2009 U.S. Mazda 6 photos

[Wimbledon]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda6.html

Quote, originally posted by Leftlanenews »

Early look: 2009 Mazda 6 diverges slightly from Atenza We've already seen a good preview of the 2009 Mazda6 with the unveiling of the Japan-specific Atenza, but apparently the car has received a few modifications in its translation to the U.S. market. Take a close look at this finished pre-production Mazda6 and you’ll instantly notice the differences! Changes to the front fascia – including the foglamps (and their location), as well as the grille inserts – are very obvious – and there are even more differences around the back! The U.S. spec Mazda6 differs from the car previously introduced with a very different look in the rear. Different taillights set them apart, as does the location change of the third brake-light. The license plate moves up in the U.S. version, exhaust tips look sportier and the Mazda emblem shrinks slightly. Look closely and you see even more changes with the rear fascia. The new 6 is lighter, slightly bigger and more fuel-efficient than the model it replaces. It is believed to be powered by a 3.5 liter V6, although official details have not yet been released. Expectations are high for the new Mazda6 — the first model almost single-handedly reinvented Mazda and was the fastest vehicle the automaker ever produced to exceed 1 million units sold worldwide.

U.S. spec:

JDM spec:

[DenCo]

Has a little bit of a Saturn feel to it, in US spec, IMO.

[AKADriver]

Even though the rear end is significantly different, there is no way these cars are different platforms. All the body panel cut lines are identical.

The US front end looks cheap, especially the headlights and grille.

[cricketchirp]

The whole product may be great but the front and rear fascia of the US car are pretty bad. It screams CHEAP! Especially the front looks CHEAP! When something is right from the get go WHY CHANGE IT?

US Front fascia:
Rear fascia : cluttered mess compared to the ROW car design!

[rossi46]

A case of change for the sake of change? Why on earth did Mazda feel the need to redesign the 6 for our market?!

[WhistlerYOW]

Ugh...

WTF is with those fender flares? Way to big.

[cricketchirp]

I think Mazda US was forced to hire the crack team from Ford that redesigned the MKI Focus and took a former gem and roughed it up to become a turd!

[1Via]

What would the word for the opposite of 'groundbreaking' be?

[r0nd3L]

That's disappointing. When I saw JDM Mazda6 for the first time, it looked better than any other sedans out there and I couldn't wait to see it in the US.

But, apparently we're getting molested version of it

[urogolf]

the JDM one is great
the USdm one sux balls

it looks cheap in comparison

[cricketchirp]

*Waiting for the marketing experts to tell us how we are all so wrong about the blechifications to this otherwise excellent car.

[Mazda 3s]

http://forums.thecarlounge.net...08314

[r0nd3L]

Actually, looking more closely at both of them, they are almost same. I think it's the ****ty pictures of USDM one that makes it look like arse compared to JDM.

[AKADriver]

Quote, originally posted by cricketchirp »

*Waiting for the marketing experts to tell us how we are all so wrong about the blechifications to this otherwise excellent car.

Well, I wouldn't doubt that the US rear end probably affords more trunk space, and I have to study the pictures more, but the rear door (and thus rear seat space) might be longer.

I can't guess why they restyled the nose, though - the US nose just looks like something out of the '90s. The headlights and grille of the JDM car just bring together the whole design, make it more cohesive and more modern.

[cricketchirp]

That doesn't explain the reason WHY they would have slapped the tag location in the deck lid though? Just seems silly to me. The front is TERRIBLE!!!!!!

The front, it looks, "neutered", Or am I imagining things?

[uncleho]

Quote, originally posted by AKADriver »

Even though the rear end is significantly different, there is no way these cars are different platforms. All the body panel cut lines are identical. The US front end looks cheap, especially the headlights and grille.

Ya know at first glance in the other thread I thought the differences to be not so much, but after staring at both... damn it... I gotta go with the original.

I prefer the original's:
1) Dark mesh grille (I always prefer mesh and that US plain-Jane plastic rectagular, boring cross bar is just... ehhh.).
2) Hood overlap on grille (vs US' body plastic grille trim, which does nothing but accentuate the... now... panel gap ).
3) Rocker panel, which is thicker/wider and helps give a strong perception of foundation in the platform... not to mention adds to agressive look. The US one undercuts more and looks weak.
4) Front lights as it helps make the headlights bold and definitive, whereas the US one is lost in reflective material and doesn't nicely accentuate the projector lens vs reflector.
5) The center hood crease which draws attention to the pointy accents of the grille and complements the other creases in the car's sides.
6) The bumper fascia and how it has those two intakes at the lower sides, which help give an agressive stance... a low "chin" if you will, whereas the US one does the typical, "Let's make sure the fascia lower has enough clearance to clear a 10" crub encase idiot drivers still like using the 'touch' method to know how close they are to the curb."

