Japan’s Mazda Atenza does not hint at 2009 Mazda 6 for U.S.

maybe it will be ready to run with the big dogs. like the accord, sonata (or genisis)

It doesnt sell as many as those juggernauts, but it is the best sporting alternative when the speed6 was available. Now the Altima has the best V6, but the Mazda6 has the best interior IMO.

Don't think the Altima has the best V6, maybe w/ a stick. But Toyot 3.5 is best now save for recalls, its stronger and faster.

Mazda has a very cheap interior, well I have a CX-7 and go check any Mazda forum, everyone hates the low grade plastic, carpeting and seating materials. I have scuffs everywhere in the CX-7.

“The Mazda 6 will be designed and engineered for the U.S.”

“It will be on sale later this year as an ‘09 model.”

Hmmm?

If the 'design and Engineering' Hasn't been Finalized By Now, Then It Certainly Won't Be Available, "later this year"...

Why don't they cut the BS already and just say that our version will have a slightly different grill, revised taillights, and no wagon option... GEEZ!

Well either way it's a good looking update to a nice car already. Should sell well too. The first 6 did really good and now that the CX-7 and CX-9 (MT suv of the year) are out doing very well also, and the 3 just gaining ground on the Civic and Corolla bunch. The new 6 will fit nicely in place. Good job Mazda, building cars that Ford is too scared to bring to the US.

this one looks nice.

“The Mazda 6 will be designed and engineered for the U.S.”

Sh*t. Whenever they say this, it's not a positive thing. It will be a watered-down POS version of the Mondeo.

This car is perfect like this. Don't waist money building another car.

Built for the US in this case is a different story than taking say the Euro Mondeo and creating a Fusion. They are bringing over what you see here, maybe with different headlamps that are DOT approved. The only thing you won't see would be the wagon version since the 6 wagon does not sell well and they now have the Mazda 5 and SUVs to fill that market.

the 6 wgn is gone for the 08 MY.

I feel like with them saying the Atenza will not hint at the next US version, the car design should be significantly different (bummer, in my opinion). Since it's being built in Michigan, it'll likely share more components with the Ford Fusion, and not the Mondeo, so it's likely we're going to get something very different from the Euro Mazda 6? it's also likely that the changes they need to make are not only minor ones such as different headlamps to meat DOT requirements - The Euro 6 may be too expensive of a car to put it at the lower price point Mazda wishes the 6 to compete at in the US. It's like, the Mondeo, if imported, would be priced more like a Passat in the US... whereas the Fusion can be priced quite a bit lower.

It's too bad... I really like the looks of the new Mazda6.