http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...12/1528/STATIC

interesting article. The only thing they missed is the fact that several of the above mentioned vehicles are international cars, the US pretty much gets every people hauler Mazda has, but other markets don't.

In fact, MazdaUSA could drop the Mazda5 and Mazda6 wagon if they didn't sell as those were vehicles designed for other markets, really Mazda just brough them over to test the waters.

The CX9 is US only, and replaces the MPV, its also is the only 7 seater. The only real problem I see is the tribute vs the CX7, as those are very similar sized vehicles.

 

Looked at a new Tribute in Chicago. Still nothing but a rebadged Ford. Total piece of crap. The CX-9 is really nice. Very upscale. The CX-7 is also quite nice and fun to drive considering what it is.

Supposedly crossovers are the new rage so I hope Mazda does well with them. Hopefully they'll take some of the profits and bring us a 3-rotor.

 

just read it myself.

they cant drop the Mazda5 because it is selling really well. much of th euptick in sales they have had int he last quarter is due to the increase in Mazda5 sales here and elsewhere. They need to keep that in the line up.

The Tribute is not a piece of crap. It sells pretty well for Mazda and the new one is a very nice vehicle with good packaging. It sells well to the folks who want a traditonal SUV-like people hauler. There are many of them out there who love their previous Tributes and dotn want to move into something shaped like the CX-7/9. Plus its the only Hybrid in their Lineup

The Mazda6 wagon is a great car. It makes Mazda the one of the few companies selling Hatch , Sedan and Wagon versions in this Segment. The only issue i have with it is that in the UK and Europe this has been available with all wheel drive for some time and it is still not here. They could grab some sales from Subaru around here if they had that available.

 

Of course trhere is the MPV available in Japan as well. so that makes 6 total people haulers.

Its quite possible the wagon version of the Mazda6 will go away with the next gen. If they made it awd it'd be good to keep it around.

 

they really should keep the mazda6 wagon around, the market for a non-luxury brand midsize wagon is basically empty save for the legacy wagon, and personally i think the mazda wagon looks MUCH better

 

The CX-9 goes on sale in Australia late this year...in RHD of course..

 

And remember, CX-9 is also a rebadged Ford, so to speak. A Ford built in Japan...

 

Where is a link to an 'AWD Mazda 6' Zoom as I know of no such beast
http://www.mazda.co.uk/Showroom/Mazd...-Estate/Specs/

 

an awd 6 would be a great sale i believe, plus wouldn't be it basically the awd off the cx7?

 

they already have one, it's call the Mazdaspeed 6, which is actually the first car to use the MZR2.3 turbo AWD drivetrain

 

I hope they keep the 5. It is very European in look and feel. Seems like it is finding a niche. Wish it had a few more ponies under the hood.

I hope they keep the 6 wagon. It is made for other markets so it is not like they don't have to spend a lot of R&D for a US version.

 

The Mazda5 goes for under 20K, comes with a manual transmission, and gets better gas mileage. Furthermore, since the MPV has been discontinued it is the closest thing to a minivan Mazda has.

The CX-7 and CX-9 are the most redundant.

Honda has about the same number of models as Mazda, Toyota has more.

 

If you look at Mazda as a stand-alone brand, then it certainly makes sense for it to have several people haulers, but if you look at it as the sporty Ford brand, then having so many people haulers does seem misguided.

But it seems to me that if you're talking number of people haulers vs. total number of models, why aren't you picking on Subaru?

 

in every brand there is a roaster, sport car, couple, sedan, suv and mini van.

 

well their site is a bit strange now as you cant even find the difference between s, ts and ts2. they may have even dropped awd as an option there- i dont know. but it was PREVIOUSLY available as i have talked about here since its launch and these links to test drives and reviews can attest

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=64

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Mazda_Mazda6_2...e_AWD__6598392

http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-te...ersion_id=3740

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews...d-1003616.html

honest john and the cars.yahoo are the better reads.

 

i read this last week, i just thought that they are sort of competing against them selves in that segment with so many cars... i honestly think money can be better spent pushing a new Mazda 9/Millenia or even the Kabura. It seems wierd that they are over saturating the segment by them selves.

even if all these cars do well, which I hope they do, i still they can go with 1 or even 2 less and make more money on a new millenia etc.

 

Here it is:

Mazda6 MPS