When Mazda killed the 6 in Japan at the start of the yr, it dominated out a subsequent era on the brand new rear-wheel-drive platform. Why? It claimed that the massive SUVs with inline-six engines are oblique replacements, which clearly they don’t seem to be. The assertion adopted an identical announcement made in early 2022 when the Zoom-Zoom firm denied plans to go after the German luxurious trifecta. Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless hope.
In accordance with the agency’s Massive Product Group program supervisor, the Japanese model hasn’t fully closed the door on a brand new Mazda6 with RWD underpinnings. Kohei Shibata informed Australia’s Drive journal that it would simply occur offered extra folks begin shopping for sedans once more:
Unofficial Mazda6 rear-wheel-drive sedan
“Personally, a FR [front-engined, rear-wheel drive] sedan can be dream for everybody. Journalists at all times inform me that it is best to make a sedan, however the market is so small. So if…the folks begin to purchase that form of car, then that may allow us to make that car.”
Shibata wasn’t referring strictly to Mazda autos however sedans on the whole. With the Corolla and Camry, Toyota has confirmed there’s nonetheless robust demand for sedans in an SUV-obsessed world if the product is true. Then again, the Kia Stinger wasn’t precisely a business success, so Mazda is rightfully involved {that a} six-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive 6 would endure the identical destiny.
Mazda’s Massive Merchandise lineup was at all times envisioned with simply 4 SUVs: CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. Realistically, a sedan was by no means on the desk, nor was a giant sports activities coupe Mazda Europe’s growth and engineering boss Joachim Kunz had dreamed of at one level. It is all about provide and demand, and in 2024, which means pumping out SUVs to the detriment of once-traditional physique kinds.
Within the meantime, these third-party renderings will stay simply that–a design train. Nonetheless, Mazda is launching a rear-wheel-drive sedan within the 6’s phase. The EZ-6 is a product of the Changan Mazda three way partnership in China and is essentially based mostly on the Changan Shenlan SL03, so it is not likely an all-Mazda car on the finish of the day. It won’t stay a China-only affair however do not anticipate to see it in the USA.
