The mid-size sedan market isn’t what it used to be. Once the choice of executives of the ‘90s and ‘00s, the once popular segment has been seeing a downward trend. Blame it on crossovers and SUVs in the same price point.
Still, there are some manufacturers who are clinging on to this type of vehicle. Mostly, it’s the Japanese and Koreans who still make an effort in rolling out new midsize sedans these days.
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That brings us neatly to Mazda. The brand from Hiroshima hasn’t given up on sizable sedans. For over 20 years, its entry in that segment has been the Mazda 6. The thing is, the current generation of the 6 is well over a decade old.
We wouldn’t be too surprised if it pulled the plug on the 6. As a business case, it makes sense as the company has been making a killing in the crossover market. But this is Mazda we’re talking about here, an automaker led by engineers, not accountants.
As it turns out, Mazda has a new executive sedan on the horizon. It recently released a teaser photo of a sedan, and it appears to be a long one. There’s no word as to what it is just yet, but there’s a good chance that it will be the next-gen 6.
So, what can we expect in the next-gen Mazda 6? The teaser doesn’t say much. All there is right now is a car that’s covered by a drape. The profile does look more rakish than the current model, and there’s a bit of a ‘shark-nose’ at the front.
The bigger question is this: Will it be the rumored rear-wheel drive executive sedan? Reports have suggested that the Mazda 6 will send power to the rear in its next iteration. It’s possible that it could use the same platform as the CX-60 and CX-90. If so, the 6’s competitors will change from Accord and Camry to 3-Series and IS. It also reflects the automaker’s continuous push upmarket.
We’ll find out more once the car has been fully revealed. It’s set to make its debut ‘soon’ in China, likely at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show to be held later this month.
Interesting times, indeed.
