First look: Mazda6 MPS wows Paris
BY MARTON PETTENDY | 28th Sep 2004
Revealed for the first time in full production trim in Paris last week, the Mazda6 MPS – as it will be badged when it goes on sale Down Under in mid-2005 – packs a 191kW/380Nm turbo engine, six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive.
Differing only slightly from the Mazda6 MPS concept revealed at the last Paris motor show, in 2002, the production version also features a stronger body, revised suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and more aggressive styling than the garden variety Mazda6.
As the new Mazda6 flagship, the sedan-only MPS will be priced around $55,000 – representing a $15,000 price increase over the premium Mazda6 sedan but making Mazda’s hottest sedan lineball with Subaru’s Liberty GT.
At the heart of the MPS lies a direct-injection, single-turbo 2.3-litre engine labelled MZR 2.3 DISI TURBO.
Apart from producing 191kW at 5500rpm and a big 380Nm of torque at just 3000rpm, its combination of direct petrol injection with turbocharging and intercooling brings a number of other key advantages.
Primarily because of the direct injection engine’s internal cooling effect and an ability to maintain a relatively high 9.5:1 compression ratio, Mazda says these include: * strong torque delivery across a wide engine speed range
* good response from low engine speeds
* reduced turbo lag
* minimal increases in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions The result is “substantial” turbo boost from 2500rpm, 10 per cent more torque at 3000rpm, 0-100km/h acceleration in a respectable 6.6 seconds and a convincing 240km/h top speed thanks to a new six-speed Aisin-supplied manual transmission (similar to VZ Commodore SV6’s).
Putting power to the ground is a Mazda-developed torque sensing-electronic system called Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive.
Normally driving only the front wheels but able to transmit up to 50 per cent of torque rearward when required, it’s a more aggressively tuned version of the Mazda6 AWD system available in some overseas markets.
Using input data including steering angle, yaw rate, lateral G force and engine status, the system chooses between three operating functions - normal, sports or snow – when activating its solenoid-controlled power take-off drive, while a reinforced limited-slip rear differential is fitted.
Mazda product chief Joe Bakai was quick to intervene when it was suggested the maximum 50/50 torque split could not allow the MPS to be power-oversteered like Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evo and Subaru’s latest Impreza STi, claiming the hot new Mazda will certainly do so and producing a video to prove it.
“We’re a company that drives rear-wheel drive sports cars as well as front-wheel drive cars, so we know the benefits of being able to drift. That’s why we gave the MPS all the benefits of the Mazda6 but with a touch of rear-drive attitude,” he said.
To cope with the extra forces, the stronger Mazda6 sedan body was given 50 per cent more torsional rigidity thanks to a diagonal brace behind the rear seatback, cross-floor members, strengthened rear suspension mounts, a lengthened front cowl, extra dash mounts and reinforced roof rails.
While the AWD system adds 32kg, the strengthening measures add 6.7kg.
Up-front, Mazda6 MPS offers increased damping force, 25 per cent stiffer springs and a 1mm larger (25mm) anti-roll bar.
Similarly, the multi-link rear suspension employs larger monotube dampers, 37 per cent higher spring rates, and a 2mm-thicker (23mm) anti-roll bar.
Larger 17-inch brake rotors are fitted, as is ABS, brake assist and DSC stability control.
The interior MPS treatment is even more subtle and comprises specific instruments including a 280km/h speedo, semi-bucket front seats with enhanced lateral support and an exclusive new manual shift knob.