2024 Mazda 6 imagined on RWD CX-60 platform

Mazda told us back in November 2022 that the long-running 6 is unlikely to be replaced, but that hasn’t stopped our man Theo asking what if?

In imagining a new-gen Mazda 6, Theo's come up with a bulkier, blockier, bolder development of the 6’s styling themes, analogous to the evolution of the second-gen 6 (and reminiscent of how Bangle-era BMWs grew out of the '90s models).

Theo’s renderings reflect current styling directions (and the i5, if you squint) more than Mazda’s own Vision Coupe Concept of 2017, which channeled Eunos and stillborn-Amati (remember them?) with flowing lines and voluptuous, full surfaces ending at finer, more delicate details.

The 2019 3 certainly is inspired by the Vision Coupe, with other post-2017 models such as the current CX-3, CX-5, and CX-30 likewise continuing to evolve the ‘Kodo’ style.

This year's CX-60 and CX-90, and to a lesser extent CX-80, however, wear the more heavily proportioned styling that has inspired Theo’s concept.

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2017 Mazda Vision Coupe Concept

Why has Mazda seemingly devolved Kodo?

It might be that Kodo doesn’t translate well to more rugged (in spirit) body styles such as SUVs and utes (consider the success of the Ranger against the mechanically twinned BT-50).

When the Mazda 6 has already been taken off sale in the USA, UK and Europe, and the CX-5 outsells it by nearly four-to-one in Australia, Mazda’s near-term future begins with CX – so it needs a styling theme to suit.

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2023 Mazda CX-60

Should Mazda decide to persevere with new sedans and hatches, they will need to be electrified – and the more bullish new theme lends itself to hiding large battery packs better than low-slung, finely honed and tapered Kodo lines.

Which raises a potentially billions-of-dollars, if sadly hypothetical, question: would a new medium or large sedan use Mazda’s modular Large Architecture, or would it debut something newer, dedicated and more compatible with the electrical powertrains increasingly mandated over the coming decade.

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2023 Mazda CX-90

Mazda has said its 'Large Architecture' is designed for SUVs only, so it would seem an unlikely candidate to underpin a new range of saloons.

A new skateboard-style electric vehicle platform suitable for midsize to large sedans and SUVs would be ideal, and taller styling necessitated by the thick floor could be made consistent with the 2023 releases – but does Mazda have the resources to develop one? It would likely have to partner with a larger manufacturer, presumably its usual go-to, Toyota.

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Image: Next-Gen Mazda 6 Sedan, imagined by Theottle

Maybe there’s a third path...

How about downsizing the 6 to a lightweight, rear-wheel drive 1 to 3 Series sized sedan and coupe EV pair, based on a stretched next-gen MX-5.

Bring Kodo back with a vengeance. Maybe even call it a Eunos, Xedos, or Amati. Never gonna happen, but at least it’s an excuse to post one more pic of the Vision Coupe.

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2017 Mazda Vision Coupe Concept