Banilejo

Don't know if this is true but would be interesting to see if Mazda decides to drop a sedan as they add another SUV (the CX5). I've always liked the 6, too bad they went Camry chasing. They bloated it up and hoped for high volumes but wasn't to be. Mazda just doesn't seem to do well in the Accord/Camry segment, hope they manage to keep it in the lineup.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-s...da6-sedan.html

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

My daughter has an original 2003 "series I" Mazda6 and it's been a great value. Just the right size and performance. A real workhorse, yet an excellent cruiser. Easy DIY maintenance, etc. as well. But they just had to go and bloat the "series II" (II bad!).

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

The 6 is not dead nor dieing for that matter. I know Mazda North American Ops will make a wise decision in conjunction with Mazda Corp as to where the next 6 will be built and I'm also sure it will share platform with the rest of the world. The cost of building the car at Flatrock (And perhaps other relational and logistical reasons) is just not financially sensible (If this news is accurate) at this time.

Paul.

arghx7

Hmm. After Ford lost control of Mazda it doesn't surprise me that there is less of a desire to continue their joint production venture in Michigan. The Flat Rock plant built the Ford Probe/Mazda MX-6 back in the day.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

there were quality issues (a lot, heard it from talking to guys at dealership) on Series II Mazda6, yep, the one build in Ford's plant.

Last Saturday I was at AutoX, at the working time, I spoke to a subbie guy, it his first AutoX and he was impressed by all the Mazdas. He said he never knew Mazda can go so fast, never even thought about Mazda brand until he saw them today. (well, that day)

Mazda6 is not as popular because Mazda is not as popular (well known) as Toyota/Honda. They will not kill the Mazda6, as IMO looks pretty decent. sales volume should be within expected range.

dynamho

MNAO messed up by supersizing that thing.
It appears to be such a compromise from the world car version in terms of style and dynamics.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

well yeah they "thought" that they can save some money by sharing platform. Guess not.

Let's hope they will bring the "real" version over soon with at least SkyActiv-G

ATL-GP

Hope not..had a 04 Mazda 6, probably one of the nicest cars I've owned...next to my 8

ZumnRx8

Mazda,6s flood my town, doubt they are going anywhere

zoom44

they were not camry chasing. they were trying to differentiate from the 3. because the cars in 3s segment have grown the 3 had come very close in size to the 6 at a substanially lower price- and it was eating 6 sales.

They had to upsize to to give it some room from the 3.

monchie

I love my 6. I would never trade my 6 to anything else. I will keep her forever.

MattMPS

More big than a current US 6?

BTW Here in EU sales of 6 II series are going slow....

Mazda needs to reorganize its offer into high part of its lineup. the only thing with robust sales is CX-9/7

Big minivan (MPV/8) and 6 sedans/wagons are going slow worldwide IMHO

yiksing

Why would Mazda kill off their best seller?

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

I would differ with your opinion although you have better sources than me at times. I believe they were convinced that the market in the US demanded that segment be larger and the Camry seemed to show that in terms of sales. Based upon that I would kind of call that Camry chasing .

Paul.

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

The 3 is Mazda's best seller, both in the US and worldwide. One in every 3 Mazdas sold is a Mazda 3.

Paul.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Mazda6 --> RX-6? Well one can dream.

Autoweek reports that sales of the new 6 are 1/2 what they expected, ~50k vs. ~100k/year. They also blamed the net loss for North American operations on this fact. Running a plant at less than 50% capacity is generally going to lose money.

I don't know if the rust issues with the Mazda3 are also evident on the 6, but it's something that makes me think I wouldn't buy one until I knew for sure it doesn't have the same problems. I know Mazda3 owners with rusty rear quarter panels on 3 year old cars who will never buy another. My 9 year old Solara driven through 9 Michigan winters has no serious rust problems. Mazda needs to fix that before they earn a rust-bucket reputation.

zoom44

no- bigger than the previous generation. this generation is bigger than the "world market" and previous US version because it needed to be better differentiated from the 3 in terms of size.


I see what your saying Paul. The segment leaders- Accord first and then Camry really- went bigger. Seeing them do that may have encouraged Mazda to upsize as well. but the root was the 3 and 6 being too close it size(we're saying the same thing-the market demanded the segments have a greater size difference) But what we got is, by the time they upsized, everyone is downsizing. As you, I and others said- the 2 should have been here from the beginning of this version.

Is there really room for them in the C/D segment? If they're offering is too close in size to a 3 people by the 3 because its perceived as a better value "nearly the same size for a much better price"

where as if they go to the larger end of the segment they run into the actual D segment sized cars like the Accord is now along with 300 , Taurus etc and the other larger ones like Camry.

I think there is if they bring a right sized vehicle with great styling and something to separate them from the pack. A world car sized between the current US and current Euro, Kodo inspired design and the new Sky Diesel should do the trick.

MattMPS

if you see carefully che Skyactiv'ed mule of current 6 you'll see that underneath* there is a bigger car than current Euro-spec 6.
this seem to go in your direction.

the Skyactiv Body is longer than this 6 (also strecthed in A pillar zone)




if they transform the 6 into a "world car" i hope they will build a more upmarket "4 door sports-sedan" (finger crossed).

*maybe is better the word "beneath" ?

bse50

They don't have to make it big though or it just won't sell in Europe.
The current 6 is big enough.

zoom44

we're just talking a couple inches to increase leg room. a bit wider might be nice too. just enough to make the interior "feel" substantially bigger than the 3. a nice glass roof to increase that feeling of roominess, and not have it on the 3 to further differentiate the models...

MattMPS

well, yes i agree...BUT....

see a Citroen C5 or a Opel Insigna....or that enormous Peugeot 508

successful segment D are growing up.......especially into key-market of fleet sales....

kvndoom

I think we'll still get the 6, but it will be the world market car, and not out of Flat Rock. If it can get 40 MPG out of the Sky-G and still have some get-up it will turn heads and be a good "hybrid fighter" at a reasonable price. The diesel version will steal away some VW sales if it delivers... but if the gas car gets 40, the diesel will HAVE to provide 50+ to be considered since the fuel cost premium plus vehicle price increase will offset anything less. I'm anxious to see some official Sky-D numbers from Mazda.

bse50

Yes but that's also why the 6 was pretty successful here. It was the nice compromise between 2 segments. Mazda should just sell the 3 as a hatch only model and keep the 6 "small".
Heck, my mazda 6 sw is HUGE inside. No need to go even bigger imho, i hate this upsizing in everything.

monchie

Originally Posted by Mazmart,

The 3 is Mazda's best seller, both in the US and worldwide. One in every 3 Mazdas sold is a Mazda 3.


^ Because it's cheaper and people are saving money. Plus, they are buying smaller and compact size vehicles because of rising oil and gas prices.

bse50

Maybe in the states. The Mazda 3 is not a compact vehicle by any european means and it's more expensive than most of its counterparts.
People here are buying that particular model because it's better than what Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Fiat and Alfa have to offer