RUMOR: IF Mazda Built These Sportier Mazda6s and CX-5s Would They Do ANYTHING For You?

One company I've been following somewhat closely for the past 12 months has been Mazda. While the company has been dealing with a difficult financial situation, you sure as hell wouldn't know it with the products its bringing to market.

Take, for example, the all-new CX-5 which sold VERY well in the Japanese market and as of November 2012 the brand's second largest selling product. Not a bad U.S. showing considering it ONLY arrived on dealer lots the LAST week of February, according to Mazda USA sales releases.

Then you have the Mazda6 inspired by the Takeri concept. Starting in the low $20,000 price range, it looks like things are shaping up for Mazda to start nibbling away at market share.

It's not a complete turnaround but it's a good sign, in my humble opinion.

Now, onto the news. According to Carscoop, Mazda will be bringing a few new tuned up vehicles to the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon. Pictures were supplied but it's not clear which are renderings or just plain bad Photoshop jobs. There are a couple of glaring errors I am sure you will see, so, I don't know if this is pure speculation or what.

That said, I am a bit curious. We know Mazda enjoys bringing cars to market that are fun to drive and are -- now -- good looking.

If Mazda sweetened them up a bit, like we see in the images below, would you be more drawn to the brand?


The rapidly approaching 2013 edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon will see Mazda exhibit an array of customized versions of its newly launched Mazda6 (called Atenza in Japan) in both saloon and Wagon body styles as well as of the CX-5 crossover.

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cidflekken - 1/2/2013 1:42:09 AM

+1 Boost

At the risk of sounding like I'm bashing the company, Mazda doesn't really bring anything special to the table. Despite the "Zoom Zoom" tags, the Mazda 6 had never stood out from the competition in order to create its own niche market, within the midsize segment. I think the Mazda3 did that in the small car market. In the midsize market, the Camry brings quiet and easy driving and reliability, the Accord brings pure refinement and fun to drive and reliability, the Sonata brings expressive styling, the Optima brings dynamic and aggressive styling, the Fusion brings elegant styling with sporty handling.
This new Mazda 6 isn't as good looking as the Fusion, won't drive as easily as the Camry, won't be as refined as the Accord, and isn't as much of a stand out style-wise as the Sonata and Optima. The last generation 6 was initially seen as a very stylish alternative, but the Sonata came about a year later and made that idea null. Sure, this new one may be fun to drive, but so is the Fusion and the Fusion is better looking and has a better interior.

ceric - 1/2/2013 2:32:35 AM

+1 Boost

Love the new Mazda6.
Don't tell me that the 26/38mpg for 2.5L (184hp/185ft-lb) is not impressive. What are Accord/Camry's numbers?

MBCLS07 - 1/2/2013 2:44:05 AM

+2 Boost

Is the Accord really any more "refined" than a Camry or Sonata? Is the Fusion's handling really much more "sporty" than the Optima's? There really is very little to separate each of the cars in the segment. They're all similar reliability and performance. It really just comes down to personal preference. The Mazda 6 is a perfectly fine car with attractive styling. It also has a lot of competition as each of the cars in its segment have stepped it up the last of couple years.

cidflekken - 1/2/2013 2:53:50 AM

+1 Boost

I won't answer your questions individually, but I'll say that yes there is enough separation and distinction from car to car. Read all the reviews and articles from both "experts" and consumers, and the same themes come out, time and again.

HighDesert - 1/3/2013 10:03:22 PM

+1 Boost

When I think sportier, taut Germanic handling with manual transmission comes to mind. If Mazda were to offer that perspective, I would take notice.