Yeah... that US model doesn't look any different in form than the Japanese one (i.e. Is it really larger like others have noted?).

I'll say it again - What a freakin' waste of investment... especially if the two are the same size.

[what]

Mazda has taken the "overly styled" crown from Nissan. Bravo!

[cricketchirp]

Quote, originally posted by uncleho »

I'll say it again - What a freakin' waste of investment... especially if the two are the same size.

Exactly right. It almost seems (Focus refresh) if they were trying (Focus refresh) to give make work (focus refresh) to some redundant engineers (focus refresh) or designers...you think?

[kcn0113]

doesn't look too bad i guess. for a mazda

[Ryukein]

Quote, originally posted by urogolf »

the JDM one is great the USdm one sux balls

Yeah, that pretty much sums up waht I think.

[Numbersix]

It's still better than the Camcord twins, but unfortunately not nearly as well-resolved as the EU version.

[Jetty!]

It's like they are trying to give the US an uglier car because they can.

[freedomgli]

Great. Another car that looked good on the show stand but looks like sh!te when it finally arrives on our shores. Doesn't anyone in the auto industry get it? Looks sell. All those little details add up (or rather detract). I felt the same way about the Jaguar XF.

[BRealistic]

I'll wait for a production version for final judgment. It's kind of silly to compare spy photos with glossy manufacturer pics.

[freedomgli]

I think the biggest downgrade is the styling of the headlamps. Again, I felt the same way about the Jaguar XF.

[HarryHood]

Quote, originally posted by freedomgli »

I think the biggest downgrade is the styling of the headlamps. Again, I felt the same way about the Jaguar XF.

Exactly. Mazda had a great thing going with the interlocking ring feature in the headlamps on the JDM and Euro 6's. Why they appear to have chosen to abandon that attractive, stylish and unique feature for the US market -- especially when it ties in nicely to the CX-9 headlamp design -- is beyond understanding.

I also can't explain the rear. The exhaust outlets are especially unfortunate.

[uncleho]

Quote, originally posted by cricketchirp »

Exactly right. It almost seems (Focus refresh) if they were trying (Focus refresh) to give make work (focus refresh) to some redundant engineers (focus refresh) or designers...you think?

Nah... it ain't anywhere NEAR THAT bad.

They might have wasted a few mill on this, while they definitely wasted stacks (sp?) o' mills on the Focus. That was a catastrophe, where this is just stupidity.

[uncleho]

Quote, originally posted by BRealistic »

I'll wait for a production version for final judgment. It's kind of silly to compare spy photos with glossy manufacturer pics.

I don't know, dude. It looks almost done. Like medium well.

The only thing I can think it doesn't have is probably a chrome snap-on trim treatment for the grille (lower and that cross bar), because that grille CANNOT be that painfully boring for such a well-styled body.

[cricketchirp]

The amazing thing is just whom are the decision makers in the US organization that approve of such nonsense.? These people should be FIRED immediately!

Obviously they have no common sense about style. The folks looking at this are NOT buying a Ford Taurus.

[miller-cycle]

Yeah the US front end doesn't look quite as good as the JDM one. The rear isn't so bad though. I prefer the look of the trunk lid mounted license plate over the bumper mounted version actually. I prefer the look of the US spec tail lamps too.

[Lwize]

I prefer the aging Mazda3 to this.

[VarianceVQ]

Quote, originally posted by cricketchirp »

The amazing thing is just whom are the decision makers in the US organization that approve of such nonsense.? These people should be FIRED immediately! Obviously they have no common sense about style. The folks looking at this are NOT buying a Ford Taurus.

Which is great because this looks nothing like a Taurus.

I prefer the JDM design but cripes, you guys are acting like they turned it into a Galant.

[mikegilbert]

Is that Phil Margera behind the wheel

Oh and the car doesn't do much for me- from the rear 3/4 view the overstyled wheel arches scream Mitsubishi Eclipse

[cricketchirp]

Quote, originally posted by VarianceVQ »

Which is great because this looks nothing like a Taurus. .

Don't play dumb now VQ.

Of course it doesn't look like a Taurus. But the lack of classiness is certainly there in that UGLY cheap looking snout and kitschy rear.

WHY ON EARTH DID THEY CHANGE IT ? There seems to be NO reasonable explanation!

The old Ford 500 had some class, the Taurus front and rear look cheap and gauche.


Modified by cricketchirp at 11:39 PM 3-2-2008

[VDubby18]

dont like the front end..