A Mazda 6 MPS wagon would be a welcome addition to its range, bolstering the company’s performance offerings to more than just the Mazda MX-5 sports car.
MAZDA does a pretty amazing job at punching above its weight. Compared to the likes of GM, VW and Toyota it’s a minnow, yet there’s not a dud car in its range, a range that spans everything from city cars to seven-seat SUVs to high-riding workhorse utes.
Well done Mazda, but we want more.
Call us greedy, but for a company with its proud sporting heritage to have just one true driver’s car in its range – the MX-5 for those who haven’t done their homework – is not enough, especially when there’s product ripe for the go-faster treatment.
Mazda’s MPS brand was the ultimate expression of its “Zoom, Zoom” philosophy, injecting true turbocharged performance into the 3 and 6 and offering left-field alternatives to the likes of the VW Golf GTI and Subaru WRX.
Mazda MX-5 2.0 enters the Garage
It’s understandable that halo models are put on the backburner while development concentrates on the volume sellers, but with Mazda on fire in Australia it just needs some hot metal to pour some fuel on the flames.
Everyone loves a fast wagon, so here’s a Mazda 6 MPS.
SCORING A BOOST
Thankfully, you don’t have to look far in the Mazda family for a suitable engine. The 2.5-litre turbocharged four-pot in the CX-9 is already a strong, willing performer so with a bit of tweaking to lift outputs from 170kW/420Nm to 220kW/450Nm it’s a no brainer.
AUTOMATIC CHOICE
Sorry, hardcore enthusiasts, but it’s six-speed auto only for the 6 MPS, but that will at least make reeling off 0-100km/h in 5.0sec dead a piece of cake and Mazda’s SkyActiv-Drive is one of the snappier-shifting autos around.
All-wheel drive is a must, so let’s hope Mazda built a transmission tunnel into the 6 platform!
GET SHORTY
Everyday useability and cost containment is the name of the game here, so 19-inch wheels remain with a more performance-focused tyre, better brake pads and a passive suspension setup that offers equal parts compliance and body control rather than stiff, razor-sharp responses.
Wagon chosen not just because fast wagons are cool but because the 80mm shorter wheelbase delivers better handling than the sedan.
WEIGHTY ISSUE
The primary enemy of the 6 MPS’s performance aspirations will be weight. The base sedan is a reasonable 1462kg but this climbs to 1594kg for the top-spec wagon.
Adds all-wheel drive and a turbo charger and this could balloon towards 1700kg. Weight will need to saved carefully.
KEEP IT REAL
Price is also tricky, with the current 6 range topping out at almost $50K. To be competitive with the likes of the VW Passat 206TSI and VW Golf R wagons we’d aim for a fully-loaded $55,000 sticker price to take the fight to the Germans.
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