Mazda, or at least one of its Chinese subsidiaries, has taken the opportunity of the Beijing ‘Auto China 2024’ show to unveil an electrified saloon called the EZ-6, which is scheduled to make it into production.
Replacement for the Mazda6
The EZ-6 was unveiled in China by Changan Mazda Automobile Corporation, alongside a second electric concept car, the Arata.
But whereas the latter electric vehicle (EV) was more of a design concept study showing off future SUVs from Mazda, the EZ-6 looks far more production-ready. It’s also not impossible to fathom that it’s likely an electrified replacement for the long-serving and much-loved Mazda6, which finally went out of production this year.
The EZ-6 is slated to be launched in China by the end of 2024, whereas the Arata’s production variant is sometime further off, perhaps appearing before 2025 is out.
Soul of Motion, jinba-ittai
Finished in Aero Grey metallic, the Mazda EZ-6 wears the ‘Kodo: Soul of Motion’ design language that is familiar to fans of this Japanese brand, while it is also said to embrace the company’s jinba-ittai philosophy of the ‘car and driver as one’, something which has served up such dynamic gems as the current MX-5 roadster.
Changan Mazda said two versions of the EZ-6 will be available, with the full EV being joined by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
As yet, there’s little word on specifications, although a few details have been put out by the company behind the EZ-6 - such as the fact it has 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution as an EV, as well as multilink rear suspension and an electrically powered spoiler at the back that deploys to improve the Mazda’s high-speed stability.
Between 600- and1,000km of range
High-tech driver assistance features will also be part of the EZ-6’s make-up, while the company is targeting a range of around 600km for the EV, with the PHEV said to go more than 1,000km on a single tank of fuel and full charge of its battery pack.
Beyond that, all we know is that the EZ-6 is 4,921mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,485mm tall, it runs on 19-inch alloy wheels, it’s rear-wheel drive and it can seat five people inside. No word yet on when, or if, it will make it to Mazda showrooms outside of China, but here’s hoping.
Masahiro Moro, president and CEO of Mazda, said in the Changan Mazda press conference that took place in Beijing: “We are delighted to introduce the all-new new energy vehicle (NEV) developed in alliance with Mazda and Changan Automobile. The Mazda EZ-6 is the latest electrified vehicle that combines Mazda’s strengths with Changan Automobile’s electrified technology. Going forward, Mazda will continue to work with Changan Automobile to turn Mazda’s China business around by introducing its unique products that meet the needs of Chinese customers who prefer advanced vehicles.”