Mazda6 Facelift

Press Release

Mazda6 Facelift Enhancements at a Glance

Exterior

• New front grille design
• New front/rear bumpers
• New exhaust pipes (2.0 and 2.3- litre petrols)
• New black bezels for front /rear lights
• New 16, 17 and 18-inch alloys
• Front fog lamps
• New Sports Appearance Package

Interior

• New trim materials, including thicker armrest material
• New meter cluster bezel
• Door handles front/rear
• Dark titanium coloured centre panel

Comfort and Entertainment

• Single CD player
• Automatic power rear windows
• Advanced keyless entry system and Redractable key with global closing
• Burglar alarm system â€â€ÂÂ�Thatcham Category-1
• Semi-bucket front seats (depending on grade)
• Driver seat position memory system
• Improved insulation, vibration damping and reinforcements for less cabin noise

Powertrain

• Refined 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel engines
• Diesel particulate filter system standard for diesel engines
• Refined 1.8-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.3-litre petrol engines
• New six-speed manual transmission (for diesel engines and 2.0/2.3-litre petrols)
• New five-speed Activematic transmission (for 2.0/2.3-litre petrols)

Chassis

• Enlarged disc brakes (320 mm front /314 mm rear) for 18-inch alloy wheels optional for 2.3- litre petrol)
• Retuned front and rear suspension bushings

Safety

• Increased A- and B-pillar rigidity and strength
• New body reinforcements
• New outer door panel reinforce- ments and door pad
• Thick front frame reinforce- ment
• Rain-sensing wiper system
• Auto light system
• Seat belt reminder and indicator for rear seat

A Great Car Gets Even Better

The launch of the Mazda6 in 2002 was a milestone for Mazda Motor Corporation. As the first product of Mazda's new Zoom- Zoom model philosophy, Mazda6 made it immediately obvious that the pledge to put a bit of sports car into every new Mazda was no idle promise. Mazda6's fun-to-drive character was reminiscent of such legendary cars as the rotary-engine Mazda RX-7 and the Mazda MX-5, but this time in a comfortable, sophisticated and sporty looking midsized car.

The Mazda6 introduced a new kind of Mazda to the world and changed how people perceived the Mazda brand. Added to its well-deserved reputation for dependability and generous standard equipment packages were dynamic, stylish design, insightful packaging and spirited driving attributes.

This combination was a hit right from the beginning. The Mazda6 not only went on to win over 100 automobile awards worldwide, but Mazda has produced more than 620,000 units to date and it continues to be Mazda's top-selling model globally. In Europe, it initiated nothing less than a complete turn- around and led Mazda Motor Europe to levels of success that not even the most optimistic had thought possible. In 2003, its first full year on the market, over 100,000 Mazda6s were sold in Europe, and it was consistently one of the top-selling Japanese import cars in its segment. Its popularity has not waned and in 2004 it remained Mazda's best- selling model in Europe, finding nearly the same number of owners as in its first year and achieving a segment share of 5.7 percent.

Mazda chose the 2005 Geneva Motor Show to present the first facelift version of the original best-seller to highlight its importance to the European market. The new version, which will go on sale starting in early summer this year, clearly adds more of what made Mazda6 so popular among customers, with sophisticated and sporty enhance- ments to both the exterior and interior, five newly-refined engines, two new transmissions and enhanced suspension attributes. Combined in all three body styles � Mazda6 sedan, Mazda6 Sport and Mazda6 Wagon � they deliver high levels of refined maturity intended to make one of the segment's out- standing cars even better.

Exterior

Evolved Athleticism Mazda6's exterior has always been the epitome of Mazda's new-generation design theme of athleticism that combines refinement, sophistication and a bold road presence. The face- lifted Mazda6 takes these attributes one step further, providing a stronger and sportier appearance for all three models by refining the front and rear of the car.

Added to the car's distinctive air inlet apertures in the front skirt, and the slim clear glass headlights, is a new upper grille design now markedly recessed, giving the lower section a deeper lip for a distinctive, three-dimensional appearance.

The lower grille design is modified for a more aggressive, sporty appearance and the former diamond grille mesh has been replaced by an elongated honeycomb for a touch of sporty sophistication. The front bumper has also been redesigned to emphasize Mazda6's speedy appearance, and there are fog lights (optional or standard, depending on grade) and headlights with new thin black bezels for a sporty elegance.

Seen from the side, the Mazda6 facelift retains its sporty design language achieved through the steeply angled windshield and large, flared wheel wells. For even more sophistication and sportiness, the Mazda6 facelift has been enhanced with new 16, 17 and 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels. At the back, the rear bumper, exhaust pipes (2.0 and 2.3-litre petrols) and new rear light bezels enhance the strong, dynamic look of the car. A horizontal line has been added between the reflectors to emphasize the car's wide stance, while the wrap-around taillights with black bezels match the headlights, giving a consistent and high-quality look to the whole. Two additional body colours are available as well�Phantom Blue Mica and the all-new Brilliant Carbon Grey Mica.

An additional visual differentiator for most European markets is the Sports Appearance Package, which will be available in selected markets and gives the Mazda6 an even stronger athleticism with exterior cues that reflect the look of the top- end Mazda6 MPS. These include the front grille design, with the Mazda brand symbol on wings, and the front bumper with new aero skirts. The line running from the underside of the front bumper, over the side skirts and to the rear bumper has been modified, and at the back of the car there is a spoiler and new bumper aero skirting. These design features give the Mazda6 facelift with the Sports Appearance Package a particularly sporty and sophisticated look.