As the reports and rumors about the arrival of a new RWD Mazda6 with an inline-six engine were beginning to heat up, the brand’s people are apparently dampening the excitement in Europe.
We’ve known that there’s a small hole in the Mazda lineup since the 6 was discontinued after the 2021 model year. Still, the upswing in SUV popularity isn’t slowing down and Mazda knows that all too well. It’s that fact which has led to the news that an all-new Mazda6 is probably on the back burner if not dead altogether.
Speaking to Autocar in a story that appeared in their latest issue, Mazda Europe’s engineering and development lead, Joachim Kunz played down the introduction of new RWD sedan or coupe, for that matter. “It would be very nice… to have the FR concept and six-cylinder engine for a Mazda 6 successor or a large sports coupe… we would love to have it, but at this point in time, it’s most important to sell SUVs,” said Kunz. “The SUV trend is continuing, and even more for Mazda. It’s what’s selling best”.
Nevertheless, we shouldn’t rush to interpret that statement as the vehicle being is actually dead in the water worldwide.
Mazda Vision Coupe Concept
So let’s break down exactly what we’re hearing in that short but meaningful quote. First, SUVs are the priority for Mazda and that shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. The brand has a slew of new SUVs that it’s building for the world market. That includes the CX-50 that we’re driving later this week.
In addition, Kunz never actually says that they’re not doing a new 6 with an inline-six engine anywhere – he’s likely referring to the European market. That leaves space for the next generation sedan to live on at some point and in another region of the world in the future.
After all, a bunch of new SUVs from the brand sit on something it calls the Large Architecture which is a front-engine, rear- or all-wheel-drive platform. So seeing a slightly reworked version of that platform making it to production in the form of a sedan that takes design cues from the Vision Coupe Concept wouldn’t be too wild. Still, it could really be dead too.
No comment from Mazda
We reached out to Mazda reps from the UK and the US with both telling Carscoops that they couldn’t comment or speculate on future product plans. Sedans certainly aren’t flying off of dealer lots as they used to and many mainstream automakers are abandoning the body style en masse. That and a customer focus on SUVs does seem to lend better to current trends.
Mazda Vision Coupe Concept
Keyword: Report Suggests RWD Mazda6 Replacement Is Dead – At Least In Europe