New Mazda 6 gets green light

By Dan Strong

November 2011

The stunning Mazda Takeri concept car will appear in production form at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, badged as the Mazda 6.

Sources say that car will reach UK dealers early in 2013, while prices are expected to start at around £19,000 - a slight increase on the current pricetag.

The new model will look almost identical to the boldly styled Takeri – save for a slight tweak to the car’s plunging roofline - which is required to improve rear-seat headroom and boot space.

Estate and saloon versions are also under development, and new details have been revealed about the car’s engine line-up too, which will include a 164bhp 2.0-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel unit, developing 173bhp.

Speaking at the car’s unveiling, Mazda boss Takashi Yamanouchi said that drivers could expect an ultra fuel-efficient 2.2-litre diesel version to offer a range of almost 1,000 miles when paired with the firm’s new six-speed automatic gearbox.

And that could just be the start. Auto Express has also learned that Mazda is on the verge of beginning tests of a new SkyActiv-inspired range extended EV system.

The innovative set-up would work by using a diesel combustion engine to power the front wheels and an electric motor to power those at the rear. It is likely to debut on the new CX-5 crossover in 2014.

However, as the CX-5’s chassis architecture is so similar to that which underpins the new 6, the system could also be made to work on the family car too.

Set to offer fuel economy to rival cars like the Vauxhall Ampera, the car will also have an EV-only mode with a range of around 30 miles.