the interior is what the Saturn Aura tried to do but failed to accomplish. I actually like this. Mazda is doing a good job evolving its design language that translates well onto several different types of vehicles.

[ZL-1]

G.A.S.

huh?

[The O.C.]

I still like the front of the Euro version a tad better, but really like the rear of the U.S. version.

All in all, I think they did a great job.......

[Drew Dowdell]

huh?

Generic Asian Sedan

The back could have been a Legacy update and the front is now completely lifeless.

the Euro version is at lease somewhat attractive

[Blake Noble]

I really like it. The front-end is a little too much like a bloated 3, but overall, it is really quite nice.

The glasshouse seems to remind me of a new Mondeo, though. Why?

[bowtie_dude]

Hope pricing remains the same.

[ZL-1]

Generic Asian Sedan

Aha, I thought you were comparing the car with flatulence

[Cory Wolfe]

They improved the tail lights, they don't look like a Sebring anymore. I hope they don't do much to the wagon tail lights, those were nice as is. Unfortunately they destroyed the front end. It looks puny, insignificant, and not sporty whatsoever.

On closer examination, they didn't even change the shape of the head lights that much from the previous shots. But it just looks so cheap. Perhaps it's the angle of the photo? Hard to say. All I know is that wagon is hot! and that sedan is not!

They really didn't change the front that much. I'd say it's an angle and lighting issue. The shape hasn't changed, just the innards, so to say. All it really needs is the Euro grill back and a better lower fascia treatment as one big wide rectangular takes away from the otherwise perfect front fascia. It's nice to see a car without ghastly, huge headlights. There'll probably be a good few who transform theirs to the Euro look.

I don't understand why cars like this have to be dumbed down for the U.S. market.

It's puzzling.

G.A.S.

The back could have been a Legacy update and the front is now completely lifeless.

Pfft. Go get a better opinion.

[turbo200]

it must be the angles but the headlights look slightly less lengthy, and the front is "puny and insignificant" looking. Furthermore, as with most things these days I just prefer the Euro overall. The rear of the 6 already makes me tired; it looks a lot like many other cars I've seen. It's a combination of the shape of the decklid, the shape of the taillamps, and the lines overall. It's made me tired already. The Euro car is much more tasteful, classy, luxurious looking. this is rather "puny and insignificant", almost rental car. it's boring me I guess because it follows the trend on rear ends of most every other car, which is to copy the 7-series

[Z-06]

IMHO rear license plate area and the whole front suck compared to the Euro model.

I agree.

The rear looks like next gen Camry might look like , but a better execution of course.

What??? Chris dumped by Brenda or that he put his boyfriend behind lenses and on payroll?

Edited February 29, 2008 by smallchevy

[The O.C.]

it follows the trend on rear ends of most every other car, which is to copy the 7-series

Lord....did any of us back in late-'01 EVER think we'd say that?

But it's true. Maybe Bangle isn't the psycho we all thought he was.......

[cire]

The rear design of the U.S. model looks much better than the Euro/Japanese version. The U.S. version is much more voluptuous, sculpted, and appealing. The front end design is fine, but they need to inset the foglights like the Euro/Japanese version to give the U.S. version a more narrow, sportier feel. The only lament I have with the U.S. design is the headlight/taillight optic elements; it appears as though the Euro/Japanese version has better detailed, more upscale optic elements in the headlights and taillights.

Overall, the car is gorgeous. I am glad that there are mainstream midsize sedans like the Mazda6 (plus the Altima, Malibu, and Aura) to offer attractive, interesting, alternative entries to the bland appliance-like Camry/Accord mainstays. I think Mazda has another hit on its hands with this new generation Mazda6.

Upon looking at it a little more, I think it would look better if they put the center crease back on the hood to give it more definition. The hood does look a little bulbous without the crease. I would also give it the Euro/Japanese grille. I guess what I am essentially saying by combining my previous comments with the ones that I just submitted is this: give the U.S. version the same front end treatment as the Euro/Japanese version (hood crease, grille, headlight optics, and inset foglights).

I still like the rear end treatment on the U.S. version more than the Euro/Japanese version. The only thing I would change on the rear is the taillight optics; I would fashion the taillight optics after the Euro/Japanese version.

I still think this is a great looking midsize sedan. Mazda just needs to sharpen and tweak the details a little bit more.