(continued)
Also new for 2006 is a top-of-the-line MAZDASPEED 6 sedan powered by a
turbocharged 274-horsepower four-cylinder engine offering all-wheel drive and a
six-speed manual transmission.
No other manufacturer offers a more complete lineup of luxury and performance
sedans, sport wagons and five-door models in the midsize class.
The Design
Customers loved the look of the 2005 Mazda6, so Mazda designers were cautious
about making too many changes.
The familiar pointed nose and sharp styling has been accented with a new sport
grille on some models and angular new headlamps across the range. The headlamps
on the Sport and Grand Sport packages use dark gray bezels. New for 2006 on
Mazda6s Grand Sport package are High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps for
superior illumination and lower maintenance. The front bumper also is new, and
helps give even more edge to the styling. Foglamps are incorporated into the
front spoiler. New side sills highlight the “hug-the-road” quality of the Mazda6
’s style, while a trunk spoiler is standard on Sport and Grand Sport versions.
Revised tail lamps – using black bezels on the Sport and Grand Sport – and a new
rear bumper on all models underline the sports-oriented changes. For the first
time on a Mazda6, 18-inch wheels are now available on the s Grand Touring and
Grand Sport packages, further improving the sporty appearance and also improving
traction and road holding.
With the 2006 model year also come three new exterior colors: Dark Cherry,
Bright Island Blue and Tungsten Gray.
Cabin Changes
The refreshed Mazda6 sees the inclusion of new front seats on all models for
greater comfort and support. Cabin quality also is improved by using new door
panels (including door handles), new cloth fabrics and a new center-console
design. Auto up/down front power windows with anti-pinch mechanism are standard.
The redesigned center console now has a new dark gray surface and uses a
separate piano-black radio/CD face with restyled switches. The instrument panel
decoration is dark gray.
The sporty interior uses a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, offering
tilt and telescopic adjustments along with fingertip cruise and audio controls.
Instrumentation includes analog speedometer, tachometer, fuel and engine
temperature gauges, as well as a digital readout for the outside air
temperature.
Although the Mazda6 is clearly a driver’s car, it provides comfort for five
adults. A six-speaker integrated AM/FM/CD sound system is standard on all cars,
while upgrades for the entry level and Sport models include an in-dash six-disc
CD changer, a cassette deck, an MP3 player or a MiniDisc Player. A 200-watt BOSE
sound system — standard on Grand Touring and Grand Sport models — also is
available, comprising an in-dash six-disc CD changer, four 25-watt speakers, a
tweeter mounted in the A-pillar of each front door, a 100-watt subwoofer and an
amplifier.
The latest in limited voice-command DVD satellite navigation is available, for
the first time on any Mazda6, on the Grand Touring and Grand Sport models.
Improved Performance
The range-topping 3.0-liter V6 engine has been noted for its strong performance
and refinement, and now gets a torque boost from 190 to 199 lb-ft (at 5,000
rpm). The change makes the engine even more tractable and the car easier to
drive, and also will improve off- the-line performance. In addition, fuel
economy is improved by one mile per gallon on both manual
and automatic vehicles. Because of changes to the exhaust system to boost
torque, maximum horsepower is reduced slightly from 220 horsepower to 215
horsepower (at 6,000 rpm).
As before, the V6 is mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed
Sport A/T automatic with manual shift. The Mazda6 is in the only vehicle in the
class to be offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. The wide number of
ratios improves performance, drivability, smoothness and gas mileage. The tall
top gear also improves comfort and quietness on the freeway, while a short first
gear gives aggressive off-the-line performance. These are all examples of Mazda6
’s sports-first philosophy.
Other improvements for the Mazda6 for 2006 include bigger ventilated front disc
brakes – up from 11.1 inches to 11.8 inches – to further cut stopping distances,
resist brake fade and improve pedal feel. Solid 11.0 inch disc brakes are used
at the rear. As before, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard – to cut stopping
distances, allow drivers to steer when braking hard, and to stop skids.
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) automatically balances front-to-rear
braking forces, irrespective of the vehicle’s load. Electronic traction control,
which minimizes wheel spin in poor weather or slippery conditions, is standard
across the range.
Secondary safety features include Triple-H body construction, which gives superb
strength to the unitary construction body, front and rear side door beams,
three-point seat belts for all five occupants, dual front airbags, and front and
rear whiplash-reducing head restraints. Side airbags and side-curtain bags are
standard on all models apart from the entry level iversion, on which they’re
optional.
The keyless entry has remote locking/unlocking, automatic opening and closing of
the front windows (a new feature for 2006), a trunk release and a panic button.
Handling and Equiptment
Double wishbone front suspension and ‘E’ type multi-link rear suspension give
the 2006 Mazda6 superb wheel control for excellent handling and ride. The wide
track and standard stabilizer bars reduce roll and improve driver response. A
long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs further improve stability. The
power-assisted rack and pinion steering has a very quick ratio – only 2.54 turns
lock to lock – to improve handling nimbleness and ensure driver involvement. Yet
its variable assistance means it is light and easy to use at parking speed,
while firming up at higher speeds to give full feedback from the front wheels to
the driver’s palms.
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