A new 2.2 litre diesel engine with three different power outputs will make the Mazda6 a very interesting buy when it arrives in early 2009.
Also new to the good looking Mazda6 will be a new 'Rear Vehicle Monitoring System' that keeps an eye on the lanes either side of the car in a similar way to the Volvo set-up by warning the driver when a vehicle enters the car's blind spot.
Mazda is known as a sporty Japanese car maker. For a number of years Mazda has benefited from a close association with Ford and we all know how much work Ford puts into handling and suspension set-ups. The 6 is the firm's 'D' sector car and, as any enthusiastic driver will tell you, it is one of the most involving drivers cars you can find in that close-fought sector. With handling to rival the class leading Ford Mondeo, the 6 can hold its head high.
The 6 is available in various petrol guises and just one 2-litre diesel; while economical and reasonably powerful, its days are numbered and by the end of 2009 more than likely it will get the chop. While fuel consumption has not been improved upon, the new 2.2 diesel is a big leap forward.
Mazda has put a lot of work in to developing a new 2.2 litre diesel engine to replace the noisier 2 litre. It comes in three different power outputs from an acceptable performing 125bhp (lower bhp than the 2 litre with 138bhp) to a mid range and very nippy 163bhp, with a slightly nuts 185bhp proving to be stonkingly quick. 0-100km/h takes just 8.5 seconds in the top of the range version.
Since our VRT changes to the European Union-inspired CO2 based model, diesels have been all the rage. Diesel engines produce less CO2 per kilometre when averaged out, thanks in no small part to being more fuel-efficient than petrol engines.
The new 2.2 uses an average of just 5.6 litres of diesel to travel 100kms. The powerplant is considerably quieter than the outgoing diesel and there is a host of other changes in the nuts and bolts like a new VGT (variable geometry turbocharger) featuring curved instead of straight vanes that is significantly more efficient. Producing 2,000 bar of pressure the torque figures are impressive with 310, 360 and 400nm of pulling power from far lower down the rev range than before. The 2.2 MZR-CD engine also features an innovative particulate filter that Mazda is particularly proud of.
Petrol engines are making a come back, though, as more ways are found to deliver greater fuel efficiency. Mazda is keen to continue promoting its gasoline engines with innovations like SISS. BMW was the first European manufacturer to off a stop/start system on its mass produced cars and Mazda is now going to put its take on this CO2 reducing technology in to production. Smart Idle Stop Start will feature in the new Mazda3 due in the New Year. SISS unlike BMW's Efficient Dynamics won't work on diesel engines for the moment.
The mid-power 2.2 is the one to go for and a Mazda6 to be proud of.
Michael Sheridan
