Mazda has yet to confirm a successor for the ageing 6 sedan and wagon – and expectations were dampened by the marque’s engineering boss in recent months.
However, with the recent emergence of the jacked-up part-sedan, part-crossover body style – as seen with the Peugeot 408, Toyota Crown Crossover and Ford Evos – could Mazda follow suit?
A new rendering by digital artist Theottle has imagined a hypothetical Mazda MX-60 crossover based on the brand’s new rear-drive Large Architecture platform, which debuted underneath the CX-60 medium SUV in March.
The vehicle adopts the formula of the Peugeot and Toyota, with a sedan-like front end, plastic body cladding and a rear design akin to a coupe SUV, but with a traditional sedan boot.
While the MX moniker – which stands for ‘Mazda Experimental’ – is typically associated with the MX-5 roadster, the previous MX-6 available between 1987 and 1997 was a two-door coupe sibling to the modern 6’s predecessor, the 626.
In addition, the recently-introduced MX-30 is a funky crossover, with mild-hybrid and all-electric powertrains.
With an emphasis on style and a higher ride height for ease of access, the MX-60 would appeal to the European, North American, Chinese and Japanese markets – and would consolidate the brand’s mid-size ‘passenger car’ range to one body type to reduce complexity.
2023 Mazda CX-60
Under the bonnet, the MX-60 would share its powertrains with the CX-60, with a focus on the 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid system producing 241kW of power and 500Nm of torque.
A range of six-cylinder petrol and diesel mills could also be offered, alongside the entry-level 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol – as found in the current Mazda 6.
Mazda hasn’t confirmed power outputs for the 3.3-litre ‘Skyactiv-X’ petrol six; however, the flagship 48-volt mild-hybrid six-cylinder diesel engine produces 187kW and 550Nm.
The plug-in hybrid and six-cylinder powertrains are a step above the current 170kW/420Nm 2.5-litre turbo, which is the most potent engine available on the Mazda 6 following a major update in 2018.
First launched in 2012, the third-generation 6 was recently discontinued in North America, but remains available in other markets, including Australia – albeit in declining numbers.
2022 Mazda 6
VFACTS data reveals Mazda has sold 680 examples of the mid-size 6 sedan and wagon to the end of July, down 30.7 per cent over the same period in 2021.
Earlier this year, Mazda’s engineering and development lead in Europe, Joachim Kunz, downplayed a potential rear-wheel drive successor to the 6 sedan – the first such vehicle since the Mazda 929 of 1997.
The senior engineer said the company’s focus was on the popular SUV body type, suggesting the Mazda 6 could be on the back burner for the time being.
“It would be very nice… to have the [rear-wheel-drive] concept and six-cylinder engine for a Mazda 6 successor or a large sports coupe,” he said, in an interview with Autocar.
“We would love to have it, but at this point in time, it’s most important to sell SUVs.”
However, the engineering boss stopped short of saying a potential rear-drive Mazda 6 was dead entirely.
“The SUV trend is continuing, and even more for Mazda. It’s what’s selling best,” added Kunz.
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