Straightline

Damn, that looks flat out awesome. Can't wait to see the Mazdaspeed version of it.

Looks good to me. I wonder if they are going to use the V6 or the 4 cyl for the MazdaSpeed6.

Mazda made the new Mazda2 lighter than the previous Mazda2.
Mazda made the new Japanese market 6 lighter than the previouse Mazda6.
Is the USA 6 lighter to follow Mazda's sustainable Zoom-Zoom philosophy? Nope. Someone meddled in the product design and screwed up the 6 especially for North America!
 
And there is no hatch or wagon which is offered everywhere else EXCEPT North America.
 
Oh wait, the Mazda2 is not offered in North America either.
 
Perhaps Mazda should just rebadge a Taurus as a Millenia and give North America what it really wants, even bigger, bloated boats.

I like the look of the above, but I have to say the following:
 
I had a Mazda6 as a rental this past weekend. It only had 177mi on it at pick-up, so I assume it was a 2008. I put 500 mostly highway miles on it, and really liked it. Other than having one of the better auto boxes I've had in a while (5 speeds and well-matched to the 4 cyl engine), I liked that it wasn't as big as the Magnum, Impala and Camry that have been recent rentals -- they are too big. I hope this isn't too big. To me the Mazda6, VW Passat and Subaru Legacy (i.e., global platform cars) are the "right size."

I think I may have jumped the gun earlier. When I first saw photos of the 6, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I even thought Mazda might have ruined their design.
 
But now I think this looks great. It's a clean, taught, simple design, much like the Civics of the early 90s. It's fresh but quite familiar.

Loves it!!

Nice. Mazda is the one to watch.. not Hyundai.
 
Good looks, good reliability, great driving dynamics. Hopefully they ditched some of those hard plastics on the interior.

I should be buying a new car in the next few years and the Mazda 6 was No. 1 on my list! No more! No hatchback and no manual for the V6? And handling that's been optimised for "North American" conditions? I'll pass.....
 
Honda Accord V6, here I come!!!
 
One thing I liked about the previous Mazda 6 was its somewhat different nature. Especially, enthusiasts were well catered for..... It sounds like the new Mazda is trying to get too mainstream and be like the Accord. So I might as well get the Accord....at least it'll have better resale value!

Japanese/Euro Mazda6 FTW (for the win)
 
North American Mazda6 FTL (for the loss)

V6 = no clutch? Yup, a loss.
 
Wonder what kind of mileage the new one will get with the bigger engines. The old one's mileage was no great shakes.
 
It is a looker, though. But I wonder if the sloping rear roof will knock some heads getting in and out of the back seats.

Looks great, but I'm very disappointed that the V6 doesn't come with a manual. Once again the American market is getting the short end of the stick.

"Looks great, but I'm very disappointed that the V6 doesn't come with a manual. Once again the American market is getting the short end of the stick."
 
I know sticks dont sell in large numbers but there are still people in the market for a nice V6 powered family sedan with a nice 6 speed. Honda offered the last generation Accord V6 6MT in sedan configuration for 2 years and its a rare car. That thing hauled some serious ass though.
 
I wish Honda would make a dedicated "sport Accord" but they cant step on the TL's toes. Imagine a Accord V6 6MT sedan that performed/drove like a TL-S 6MT. WOW! Another reason Acura IS....yes IS going to offer RWD sedans.
 
Honda should REALLY reconsider the Accord V6 6MT sedan.

estreka - I agree with you, that leaked mazda6 pictures looked horrific.
 
To the no stick whiners. Stick is dead. its in american like 95% of cars are being sold with auto's.
 
Its already happening, like I predicated, The cheap and performance cars will be the only ones left with a stick. And as fewer and fewer people drive stick... geuss what, the demand for stick keeps going down and down.

"To the no stick whiners. Stick is dead. its in american like 95% of cars are being sold with auto's."
 
America isn't the whole world, everywhere else sticks are common and popular.
 
Not everyone is lazy, there are still lots of us who enjoy driving.

I think it's interesting that the 2009 Mazda 2.5L I4 has the same power as my 2000 2.5L V6 Ford. The Ford probably has a better power curve and is a lot smoother. Yes, I know it's all the same company. That's why it's interesting.
 
I'm not complaining too much. I just hope the MPG makes up for it.