New generation of “six”: Mazda 6 may debut in the first half of 2022

It is expected that in the appearance of the novelty, some of the solutions will be borrowed from the Mazda Vision Coupe concept, which was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 2017.

The Japanese manufacturer introduced the current third-generation Mazda 6 nearly a decade ago in 2012. This car was based on the Mazda Takeri concept, which was shown at the end of 2011. Since then, the model has experienced two serious restyling – in 2015 and 2018. Now the company is actively working on the creation of the next generation Mazda 6, but there are still no official details about the new product.

In the photo: the current Mazda 6 (version for the Japanese market)

Recall that in the late spring of this year it became known that the model was leaving the markets of the United States and Canada (the States at the same time deprive the CX-3 crossover). The production of “four-doors” for the Americans was stopped last summer, now dealers are probably selling off cars left in warehouses.

Note that Mazda 6 performance in the US has been falling since 2016. During the “covid” 2020, the brand sold 16,204 copies, which is 24.7% less than a year earlier. In 2021, the dynamics are still positive: from January to August, customers bought 13,239 units, which is 25.9% more than a year earlier. Now the sedan is still on the official website of the brand in the States, its price starts at $ 24,475 (equivalent to about 1.77 million conventional units at the current exchange rate).

However, in other markets, including at home, Mazda 6 will still be present (by the way, the Americans hope that the new generation sedan will get to them later). It was previously assumed that at the beginning of next year, the Japanese company will already launch the fourth generation car into production. However, according to fresh data shared by Spyder7, only the presentation of the novelty will take place in the first half of 2022.

It is expected that with the change of generations the car will move to a new rear-wheel drive platform, in addition, the next Mazda 6 will have different proportions (compared to the current version). By the way, rumors about a different “trolley” appeared back in 2017, however, they have not yet been confirmed by the company.

According to preliminary data, the range of new items will include new in-line sixes, including a 3.0-liter diesel engine, which is part of a mild hybrid power plant (that is, the engine works in tandem with a 48-volt electric suspension). It is assumed that the gasoline six-cylinder engine will also be part of the hybrid system. It is possible that the model will also have a plug-in hybrid version, and a fully electric version may also appear later.

As Kolesa.ru reported earlier, the next Mazda 6 will borrow some of the exterior design solutions from the Mazda Vision Coupe concept, which was presented at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Earlier, we published a rendering of the fourth generation sedan, prepared by the designer of the Spanish edition of motor.es. Judging by the image, the new model will receive a larger grille, which will be visually combined with other narrower head optics. Chrome-plated elements in the design are likely to be left.