Official 2009 USDM Mazda6 thread

[Donas64]

I just saw a comercial for the new 2009 Maxima. Damn! that is a hot car, looks like a 4 door skyline. I realize that Maxima has tried to move more upscale and that the Altima is their true competitor to the 6, but the new Maxima is total HOT!

I love it too. Was a little sketchy about the headlights at first but when I saw the view below, I was sold. Then I saw one in black a few days ago on the street and it was AWESOME LOOKING! It only it came with a manual/DSG trans and AWD, it would be perfect. But as it is, I'm smitten! Thos fender flares are to die for. I'd still take a G8 but the MAX is back!

 

[LASERBLUE135]

If you buy a fwd, this has to be the best luxury style sedan you can get? I still don't know who would buy this when you can get an infinity rwd or awd for similar price though...still a hot car.

 

[coolmazda5]

Gracious Flow: We Drive the 2009 Mazda6

A lot of (blah) in this NextAutos article, but I copied-n-pasted some paragraphs with numbers behind the why Mazda needed a NA specific design...

Source:
http://www.nextautos.com/gracious-flow-we-drive-2009-mazda6

Hard as it may be to fathom, we automotive journalists get things wrong every once in a while. Despite perpetually cheering for the 2003-2008 Mazda6’s ragtag charms and dynamic excellence in a crowd of somnambulant sedans, it never really sold. Nevermind that it was a wieldy package and fun to grab by the scruff on winding roads, it languished on showroom floors while far duller drives poured out of showrooms like so many bags of rice. Heck, we even heartily applauded the availability of a segment-best three separate body styles (sedan, wagon, and touring), as well as a genuine high-performance variant, the Mazdaspeed6. Still no dice. Great handling and a multiplicity of formats are evidently no substitute for outright size and power in the family sedan stakes. Not that we’re bitter or anything.

Apparently feeling our pain, Mazda officials at the 6’s stateside launch daubed egg from the assembled motoring media’s faces, and in true Japanese fashion, they apologized. In fact, they were refreshingly forthcoming and crystal clear about why the Mazda6 failed to crack the ranks of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Chevrolet Malibu. According to Jeremy Barnes, director of product and corporate communications, shoppers rejected the outgoing 6 for the following reasons: 25.1 percent of consumers passed because of quality concerns, 16.5 percent felt that it didn’t offer adequate power, and 15 percent passed due to size reservations (read: it wasn’t big enough).

Which brings us to the altogether shapely thing you see here. A quick glance at the spec sheet of this car suggests that Mazda has soundly thumped at least two of these issues, size and power. Of graver concern to us is whether the bolder new 6 manages to preserve the company’s “Zoom-Zoom” fun-to-drive mantra in their bid to woo the Great American Consumer.

By the tape measure, the 2009 Mazda6 stretches 193.7-inches long (up 6.9 inches), 72.4-inches wide (up 2.3 inches), and rides on a 109.8-inch wheelbase (up 4.5 inches). Despite casting a larger shadow, the new 6 is anything but visually ponderous. Its RX-8/CX-7–informed front fenders lend it a voluptuous and imposing presence, and a high bustle yields both a class-leading 0.27 coefficient of drag and segment-best trunk space (16.6 cubic feet). The car is so shapely that we had to ask Mazda’s design head, Franz “Hollywood” van Holzhausen if the 6’s tumblehome (the inward arch of the side glass) is more steeply raked than its competitors. It isn’t, but the aggressive greenhouse has a certain concept-car quality that initially led us to suspect tight head and shoulder room. Critically, this is a sedan that looks great even in base trim, with sixteen-inch wheels that don’t get lost in their wheelwells, LED taillamps, and elegant projector headlamps that lend a premium aura. Better still, with a clean shape devoid of aerodynamic tack-ons and chrome frosting, we expect for time to wear handsomely on the 6’s shapely hips.

