This ain't no mule...

http://www.worldcarfans.com/newslett...le/6070226.002

Interesting Details..

"After we brought you photos of a test-mule for the new Mazda 6 in summer last year, these are the very first shots of the real machine. We snapped the car testing in the Arctic winter of northern Scandinavia.

Based on a modified CD3 platform – know as CD3-2 – the 2008 Mazda 6 will be sharing the platform with the new Ford Mondeo. Down the line, the CD3-2 is also expected to be the platform for various other future models – including the Jaguar X Type replacement and new Volvo S60. Even though the car is still heavily disguised, it’s clear that the new Mazda 6 will become some 30 mm longer overall and a bit wider, too. On top, we can see clues showing the new front fascia, including honeycomb inserts in the air intakes, large projector-type headlamp clusters.

The 2008 Mazda 6 will be powered by Ford’s new 250-horsepower 3.5-liter “Cyclone” engine. Other engine offerings may include a 2.5-liter inline-4 powerplant, and all-wheel-drive will be a popular option on all Mazda 6 versions.

A hybrid model will eventually become available, using the same 2.5-liter hybrid engine as the American 2008 Ford Fusion. All three body styles, a sedan, hatchback and wagon, will be offered, as well as a Mazdaspeed for the 2009 model year.

Production will take place in Flat Rock, Michigan (for North American models), as well as Japan. Asian production should start in late 2007, whereas North American production is expected to begin in June of 2008."

From WorldCarFans.com....

 

hard to tell with all the camo but it looks like it will be nice

 

good thing they 'redesigned' it ...pbbbfft!!!

 

cant wait, looks good from what i can get out of it.

 

With a Ford engine .... No thanks.

 

It looks like it will be a good looking sedan....the 3.5 is already out in various Fords and it seems to be a good engine.

It will certainly be better than the Camry.

 

well.. i think i like the look.

 

It looks like an RX-8.

 

i know!!!!!

but really it looks ok but i cant see that much

 

v6 is once again underpowered compared to toyota and nissan's offerings, wonder how hard it is to tune it up another 20-30hp

 

Are they sure that's not a TSX under there?

 

The duratec was engineered by Porsche then sold to ford. The duratec v6 is also used in the noble M15 (0-60 in 3.5 / top speed 185 / 455bhp).
One of the best and durable engines available on the market today.

 

and this engine has already been modified by mazda for its use. it will be a ford block with mazda's top end. remeber that the mzr engines started as ford engines. also remember that this duratec 3.5 has already been shown with FI over 400 hp. take a look at the exhaust in those pics- i bet there's some power hiding there already.

thanks ash i have been waiting for new pics to pop up for awhile.

 

The rear view shows us the some of the new design language that they are shooting for including the line running down from the rear to the front that they are trying to diguise and isn't easily seen from other angles. I think this is going to be impressive. I wonder how long they'll make us wait prior to some sketches or something to tease us.

Paul.

 

hmm... you contact your people and ill contact my people and ill ask berny to contact his- maybe we'll get a sketch

 

I would guess a debut at Tokyo this year. If it was going to be Geneva I think a sketch would be out by now.

 

most likely either NYC or Tokyo

 

The Duratecs are easy to get more power out of. In fact, my old V6 Mazda6 was able to get an additional 18whp out of a freaking CAI! Ford/Mazda likes to detune engines a bit for marketing reasons.

Hell, even at 250ish HP, the car will likely be lighter weight than the new Camry, so I don't car if its down 15hp or so. To be honest at some point, the extra power is pointless in a FWD vehicle other than for marketing purposes. You just get a bunch of wheel hop. Ask the folks with the 270HP Acura TLs about hard launches sometimes....its a scary feeling.

 

if you read the review for the new 270hp altima at motortrend, they figured out a way to get rid of the torque steer mechanically. most people could care less about launching etc, they just want it to be easier to pass people on the highway.

as far as marketing goes, most people in that segment are not into modding their cars, or care about hard launches. they are more concerned with passing people on the road etc. it dosnt make much sense to detune the engine when your competitors are making 20 more hp. thats the number that average consumers see when they look at cars.

 

it doesn't make much sense, but they did it on the last car, and I don't know why. No one will be able to tell the difference in passing power over 15hp at speed. both cars have near equal torque, which is all most people really drive anyways.

 

It would be strange for the Duratech 35 to make 265hp in the Ford applications and only 250hp in the Mazda versions. Most likely this article is wrong. 265hp is competitive with every other offering in the price range......and with available AWD it's a class leader at the price point.

 

^^^zoom44 said that its the same block as the duretec but mazda's own topend. not the same engine. the article calls it the cyclone instead of duretec

 

Yeah, and even with the camo it looks an improvement over the new Lancer.

 

Stupid question then. Why would Mazda spend additional R&D $$ to end up with 15 less hp? Plus, I seriously doubt Mazda changed much of anything on the "top end" of the engine.

 

your guess is as good as anyones? seems like a wierd move to me, i doubt itd be hard to tune it up to what the competitions are making?
maybe for fuel economy concerns? i have no idea