If overseas rumours prove true, the next-generation Mazda 6 will switch to a rear-wheel-drive platform with inline six-cylinder engines. Here’s what it could look like.
Mazda revealed the first vehicle on its new rear-wheel-drive platform last week, the 2023 Mazda CX-60 mid-size SUV – but it's a new Mazda 6 sedan [and/or wagon] the brand's enthusiasts are really waiting for.
Rumoured to launch as early as this year – though possibly in doubt, according to Mazda Australia executives – the next-generation Mazda 6 mid-size car is slated to adopt the company's new 'Large Architecture', with rear- or all-wheel drive, inline-six engines, and mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology.
Debuting Mazda's latest design language, the CX-60 has provided our best hint yet as to how the new Mazda 6 will look, and has formed the basis of these computer-illustrated renderings from Drive's Photoshop guru, Theophilus Chin.
The most obvious visual change over the outgoing Mazda 6 will be its proportions, as the adoption of longitudinally-mounted [cylinders in line from front to rear], inline-six engines will necessitate more sheetmetal between the front wheels and front body pillar – also known as a longer ‘dash-to-axle ratio’.
Design highlights of the CX-60 the new Mazda 6 sedan could borrow from may include its smooth surfacing, front quarterpanel detailing, LED tail-light signature, faux exhaust tips, and unconventional split LED headlight design [with the daytime-running lights integrated into the grille].
It remains to be seen if the next Mazda 6 retains a traditional four-door sedan body style, or becomes a five-door 'liftback' akin to a Kia Stinger, Volkswagen Arteon, or BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.
Above: How a sporty Mazda 6 GT SP variant could look, with black accents and Polymetal Grey paint.Mazda's own Vision Coupe Concept of 2017, widely believed to preview the next Mazda 6, was a four-door sedan – though a five-door shape would fall more closely in line with the next-generation car's likely sporty skew.
It's also unclear if a long-roof wagon body will be offered for the next-generation model. Rumours in Japan suggest a coupe may be offered, though these have yet to be substantiated.
The aforementioned sporty skew will come courtesy of Mazda’s new Large Architecture, which would see the current car’s transverse engines and front-wheel drive ditched in favour of rear- or all-wheel drive, with longitudinal four- or six-cylinder engines akin to a BMW luxury car.
Above: Mazda 'Large' architecture.
Available in the CX-60 is a 3.0-litre non-turbo [but lightly supercharged] inline-six petrol engine running Mazda’s SkyActiv-X technology, or a 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel mill.
Both engines are mated to 48-volt mild-hybrid systems and eight-speed multi-clutch automatic transmissions – with a pack of clutches replacing the torque converter, much like a flagship Mercedes-AMG luxury performance car.
Outputs are yet to be confirmed, however these engines are 150 per cent scaled-up versions of Mazda’s 2.0-litre SkyActiv-X petrol and 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D turbo-diesel four-cylinders – suggesting their outputs could appear upscaled, to about 210kW for both engines [from 132-140kW].
Above: The current Mazda 6.
Mazda products on the Large Architecture sold in the US will be available with a turbocharged inline-six petrol engine – while the CX-60 will launch with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder, electric motor and 17.8kWh battery for 241kW/500Nm, and a 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds.
It remains to be seen if all powertrains available with the Large Architecture will be offered with the next Mazda 6 – though one or both of the petrol engines seem likely, plus the plug-in hybrid.
Inside the CX-60, there's a pair of 12.3-inch screens for instruments and infotainment, plus luxury features including a head-up display, multi-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, and nappa leather trim. Many of these features are likely to feature inside the next Mazda 6.
If reports out of Japan are to be believed, the new 2023 Mazda 6 will be revealed in the first half of 2022, ahead of first deliveries towards the end of the year.
However, Mazda Australia executives have suggested a Mazda 6 replacement may be on the back burner, with marketing director Alastair Doak telling Drive in recent weeks: "It’s an interesting one. I know there’s been heaps of speculation around it [a new rear-drive Mazda 6]."
"I guess, if you look around the world … [the] traditional car/sedan market has been shrinking for many years, not just in Australia, so I guess our priority globally will be the [rear-wheel-drive] Large Architecture and the four SUVs that we’ve already mentioned."
Doak added: "Mazda 6 will continue as is for a while. There’s some updates in the pipeline for it down the track" – opening the door for a new, rear-wheel-drive sedan [possibly badged Mazda 60] to be sold alongside the current Mazda 6, much like the CX-60 and CX-5.
Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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