Mazda 6 : 2009

The original Mazda 6, introduced in late 2002 for the 2003 model year, made Zoom-Zoom the two most evocative words in the automotive lexicon. This sport sedan was the first Mazda vehicle to benefit from the spirit of a true sports car infused in a five-passenger, 4-door sedan. That revolutionary combination created a commotion in the mid-size class where strict practicality, affordability, and economy of operation usually leave no room for driving enjoyment. The original Mazda 6’s vitality is what set it apart from competitors.

Times and tastes change. The all-new 2009 Mazda 6 takes everything learned in that first-generation car, as well as lessons learned from volumes of customer feedback, and proves Mazda’s commitment to continuous improvement. Most important, though, this is the first Mazda vehicle designed, engineered, developed, and manufactured on US soil with the intention of surpassing American customer needs in countless categories.

Hiroshi Kajiyama served as program engineer for the new Mazda 6. Kajiyama, who graduated in electrical engineering at the Hiroshima Institute of Technology, brings 21 years of service at Mazda, ample experience with the first generation Mazda 6, and several years of program management to the project. Unlike most engineers, Kajiyama treats the Mazda 6 as a work of art rather than an inanimate machine. That attitude was key to instilling the soul of a sports car in the new Mazda 6.

Kajiyama established ambitious goals and high standards. To be widely recognized as the best vehicle available in the mid-size market, the Mazda 6’s underlying concept rests solidly on three fundamental pillars:

A Sporty Appearance Integrated With A Highly Dynamic Character.
Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom spirit influences every aspect of the Mazda 6’s visual appearance, driving personality, and core disposition. Kajiyama explains, “We sought an exterior design capable of stirring any observer’s emotions and distinguishing the Mazda 6 from the competition. We also strived to achieve a dynamic character that encourages a strong level of interaction with the driver.”

A Unique Experience.
The Mazda 6 inspires pride of ownership. Notes Kajiyama, “By elevating the quality level with exquisite craftsmanship, each Mazda 6 will form a strong bond and a powerful emotional connection with its owner. This relationship is reinforced by driving pleasure keyed to adult tastes, comfort that the driver and every passenger can feel and appreciate, and numerous special features that make every trip, long or short, a highly memorable and pleasurable experience.”

An Insightful Package.
The Mazda 6 goes beyond existing mid-size sedan solutions to provide innovative packaging inside a larger envelope, highly flexible seating and storage space, and an unusually attractive appearance. Kajiyama adds, “By building on our strengths and accomplishments, we’re able to make the Mazda 6 the most versatile, comfortable, and enjoyable automobile this company has ever produced. This is what we mean by the evolution of Zoom-Zoom.”

Target Market.
Over two million US buyers purchase a new mid-size automobile each year. Second only to full-size pickup trucks, the mid-size car segment is greater than that of SUVs, crossovers, minivans, and luxury models by a wide margin. Nearly one out of five American buyers believe that an affordable, mid-size sedan best fits their wide-ranging needs and lifestyles. With fuel costs rising, the mid-size segment is expected to experience strong growth.

Naturally, with such a large volume of cars sold, the competition is intense. There are more than a dozen worthy import and domestic brands and models striving to win the hearts and minds – and wallets – of mid-size customers.

While the original Mazda 6 won many faithful and passionate customers, a larger role is intended for its successor. The new 2009 Mazda 6 is aimed at a broader audience with the intention of offering the Zoom-Zoom experience to customers unaware of what they’ve been missing. The strategy is to move this vehicle to a distinctly different location on the premium versus sporty positioning map.

The strength of the 2003-2008 model was that its sporty design and demeanor exceeded the character of key competitors—Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry. In other words, the original Mazda 6 was steeped in Zoom-Zoom spirit. This sets the stage for the new Mazda 6 to make its move into uncharted territory. This is the mid-size sport sedan that excels in both premium and sporty directions thanks to its exceptional quality, roomy comfort, high-performance powertrains, aggressive dynamic character, and distinctive appearance. Add to that evolved Zoom-Zoom. The Mazda 6 represents an evolution in how enjoyable a mid-size sedan can be.

Pricing.
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced pricing for the 2009 Mazda 6 sports sedan will start at $18,550 for a Mazda 6 i SV, equipped with a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Pricing for the 2009 Mazda 6s, powered by a 273-horsepower V6 engine and six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission begins at $24,130. Destination charges for all 2009 model-year Mazda vehicles are $670, $715 in Alaska. The 2009 Mazda 6 will be available at dealers across the U.S. starting in late August, 2008.

The highly anticipated 2009 Mazda 6 is the first of Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom Evolution” second-generation vehicles, building on a heritage of sports sedans and sports cars that no other manufacturer can boast, and bringing a combination of sports sedan, sophistication, build quality and product insight not currently found in the market.

“This is the most important new vehicle Mazda has launched in a decade,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. “Bringing any new car to market at a competitive price has always been critical, but seldom more-so than today. Customers are looking for that rare combination of style, dynamics, economy and a great price, and the all-new 2009 Mazda 6 delivers on all levels.”

The 2009 Mazda 6 will be available as a four-door sedan and in four trim levels: SV (I-4 models only), Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, and with varying levels of standard and optional equipment. All models, regardless of engine or trim grade, will include as standard equipment: air-conditioning, power windows, mirrors and door locks, anti-lock brakes (ABS), dynamic stability control, traction control, frontal and seat-mounted airbags for driver and front passenger, side air-curtain airbags for front and rear seat passengers and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Power for the 2009 Mazda 6 will be available from an all-new Mazda-designed and developed MZR 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 273-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, as used in the 2008 CX-9, Motor Trend’s 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year and the 2008 North American Truck of the Year. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual or five-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (2.5-liter engine) or a six-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (3.7-liter V6). I-4 models equipped with the Sport AT are certified at the ultra-clean SULEV level, and PZEV in California-emission states. All V6 models meet ULEV standards for all 50 states.

As it has been since the first Mazda 6 launched in 2002, all North American Mazda 6s will continue to be built at AutoAlliance International, in Flat Rock, Mich, a joint venture with partner Ford Motor Company.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and in Puerto Rico by Mazda de Puerto Rico in San Juan.

(source: Mazda)