Next-gen Mazda 6 might be axed; Rear-drive sportscar also unlikely

Remember the exciting rumour that Mazda was planning an all-new Mazda 6 that would be rear-wheel-drive and powered by a fresh straight-six turbo petrol?

The persistent speculation was that Mazda’s new rear-drive Large Architecture, which will underpin a host of new SUVs like the CX-60, CX-70 and CX-90, would also spawn a sleek new 6 and possibly even a halo sports coupe, long rumoured to be badged as an RX-9.

But now Mazda has said that isn’t going to happen. Both projects seem dead in the water, or in the very least placed on the back burner, and not only because they would be slow sellers given changing buyer tastes.

Mazda has revealed its new Large Architecture is designed for SUVs only.

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Speaking to Wheels at the Australian reveal of the CX-60, Mazda’s head of design Akira Tamatani, confirmed the new 6 and halo sportscar are currently low priorities.

“If we can make a success out of those large platform products [CX-60 et al] then after that we might be able to have a passenger model,” he said. “A sportscar, a passenger car, it will be creating a brand-new platform for those type of cars so we will need to take certain steps to make action for that after. Of course we have a passion to do that [a new 6 and sportscar], but we need to take certain steps in order to get there.”

When asked to clarify his comment that a new Mazda 6 would require a new platform, Tamatani said:

“The vehicle height [of a Mazda 6] will be lower than the SUVs, so I don’t think we can apply exactly the same platform for those vehicles. This Large Architecture is designed mainly for SUVs.”

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Mazda Vision Coupe concept

Mazda’s director and senior managing executive officer, Yasuhiro Aoyama, also poured cold water on the prospect of new-gen rear-drive 6.

“We will put our focus on driving the core models for the Large Architecture, so we need to carefully investigate the opportunity into how we can develop that kind of model [a sedan] for different countries so we can meet the customer expectations,” he said.

“But we are still investigating a lot of opportunities around what should be the best product portfolio for us when we gradually shift from ICE to electrification.”

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The Mazda 6 nameplate first joined the line-up in 2002 when it replaced the 626, but Aoyama confirmed there’s no guarantee Mazda’s long-running mid-sizer will live on beyond its current generation. When we asked Aoyama is another 6 a sure thing, his reply was noncommittal.

“No, we are still investigating a lot of opportunities to make the appropriate portfolio considering the shift of our technologies into the future,” he said.

Mazda axed the 6 from its line-up in America last year and Aussie sales have nosedived as the market shifts towards SUVs, so news that a new 6 is on shaky ground is no surprise. Happily though, the brand is more positive about the future of the iconic MX-5, which Aoyama confirmed is currently being developed for a circa-2026 reveal.