MAZDA 6

First impressions

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Sick of Mazda's Zoom Zoom advertising campaign? Bad luck - you'll be hearing it everywhere as the Japanese firm pulls out all the stops to publicise the launch of its crucial new D-segment player. The sharp handling current 6 has won lots of friends and done wonders for Mazda's sales in the UK. But it looks a bit dull and the interior plastics are a bit of a let down. And with quality competition from the likes of the new Ford Mondeo and Renault Laguna, Mazda needed to up its game. Konnichiwa then to the all new 6, launched at Frankfurt last month and revealed to the press this week in an exclusive preview event.

In the crowded halls of Frankfurt the 6's debut slipped by barely noticed. But in the autumnal sunshine at the small Hungarian race circuit hired for this preview the new Mazda is a lot more striking. There are hints of Lexus in the detailing but the family resemblance to the new 2 and sporty RX-8 is also obvious. It looks good, cleaner and less fussy than the Mondeo and sharper and more distinctive than the Laguna. Interior quality and space are improved and, as with the 2, Mazda has worked hard to save weight, claiming a saving of 35kg over the current model.

The 6 will be available as a saloon, hatch or estate, the four-door coming first when the car reaches the UK early in 2008. Although it only accounts for 4% of sales in the UK the saloon is arguably the best looking variant, although all three are sharply styled with taut lines and clear Mazda DNA. And despite the common perception the 6 shares much with the Mondeo. Although Mazda is adamant this car is 100% its own work. As such the designers boast of the car's clear Japanese identity, the inspiration coming from cool industrial design and the brutal functionality of a samurai sword rather than chintzy kimono silks.
Performance

The lightness of touch means the 6 punches above its weight on the move. At launch there will be three petrol engines of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5 litres with a 2.0-litre diesel following shortly after. If the current shape car is anything to go by this will be by far the biggest seller but for the preview it was petrol engines only. All are keen, revvy units and fundamentally the same as those in the current car, with the exception of the 2.5. Best all rounder, however, is probably the 2.0-litre, with 145bhp and 136lb ft of torque. Like all the petrol engines it is refined at low revs and a little boomy when you approach the redline.