2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: 2009 Mazda6

• Competes with: Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry
• Looks like: The already-sporty Mazda6 got a hunky face-lift
• Drivetrain: 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual; U.S. drivetrain info still to come
• Hits dealerships: Second half of 2008

If you were thinking about buying a new midsize sedan, we advise you to wait until the redesigned 2009 Mazda6 makes its way to U.S. shores. The radically redesigned Mazda6 — seen here in sedan, hatchback and wagon versions — will make its way to the U.S. in late 2008. We’re not sure what all the power plants will be, but the models that debuted in Frankfurt today feature an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets 170 hp. Rumor has it Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 used in the Edge SUV will also go in the Mazda6 — that could mean more than 250 hp.

But that’s just conjecture at this point. What we do know is that the new Mazda6 is lighter than the previous generation, has a more aerodynamic shape, a new suspension and a new interior. The interior looks to upgrade what was one of the better treatments when it debuted in 2003, but has since been surpassed by others. The new Mazda6 looks to borrow some of the high-quality interior bits we enjoyed in the new CX-9 crossover. Many more photos of all three versions of the Mazda6 are below, and we’ll post concrete news about the U.S.-bound cars as soon as it comes in.

Comments

[Doug G]

Very cool.
Love at first sight, I've always liked the 6 but never really liked it's look compared to other Mazdas. Now it looks like it could fit right in.

/Zoom-Zoom

[J.Thomas]

It's nice, but it looks like an enlarged and updated version of the current Mazda3. I still like the current Mazda6 better but I can see why people will buy it.

Is it just me or are the new cars starting to look like each other? This car for example has a grill similar to an Acura, and head lights similar to the Toyota Solara or some other car I seen recently and tail lights that look like the Chrysler Sebring. I guess there are only so many designs to go around.

[Adam]

Looks like I finally found a replacement for my '02 Accord. Looks awesome!

[TOMMY BLACKSTON]

Response to comments of person who says cars are beginning to look aliek

If you go back a bit further you will see that Toyota copied teh head lights from the Ford Taurus
You can pull a 96 Camry up beside a Taurus and they are really hard to tell apart

[TOMMY BLACKSTON]

Response to comments of person who says cars are beginning to look aliek

If you go back a bit further you will see that Toyota copied teh head lights from the Ford Taurus
You can pull a 96 Camry up beside a Taurus and they are really hard to tell apart

[J]

A 96 Camry to what Taurus?
I don't see them too similar.

But the Mazda6 does look like something else already, the side looks like an Altima, the taillight looks like the Sebring.

[Infosaur]

Will the Wagon come stateside?

(and will somebody spike the punch at Mazda N.A. so they make a limited run of MazdaSpeed 6 wagons?)

[starlightmica]

If not the 3.5L V6, perhaps the more powerful 3.7L V6 found in the 2008 CX-7? It wouldn't make sense, though, as the 3.7 is built in Japan, and the 3.5 in NA.

[AladdinSane]

I was considering another brand/type of automobile to purchase in 2008, but after seeing these new versions of the 6 that Mazda will offer soon I think I'll wait...The 5 door and wagon look especially nice. Time will tell!

Nice, Mazda!

Peace<-AladdinSane--

[DodgeFan]

I remember reading somewhere that Ford does not seem to keen on sharing the 3.5 v6. I think they refused to share it with volve and vovle went to get yahama (spelling?) v8 which is probabily a better deal. I have a feeling that it probabily won't want to share it with Mazada even though it got so much from Mazada just like Volve.

[Kevin]

Wow, this one is much better looking than the new Accord! The design is sexy and the interior looks awesome!

[Tor]

I think the design is nice, but not awesome. It is hard to beat the current pre-facelift design. Sport-packaged the current 03-05 car is awesome.

Cars have always looked somewhat alike. However, if you like cars you can tell the difference easily.

"head lights similar to the Toyota Solara"

No way. The Solara's lights are much bigger and have different shapes.

"tail lights that look like the Chrysler Sebring. I guess there are only so many designs to go around."

nah, the Sebrings taillights look nothing like this.

In fact, the car this seems closest to is the Lexus IS and that is not a bad thing.

"You can pull a 96 Camry up beside a Taurus and they are really hard to tell apart"

???

Which model Taurus was that? 96 Camry? you sure? The 96 Camry is not the really long new design. It is the one that looks like the contemporary Corolla (93-97). In any event, I can't think of any Camry that looks like any Taurus.

[rangerxlt]

Yes! The 5-door hatchback is back!

[J]

But, what's the point in offering wagons, but with FWD only? To take more weight off the drive wheels?

[turrboenvy]

Yes, the headlights may look similar to some current toyotas, but they look much better on this car. I definitely see the similarities between this and the current Altima, but the new 6 definitely looks more lean.

I haven't figured out yet if I like the fact that the new hatch looks more "hatch-like" as compared to the sedan than the old one does.

The wagon looks the best out of all of them, though. Maybe it's the color, but I really, really like the way that wagon looks, and it upsets me slightly that it won't be coming to the US.

Well, none of them will be coming to the US, since we're getting a different, larger model. Who's up for starting a "European 6 Import" program, so that we can drive the european version instead of the bloated US one?

[Adrock]

As a current owner of a sport packaged 6, I am a bit disappointed in its enlargement and am conflicted about the styling, although I think it is certainly nice. I was considering stepping down to a 3, but now I'm not too sure after look at this. I do hope these are the production looks however and they don't dumb them down for U.S. regulation or anything.

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[Michael]

Ok, I think this looks like an inflated Lexus IS 350 and considering I think the IS is small, I might just consider buying the new 6. With that said, I HOPE Mazda has fixed all of the fit and finish issues inside the cabin (i.e. door rattles, dash rattles, plastic parts that dent and scratch way too easily like by the seatbelt, etc.). Being an owner of the 2004 Mazda 6s 5-door, I can honestly say that I wish I wore earplugs just to muffle all the rattles coming from the dash, its rediculous! No I don't go off-roading in it and I purposely try to avoid the freeway lane dividers to keep the car from shaking loose anymore than it already is. So, with that said, PLEASE MAZDA FIX THE INTERIOR RATTLING!!!!

[coolbreeze]

Been a Mazda 626 driver since the early 80's. Was excited about 2009 6, but looks like North American version does not look nearly as nice as the Japanese or European versions.. I may be let down and may need to look to another car maker !!