Final tweak for Mazda6
BY JAMES STANFORD | 23rd May 2007
An all-new Mazda6 will be previewed the Frankfurt motor show this September and is expected to touch down in Australia next May.
Mazda has dressed-up the current car, which was introduced here in 2002, and has cut prices of petrol models by up to $3000 to keep sales chugging along.
The previous base model Mazda6 Classic has been replaced by the Sports.
The Sports is $2990 cheaper than the Classic model and also adds 16-inch gloss finish alloy wheels, chrome door handles, new cloth trim and a rear spoiler for the sedan and hatch variants.
The previous Luxury Sports Mazda6 has been replaced by the Classic Sports model, which is $965 cheaper but adds electronic stability control and chrome doorhandles.
No changes will be made to the all-wheel-drive Mazda6 MPS model.
Mazda has moved to freshen its medium-sized model as it faces increased opposition from new rivals including the just-introduced Holden Epica and the upcoming Chrysler Sebring and Ford Mondeo.
Sales of the Mazda6 have eased off in the later stage of the model's life, dropping from 14,783 sales in 2005 to 12,826 sales last year.
All Mazda6 models come standard with six airbags, including dual front and side airbags for the driver and passenger as well as head-protecting curtain airbags for the front and rear compartments. ABS brakes are also fitted across the range.
Standard equipment for the Sports model includes air-conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, six-stack CD sound system and cruise control.
The Classic Sports adds 17-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, leather seats, premium Bose sound system, electronically-controlled driver's seat, body-kit, twin exhausts and alloy-look pedals.
The diesel wagon matches the base Sport specification level, while the diesel hatch adds a body kit, leather seats and a premium Bose sound system.