2008 Mazda 6

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/06/2008-mazda6-breaks-early/

Looks decent. I think the current design sill looks a bit more aggressive/edgy. This should be a pretty good looking car in person though.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/09/autoblog-mazda-6-024.jpg

Not bad, this is the first pic I've seen of them. Hopefully they will be easy to work on/ not have too many recalls.

I'll have to see it in person. The current one looks great for a sedan.

Interor looks pretty cool! (save for the seat seam pattern)

Best looking sedan on the market now, by far. :bow: Shames the new Malibu.

Word from Autoblog.com is the new one is LIGHTER AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT than the previous gen. Now that's real progress.

I like it.

I like it a lot...can't wait to drive one. I did have my heart set on a 3...

For the "head turner" the new Malibu was supposed to be, it's not even (or barely?) on the market and already has been upstaged from a styling point of view.

Word from Autoblog.com is the new one is LIGHTER AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT than the previous gen. Now that's real progress.

And it is LARGER to boot!

I'll have to see it in person. The current one looks great for a sedan.

I have to agree with you, there is a red one running around here and it looks kinda cool, for a 4 door...

Mazda really stepped it up , I think this even makes the Aura look bland . This looks like the Euro ford mondeo(greenhouse) .....is it ? And if so , why can Mazda have it but Ford cant . Didnt the Focus get the shaft like this to with the 3<----that is basically the euro focus chassis right ?

haha , I dont know too much about the Ford Mazda connection , hence the questions .

And it is LARGER to boot!

I haven't seen any official specs yet, but it certainly looks bigger and that is the current marketing trend with new models. I'll be very interested to see how they accomplished bigger AND lighter.

I haven't seen any official specs yet, but it certainly looks bigger and that is the current marketing trend with new models. I'll be very interested to see how they accomplished bigger AND lighter.

I remember reading it was like 2 inches wider, but I don't remember how much longer.

I love the exterior and features list. I'm not as impressed as I thought I was going to be with the interior. It's a letdown - especially relative to the exterior.

Wow, looks good. Hate to say it, but from the pics online so far, it does look better than the Malibu. I just wish the domestics would go a little farther with the little details like their competitor, from the intricacies of the lamp reflectors, to the crisp character lines, to the sportiness of the wheels and tire/fender gaps and the right amt of chrome.....if you ever look at a domestic it always seems like mid-level trim compared to a top-of-the-line trim from the imports. I have never bought an import in my life and probably never will, but I just want more detail in the design. Seems like GM is the only one getting the ball rolling in that department, though I wish it would happen a tad faster.

If anyone didn't noticed, there are some sensors in the frt bumper,,,,for speed control?

That's quite a nice looking car.

If anyone didn't noticed, there are some sensors in the frt bumper,,,,for speed control?

Good point. They could be for laser cruise or they could be for pre-impact collision detection, or both.

Looks like there's headlight washers, too.

could be parking sensors too

Looks like Mazda has been looking at Acura's design playbook...

:shrug:

Even still, its a good looking car.

Looks a little more sophisticated. I like the current one alot, and I hope this one doesn't take away the sporty look of the current version.

Dan

Word from Autoblog.com is the new one is LIGHTER AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT than the previous gen. Now that's real progress.

No doubt. So what's the deal with all those people saying that a new Camaro just has to be heavier to meet all the current safety and comfort standards? Seems like at least one manufacturer is burning the midnight oil to find a way around increased bloat.

And I'll echo the comments about the new Malibu. I've personally never been that impressed with it since the first spy shots were leaked. Now it's looking like the competition is going to make sure the new Malibu will appear at least as bland and boring as the current gen is.

Now it's looking like the competition is going to make sure the new Malibu will appear at least as bland and boring as the current gen is.

...the Malibu's not alone though . The Camry , 08 Accord , Altima ...all look very bland and boring next to the new 6 .

Looks great! I wonder if the 4cly will get a nice power bump. 156 for the last gen is pretty weak.

Looks good! :thumb:

It is a Mazda version of the Ford Mondeo

http://www.carsandtuning.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/new-ford-mondeo.jpg

Mazda really stepped it up , I think this even makes the Aura look bland . This looks like the Euro ford mondeo(greenhouse) .....is it ? And if so , why can Mazda have it but Ford cant . Didnt the Focus get the shaft like this to with the 3<----that is basically the euro focus chassis right ?

haha , I dont know too much about the Ford Mazda connection , hence the questions .

Actually, the Focus II is better tuned than its mazda counterparts. (suspension etc).

The Focus is actually a better car for tuning for racing than the 3 (heavier), hence the Spec Focus categories etc. FRRP has a dynamic multimatic suspension for the Focus I just for this category, they tuned the FR500C race car as well...

I tihnk it looks similar to the lexus IS300
http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/LexusIS/ImagesIS250/LeftFront.jpg

It looks like a Camry.

Looks like Mazda's been doing some research on Lexus and Acura.

It's a good looking car, just doesn't look original.

No doubt. So what's the deal with all those people saying that a new Camaro just has to be heavier to meet all the current safety and comfort standards? Seems like at least one manufacturer is burning the midnight oil to find a way around increased bloat.

And I'll echo the comments about the new Malibu. I've personally never been that impressed with it since the first spy shots were leaked. Now it's looking like the competition is going to make sure the new Malibu will appear at least as bland and boring as the current gen is.

Keep in mind with Zeta that it's engineered in and for Austrailia, IIRC, and their roads are much worse than ours, hence the chassis will be 'over built' to N.American standards. But still, makes you wonder about the Camaro needing to be a (supposed) porker.

Back on subject, the Malibu's interior looks to be a little better design, definately more adventurous and dynamic, but I don't think the new 6 is a let down, just more conservative. Could be argued they sacrificed interior time and money into the weight savings?

Plus, the 6 will get people into the dealer lot by itself, can't say I'd bet the same on the new Malibu, I think it'll need a fair bit of help to convince people to pull into a dealer.

I wonder what the deal will be with the Mazdaspeed version?

I drove the old Mazdaspeed6 and really liked it - from interior to exterior.

I'm curious to see if they offer the 270hp/AWD/6spd in a wagon form this generation, knowing that sport wagons are starting to gain momentum here in the states (and a bit in Europe too).

No doubt. So what's the deal with all those people saying that a new Camaro just has to be heavier to meet all the current safety and comfort standards? Seems like at least one manufacturer is burning the midnight oil to find a way around increased bloat.

Yeah, what is the deal with them.

It is very easy to see that if a new Mazda 6 is rumored to be lighter than the current Mazda 6, that all you need to do is burn some midnight oil to make a Zeta-based Camaro with side airbags, etc., lighter than the F4 Camaro.

Since it is very easy, would someone please explain it to me :D