What If the Mazda6 Mid-Size Sedan Comes Back to America With All-Wheel Drive?

The all-new nameplate was first introduced in 2002, and more than two decades later, it's almost out of commission in a couple of major regions like America or the UK. Over the period, it has gained just three different generations, the latest being also the longest-running – the original Mazda6 was sold between 2002 and 2007, followed by the sequel between 2007 and 2012.

However, as demand for big sedans in particular and passenger cars in general dwindled due to the hype surrounding crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, the Japanese automaker decided to withdraw the Mazda6 from the North American region a couple of years ago. Now, their streamlined vehicle lineup consists only of the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, MX-5 Miata roadster and RF, as well as four CUVs: CX-30, CX-5, CX-50, and the all-new CX-90 flagship.

Interestingly, other Asian carmakers didn't abandon the traditional four-door mid-size sector as easily – and just recently, Toyota even flaunted the latest evolution of the best-selling Camry alongside their first-ever Crown Signia crossover SUV at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. As it turns out, mid-size sedans are not dead yet, as Mazda and other carmakers like Ford previously thought. They are not going extinct anytime soon, either.

As such, it is no wonder the rumor mill is eager to report that Mazda is now considering an American comeback with the Mazda6's fourth iteration. Of course, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is also right beside it with their visions. For example, we have a trio of automotive channels that allowed their resident pixel master to dream of this potential regional revival.

The good folks over at PoloTo have lots of unofficial interpretations – probably triggered by the extensive use of AI-assisted design software. In case you want something decidedly subtle, the 'A1 Cars channel is painting a CGI picture of a Mazda6 that could be considered more or less a more straightforward mid-cycle refresh.

And if you need something extreme from the parallel universes of vehicular CGI, the peeps at TheAutoReport come with the minimalist yet muscular vision of a Mazda6 from the future. Now, please choose your favorite, and let's discuss the technical details. As far as our two cents on the matter are concerned, we could easily see the Mazda6 make a delightful comeback sporting the same underpinnings as the CX-60 and CX-90 crossovers – namely the Large Product Group architecture with RWD and AWD plus a longitudinal engine layout, chiefly the inline-six and PHEV setups!