Mazda says it hopes to release at least 100,000 6s into the wild each year, which would be around a twenty percent improvement on the roughly 80,000 units that they managed to shift of the old car. That’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the 420,000 Camrys, 350,000 Accords, and 250,000+ Altimas that belch forth on to America’s roads each year. Assuming Mazda can make good on its quality goals and gas doesn’t skyrocket to $10 a gallon (taking the midsize segment along with it), if the new 6 isn’t selling 120,000 units annually inside of three years, we’ll eat our Pilotis.

This time you can trust us—Mazda has nothing to apologize for.

 

[coolmazda5]

Mazda3, as you may have realized I found a flurry of Mazda6 articles today, but check the "What the guy drives" fact on this one. If I were in that position, I would have chosen an RX-8 R3 though

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Don Romano

Age: 47

Born: Los Angeles

Title: President

Company: Mazda Canada Inc.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach; MBA from Pepperdine University, Malibu.

Previous work experience: Vice-president of marketing for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), Irvine, Calif., 2005-April 2006; general manager of business operations, MNAO's Western Region, 2003-2004; zone manager for California and Hawaii, MNAO, 2000-2002

Personal: Married, four children; pastimes include surfing and skiing

First car: 1965 Ford Falcon Futura

Drives: 2009 Mazda6

Full Article:
Going against the mainstream
Big Wheel: Don Romano, president of Mazda Canada
http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=725951

 

[Mazda3]

Mazda3, as you may have realized I found a flurry of Mazda6 articles today, but check the "What the guy drives" fact on this one. If I were in that position, I would have chosen an RX-8 R3 though

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Don Romano

Age: 47

Born: Los Angeles

Title: President

Company: Mazda Canada Inc.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach; MBA from Pepperdine University, Malibu.

Previous work experience: Vice-president of marketing for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), Irvine, Calif., 2005-April 2006; general manager of business operations, MNAO's Western Region, 2003-2004; zone manager for California and Hawaii, MNAO, 2000-2002

Personal: Married, four children; pastimes include surfing and skiing

First car: 1965 Ford Falcon Futura

Drives: 2009 Mazda6

Full Article:
Going against the mainstream
Big Wheel: Don Romano, president of Mazda Canada
http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=725951

I think he just drives which ever "new" key vehicle they are focusing on at the moment. Last year he was driving a CX-9. Although the R3 is a new package its not going to do big numbers or be a key to Mazda's success.

The new Mazda 6 will be a key to Mazda expanding it's sales in Canada. As you read in the article the 3 & 5 are huge successes in Canada, but Mazda won't give Canada anymore of those cars then they are already getting. The Mazda 6 is US built and I assume they can get as many as they want. I don't think the Flatrock plant is maxed out on production like the Japan plants are.

As nice as I think the 2010 Mazda 3 will be, it won't affect sales in Canada. We will sell the same 50,000 a year as we have for the last 5 years. The reason the NA Mazda 2 will be built in China is because the Japan factories are maxed out.

Thanks for posting that I had not seen it yet.

 

[coolmazda5]

^^ Yeah makes sense, I know that in that position making money is the main priority, not advertising niche cars. I had a wishful thinking lapse

Yeah, I know the Mazda5 case in Canada, Japan production is maxed out and the car is on waiting list according to some of the forum members. I kind of laugh when some people say that the Rondo is catching up on the Mazda5, but not because the Mazda5 offers not enough value, but because Mazda Canada cannot get more in the lots

I'm just happy because there are not tons of Mazda5s on the street and because they still offer them with Manual Tranny in NA (not even Japan has that anymore)

But anyway, back on topic, the NA Mazda6 has a better chance this time around, let's see!

 

[meGrimlock]

i had a cousin who was eager to buy a new mazda6 last year but an idiot in-law told him that the "tiptronic transmission on the mazda6 kills the belts." he went with the honda accord instead which i guess after hearing that piece of advice, you cant go wrong with a "tried and true" honda. wish he'd talked to me or read this forum first.

 

[Mazda3]

Motortrend does a full test on the 2009 4 banger!!!

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0808_2009_mazda6_isport_first_test/index.html

 

[coolmazda5]

Motortrend does a full test on the 2009 4 banger!!!

