The all-new Mazda6 saloon has made its public debut ahead of the official unveiling at the Moscow Motor Show. The new flagship of the Mazda range continues with the 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design language first seen on the CX-5 and introduces a new capacitor based regenerative braking system.
Exterior
The car shown to the assembled motoring press bears more than a striking resemblance to the Takeri concept that was shown at last year's Tokyo Motor Show. The swooping bodylines are straight out of the 'KODO' language design book while the front end is dominated by the Takeri style five-sided grille and swept-back LED headlights.
Interior
At 2,830mm the new Mazda6 is longer than the current model and also has a longer wheel base making for a more generous cabin. Inside, the driver-orientated dash is adorned with a mixture of soft-touch and glossy materials and features the same touchscreen infotainment system found in the CX-5.
Mechanicals
Irish engines are yet to be announced but it is expected the 6 will be offered with the same 165hp 2.0-litre petrol engine, plus 150- and 175hp 2.2-litre diesels as in the CX-5. In the crossover at least these engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The big news surrounding the Mazda6 is the introduction of i-ELOOP, a capacitor based regenerative system that can be used to power the car's electrical systems and contribute to a claimed 10 per cent improvement in economy compared to the current model.
Anything else?
Mazda is expected to unveil an estate version of the Mazda6 at the Paris Motor Show in September. Both cars will go on sale in Ireland in early 2013.