• 170-kilowatt SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine for New Mazda6
• Cylinder de-activation improves SKYACTIV-G 2.5 efficiency
• Power and torque boosted for SKYACTIV-D 2.2 turbo-diesel engine
• Safety and comfort features increased and upgraded across the range
• 360° View Monitor for New Mazda6 Atenza
• First for Mazda, ventilated front seats for New Mazda6 Atenza

Mazda has released its most refined Mazda6 yet, offering more power, better efficiency, enhanced comfort and safety, all delivered in a sophisticated package that evokes mature elegance.

Available in Australia from June, New Mazda6 has been thoroughly reengineered from the outside in. Showcasing an evolution in Mazda's KODO design language, advanced engine and safety technologies, and superior craftsmanship, New Mazda6 raises the bar.
           
On both sedan and wagon models, updates to the exterior achieve a more mature expression of elegance for New Mazda6, broadening the car's stance and lowering its visual centre of gravity.

The centre of the grille's bottom edge sits lower than before, with a new intricate mesh pattern replacing the chrome fins of the previous Mazda6. The new grille also sits deeper within the surround, giving the face a more sculpted look. The LED headlamps now integrate fog lamps to give the car a sharp, wide, lighting signature.

At the rear, painted surfaces now extend further down the body, giving a taut and high-quality appearance. The sedan also sports a new design for the boot lid's rear-facing section, while the exhaust pipes have been repositioned toward the outer edges of the bumper and their diameter has been increased, further emphasising width and a low centre of gravity. Newly designed 17 and 19-inch alloy wheels complement the upgraded appearance.

Inside, the considered and deliberate touch of craftsmanship elevates the cabin environment, realising a more high-quality look, feel and atmosphere.

On the top grade Atenza model, Mazda introduces a sumptuous new Walnut Brown nappa leather, paired with Sen wood accents and UltraSuede ® NU trim, appearing on the doors and dashboard.

Other interior changes include fully redesigned front seats that are wider and use high-density, vibration-absorbing urethane foam for a firm, supportive seating surface designed to maintain the spine's natural S-shape. The rear seats have also been redesigned with high-density urethane foam for greater comfort.

In a first for the Mazda, the Atenza model gets front seat ventilation which draws warm, moist air away from the backs of the driver and front passenger to keep them cool.

Under its stylish exterior, New Mazda6 adds power and torque across the powertrain line-up, and introduces the award-winning SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged petrol engine.

Offering 170kW of power and a huge 420Nm of torque, the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T is renowned for its rapid power delivery and prodigious torque courtesy of its Dynamic Pressure Turbo, which pushes exhaust gasses through a narrow inlet to quickly spool-up the turbocharger from low engine speeds before opening a larger secondary passage.

The more advanced SKYACTIV-D 2.2 twin-turbo diesel engine is also available for New Mazda6, alongside the torquey SKYACTIV-G 2.5 petrol engine, which now features cylinder deactivation. Both engines have seen significant revision, with further SKYACTIV technologies applied to improve performance and real-word fuel efficiency.

Bolstering its safety credentials, New Mazda6 comes standard with a wider range of i-ACTIVESENSE safety technologies, including Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go (MRCC), to provide superior driver support and peace of mind in Mazda's flagship passenger car.

The top-grade Atenza model adds Mazda's new 360° View Monitor, offering extra visibility to help drivers avoid potentially dangerous situations, and a new seven-inch TFT LCD display screen in the centre of the instrument cluster to dynamically display information depending on the driver's needs.

The SKYACTIV chassis and body have also been revised to deliver a smoother and more linear drive, at the same time reducing NVH levels to achieve a quiet cabin environment that enhances conversation clarity among occupants.

Managing Director of Mazda Australia, Vinesh Bhindi, said New Mazda6 sets a new standard for the segment, taking a step up in class and refinement.

"Mazda6 has long been a firm favourite with discerning drivers and these latest upgrades take it above the mainstream sedan fray, changing the idea of what an affordable, value-packed midsize sedan or wagon can and should be," he said.

Priced between $32,490 and $50,090*, there are 14 variants of New Mazda6 available, with a choice between two stylish body types: wagon and sedan, and four model grades: Sport, Touring, GT and Atenza.

*Denotes Manufacturer's List Price (MLP).

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New Mazda6 Pricing

Advanced powertrain options for New Mazda6

New Mazda6 buyers will have three engines to choose from, starting with the torquey, fuel-efficient SKYACTIV-G 2.5 naturally-aspirated engine.

With 140kW of power and 252Nm of torque, this 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine adds a greater level of refinement and comes with a host of upgrades, including cylinder deactivation which reduces internal friction and improves operating efficiency across the rev range.    

Cylinder deactivation maximises fuel efficiency when the vehicle is operating at steady speeds, shutting-down the outside two cylinders. They come back on-line instantaneously when maximum performance is needed.

A centrifugal pendulum added to the six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission's torque converter counterbalances engine vibrations when running on two cylinders. The result is an imperceptible switchover between two and four-cylinder modes but a noticeable efficiency benefit.

GT and Atenza models both feature Mazda's award-winning SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine, a technological tour de force delivering 170kW of power at 5,000rpm and 420Nm of torque at just 2,000rpm, all on 91RON fuel rather than Premium petrol.

By using a small inlet port to force air into the turbocharger, Mazda's industry-first Dynamic Pressure Turbo delivers almost instantaneous boost. A secondary valve opens at higher engine speeds to increase airflow and maximise power.

A pulse-scavenging 4-3-1 manifold prevents exhaust back pressure and helps the engine breathe more freely.

Cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) lowers combustion temperatures and prevents engine 'knock', reducing the need to dump more fuel into the cylinders to cool the engine.

Modern turbocharged engines are often mated to continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVT) and operate in a narrow efficiency band, sacrificing the oneness between driver and car – the highly-valued Jinba Ittai characteristic of all Mazda vehicles.

Mazda's six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission, standard with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine, keeps its torque converter locked through most of its operation, giving a more connected sense of controllability than many other automatic transmissions.

Finally, the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engine, which has been given a power and torque boost, continues as an option on Touring grade models and above.

Now with a variable geometry twin-turbocharger, the diesel engine has a maximum power output of 140kW and maximum pulling power of 450Nm.

All three engines complement New Mazda6, with the naturally-aspirated petrol engine serving as an efficient and responsive powertrain, its turbocharged sibling amplifying the driving performance for which Mazdas are renowned and the diesel offering effortless, efficient long-distance driving.

Chassis development refined

In this latest round of changes to Mazda6, engineers have revisited every aspect of the SKYACTIV-CHASSIS, increasing its rigidity and tuning the suspension for smoother, more linear ride quality while at the same time lowering noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels.

The steering rack has been mounted rigidly to the chassis for greater responsiveness and changes to the roll-steer characteristics promote more neutral handling.

Revised suspension geometry compliments the revisions which bring both a smoother ride and improved dynamic performance without compromising comfort.

Other detail changes include body reinforcements, thicker sheet metal in the rear wheel-wells and trailing link mounts as well as extra chassis bracing, all helping to improve cabin sound quality and putting New Mazda6 into a different class when it comes to interior quietness and refinement.