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0808_2009_mazda6_isport_first_test/index.html

This isn't a gearbox to be missed. Quick, snappy, and precise, Mazda's manual gearboxes are the best in the under-$50,000 market.

I could not agree more (yes)

 

[Koenig]

i had a cousin who was eager to buy a new mazda6 last year but an idiot in-law told him that the "tiptronic transmission on the mazda6 kills the belts." he went with the honda accord instead which i guess after hearing that piece of advice, you cant go wrong with a "tried and true" honda. wish he'd talked to me or read this forum first.

That's so sad..... everyone these days is a certified mechanic and thinks they know what they are talking about....... my GF's '05 V6 Mazda6 is triptronic, and it runs like a charm (dance)

 

[Koenig]

I love it too. Was a little sketchy about the headlights at first but when I saw the view below, I was sold. Then I saw one in black a few days ago on the street and it was AWESOME LOOKING! It only it came with a manual/DSG trans and AWD, it would be perfect. But as it is, I'm smitten! Thos fender flares are to die for. I'd still take a G8 but the MAX is back!

Am I the only one that thinks this already looks like a Honda Accord? If you think this is hot surely you'd buy an Accord

Way to go on the ingenuity Nissan...... that's all everyone does these days, is fking copy each other......

 

[Donas64]

man you must be joking. It looks nothing like that ugly honda accord. Not even close. The maximas lines flow a lot smoother it looks menacing while the accord looks like....well....my blender.

 

[Koenig]

Nope sorry, I see similar lines, I see Accord Headlights and accord foglights on both cars......

The lines look VERY much the same.... To me it looks like Nissan "borrowed" design cues from both the Sedan and the Coupe, and made subtle changes so they didn't look identical. I personally don't like either one and wouldn't spend the money for it.

 

[dmitrik4]

have to say, Donas...headlight outline aside, they're pretty damn similar.

my GF's '05 V6 Mazda6 is triptronic, and it runs like a charm

your GF's Mazda6 has a Porsche transmission? sweet!

 

[Donas64]

sorry, still don't see it.

 

[Koenig]

you can't see the roof line? the hood line? the rear quarter panel line?

the rear tail lights? They are VERY similar........ I hope one day you get to see one right next to the other at a light or something and be like "my god.... he's right!" LOL

 

[Koenig]

have to say, Donas...headlight outline aside, they're pretty damn similar.



your GF's Mazda6 has a Porsche transmission? sweet!

LOL my bad..... did I type "triptronic" ? I mean the "tiptronic" the little automatic where you push it over and you can push up and down to shift the gears. I always say "tiptronic" when talking about any cars with that feature, lol I didn't mean Porsche... (hand)

 

[TinmanMS6]

LOL my bad..... did I type "triptronic" ? I mean the "tiptronic" the little automatic where you push it over and you can push up and down to shift the gears. I always say "tiptronic" when talking about any cars with that feature, lol I didn't mean Porsche... (hand)

Tiptronic is the Porsche transmission, but they license Tiptronic to Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda... Nissan and Toyota call theirs Tiptronic as well, so they must license it to them as well.

 

[Koenig]

Tiptronic is the Porsche transmission, but they license Tiptronic to Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda... Nissan and Toyota call theirs Tiptronic as well, so they must license it to them as well.

I know, I was saying I call all the automatic transmissions with the "manual" gear change "tiptronic" or "triptronic" I believe bmw calls their's "steptronic" or something like that, so I've been told. I'm not even sure what Mazda calls theirs.

 

[Koenig]

Well this is what I found..... notice the part I underlined

Tiptronic is a registered trademark, and the word "Tiptronic" is owned by German sports car maker Porsche, who licenses it for use by other manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Škoda. However, many people use the term (erroneously) to refer generically to any automatic torque converter transmission that incorporates a manual upshift / downshift feature. (BMW's proprietary version of this system is called Steptronic.)

That's me, lol too many names to think of, and I think Porsche developed it first, no? All I know is the first time I heard about that type of automatic was when they called it tiptronic.