Here is the article in the paper today. The full test results will be released in the first week of December. The time in the article is 0-100 KMH in 5.5 sec which converts to 0-60 MPH in 5.3 sec!!
Friday November 4 2005
MazdaSpeed 6 proves looks can be deceiving
Charles RennyThe StarPhoenix
Friday, November 04, 2005
When I looked at the MazdaSpeed 6, my first thought was "so what, another plain sedan." That just goes to show how wrong I can be when I judge a car by its exterior.
You see the MazdaSpeed 6 looks just like any other Mazda 6. It has four doors that open wide, a roof line that is modern, but not unusual. There isn't any side ornamentation to speak of and the only MazdaSpeed emblem is on the rear.
If you look closely, you will see that MazdaSpeed has gone to great lengths to make the car look like a normal Mazda 6. The hood has an extra bulge in it that you can mistake for a styling cue and the front fascia has an enlarged air intake area which you are not going to notice unless you have a normal Mazda 6 right beside the MazdaSpeed one.
Part of the extra air intake is dedicated to the added cooling that the turbo needs and part goes to the intercooler. The intercooler is the main reason for the bulge in the hood. Cool, outside air is ducted along the hood to a plenum chamber that houses a mesh filter-like covering for the intercooler. This mesh filter-like cover is supposed to screen out the large bits that may do damage to the intercooler. You may have gathered that the intercooler is positioned on top of the engine horizontally.
The next bit of wizardry to look at since the hood is up is the 2.4-litre, direct injected and turbocharged, inline four. As impressive as it is, putting out 274 horsepower can't hold a candle to the fact that peak torque is 280 lb.ft. and 90 per cent of it is available from about 1,800 rpm up to 6,000 rpm. This gets the MazdaSpeed 6 up to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.
Getting this power to the ground is the job of a six-speed manual gear box (an automatic is not available) and Mazda's new Active Torque Split, All-Wheel-Drive System that features a more aggressive torque split to the rear axle in accordance with road conditions. The computerized system determines the road conditions and handles the split so seamlessly that you never know traction conditions have changed.
Inside, Mazda has created a couple of special interior colours to go with the special exterior colors of the MazdaSpeed 6. My favourite was the black and white leather one which is only available on the Black MazdaSpeed. To go with this theme of special treatments, the dash has been subtly reworked with things like a 280 km/h speedo. Front buckets provide more side support than stock seating making driving more of a pleasure.
Actually driving the car turned up a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde personality. If you are in town, just putting about, the car will do what ever you want and do it well. Granny can get in the back easily, kids can see out the windows thanks to a large greenhouse and if you need to put a child into a seat there is enough room to do so easily. Almost the consummate, stately, stuffy and boring family car. To change all that, all you have to do is put the gas down a bit further to wake up the turbo. If you put your foot down to merge onto a freeway or highway, shift your brain to warp speed, because the car is a tenth of a second away from leaving you behind. There is virtually no turbo lag and you will be through first and second gears before you can say Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Mazda's are never THIS quick!
Once used to the acceleration, you now need to get used to the fact this car can go around corners nearly as well as some race cars. Mazda has strengthened the chassis to accommodate higher than usual cornering forces. I found the chassis to be so rigid and the power train so accommodating that I could actually set the car into a corner and use the throttle to help turn in.
This, of course, was after I had to get back on the gas before the corner because I kept braking way too early for the ability of the MazdaSpeed's brakes. The first couple of laps I did on the race track with this car were almost a joke. I pushed as deep into the corners as I figured was safe and then stood on the brake pedal. Not only did the brakes never fade, I had to speed up to get to the corner. I kept at it and all I can say is that I have driven race cars that could do with brakes like the ones on this car.
This is the most powerful car Mazda has ever built and it serves notice Mazda is tired of being thought of as "that other Japanese company." They have just served notice they can play with the big boys and be cost competitive at less than $40,000 fully loaded. ZOOM-ZOOM at its best!
AT A GLANCE
Configuration: Four-door sedan Engine: Turbocharged and intercooled, direct injected, DOHC, 2.3 inline four that produces 274 horsepower and 280 lb.ft. of torque. Transmission: Six-speed manual Fuel: EnerGuide Canada Fuel Economy rating for the City; 12.5 l/100 km. (23 mpg.). Hwy; 8.5 l/100 km.( 33 mpg.) Brakes: Four-wheel power assisted disc brakes with four-wheel, four-sensor ABS Suspension: Front: Independent, high mounted double wishbone with coil springs, twin tube gas shocks and a stabilizer bar. Rear: Independent, E-type multi-link with coil springs, gas mono-tube shocks and a stabilizer bar. Safety: Dual front air bags, dual front side impact air bags, dual front and rear side curtain air bags.Whiplash reducing, height adjustable headrests at all four outboard seating positions. Three-point seat belts at all fi ve seating positions. Child safety door locks on rear doors. ISOFIX child-safetyseat anchors in rear seat. Keyless remote entry. Special Features/Options: Credit card like key just needs to be close to the door to unlock or lock when you push the button on the door handle. Key needs to be in the car not in the keyless ignition to start. Unique 18-inch wheels and tires are used on the MazdaSpeed 6.AM/FM/6 disc in-dash stereo is standard.All Wheel Drive is standard.
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2005
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