Photo: Theophilus Chin
Everybody remembers the day when Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Mazda6 MPS. He compared it to an entry level BMW 3 Series and found that it was cheaper, better equipped and much faster. He then organized a fun little drag race together with the Ford Mondeo ST and Vauxhall Vectra VXR.
Out of all three cars, only Vauxhall still makes a hot sedan based on the Insignia and powered by a turbo V6 engine. Mazda and Ford have both decided performance is not as important as fuel economy. Their sales back that decision, but sooner or later, their brand will suffer from a Lexus-like aging process which will need to be reversed.
Just ask Hyundai why they stole the heard of BMW's M division and they will give it to you straight: "Because we need hot cars, halo cars."
Right, back to the Mazda subject. We're looking at a rendering of the Mazda6 MPS that was put together by Theophilus Chin based on the recently revealed mid-life facelift. The graphics manipulator gave his creation a new front bumper, side skirts and larger wheels that hug the arches.
Back in the days when the 6er MPS was still in production, it was motivated by a 2.3-liter turbo sending 260 hp and 380 Nm of torque to an all-wheel drive system. Mazda has stopped development of its turbo-4 engine and instead focused on low-friction Skyactiv tech. But the turbo is rumored to make a comeback in a few years on the next-gen CX-9 SUV.
Until then the Mazda6 MPS has a 0% chance of reaching production. Finding a good car to compare the potential go-fast Mazda sedan is pretty hard. However, Volkswagen makes a couple of rather quick Passats. One comes with a twin-turbo 2.0 TDI making 240 hp, the other gets a 280 hp petrol engine, just like the one in the SEAT Leon Cupra.
In America, the Mazdaspeed6 would compete with a myriad of V6 mid-size sedan, such as the Honda Accord or the Subaru Legacy.
Just ask Hyundai why they stole the heard of BMW's M division and they will give it to you straight: "Because we need hot cars, halo cars."
Right, back to the Mazda subject. We're looking at a rendering of the Mazda6 MPS that was put together by Theophilus Chin based on the recently revealed mid-life facelift. The graphics manipulator gave his creation a new front bumper, side skirts and larger wheels that hug the arches.
Back in the days when the 6er MPS was still in production, it was motivated by a 2.3-liter turbo sending 260 hp and 380 Nm of torque to an all-wheel drive system. Mazda has stopped development of its turbo-4 engine and instead focused on low-friction Skyactiv tech. But the turbo is rumored to make a comeback in a few years on the next-gen CX-9 SUV.
Until then the Mazda6 MPS has a 0% chance of reaching production. Finding a good car to compare the potential go-fast Mazda sedan is pretty hard. However, Volkswagen makes a couple of rather quick Passats. One comes with a twin-turbo 2.0 TDI making 240 hp, the other gets a 280 hp petrol engine, just like the one in the SEAT Leon Cupra.
In America, the Mazdaspeed6 would compete with a myriad of V6 mid-size sedan, such as the Honda Accord or the Subaru Legacy.
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