2012 Mazda 6/Atenza Sedan Photos, engines & full specs

After it separated from Ford Motor Company, Mazda pushed hard to create its place on the market, and one of its most outstanding successes was the 6/Atenza sedan that was unveiled at the 2012 Moskow International Automobile Salon.

The four-door vehicle followed the lines and the shape of the Takeri concept car shown by Mazda at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. It was ages ahead of everything the Japanese automaker ever launched in the mid-size sedan segment. As a result, it was a finalist for the 2013 "World Car Design of the Year" award.

Penned by Akira Tamatani, the 2012 Mazda 6 sported ample, curved lines on the bodywork, like a flowing river. Its swept-back headlights flanked the broad grille that sported a pentagonal shape, and lower on the bumper, the automaker installed a trapezoidal cooling area flanked by the side scoops for the fog lamps. From its profile, the flared wheel arches were visually extended with sculptured lines on the doors. The greenhouse featured a raked-forward windscreen at the back, and a raised short deck behind it.

Inside, the driver fronted a classic instrument cluster with two large analog dials and a TFT display between them. On top of the center console, easy to reach by the driver, there was the infotainment system equipped with a touch-screen display. It could have been upgraded to a Bose premium sound system. The car was fitted as standard with Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. Thanks to its bolstered front seats, the occupants could stay in place during hard-cornering maneuvers. At the back, the bench was wide enough to accommodate three passengers, yet the sloped-down greenhouse didn't provide too much headroom for taller people.

The wide range of engines and transmissions also included an all-wheel-drive system. In addition, the all-wheel independent suspension offered a great level of comfort.