Sydney show: Mazda hits another six

THE all-new Mazda6 made its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney this morning, fresh from its international premiere in Frankfurt last month. The second-generation Mazda6 goes on sale in Australia next April. Offering a more refined experience and improved value, the mid-sized model is expected to lift Mazda sales further. Mazda also presented the new CX-9 crossover, which looks similar to the model first shown a year ago, but with one important difference: the CX-9 shown at Darling Harbour today had the new 204kW/366Nm 3.7-litre V6 as opposed to the less potent 3.5-litre on sale in the US. Australia is the first country to receive the 3.7 CX-9, which arrives here in December. Mazda was still not ready to confirm pricing, but it is expected to start in the low $50,000s.

The company also released its third ‘Extreme’ concept car (pictured left), applying the go-fast treatment to a Mazda3 MPS. Mazda Australia’s motorsport manager Allan Horsley recalibrated the engine control unit and fitted a free-flow exhaust to lift power by 20 per cent to 210kW, while torque rises to 425Nm. The suspension has been re-tuned by Australian motorsport suspension guru Murray Coote for ultimate handling and the ride height is now 25mm, while the car sits on 19-inch racing alloys. As with the other Extreme show cars, there is no plan to put the hot Mazda3 MPS into production.

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