Top-selling upgraded Mazda6 for 2010

To meet strong demand for the popular Mazda6 from both retail and fleet customers, Mazda UK brought forwards the ‘on sale’ date for the upgraded Mazda6 models for 2010.  Now in Mazda dealer showrooms, the new 19-strong range features refreshed exterior and interior styling, additional equipment and a range of significant technical enhancements that improve fuel economy by up to 6.4 percent and reduced CO2 emissions by up to 6.1 percent.

Customers are offered a choice of two body styles (hatchback and estate), six engines (three petrol and three diesel) and four equipment levels – S, TS, TS2, and Sport.

Improved fuel economy, lower Road Fund Licence bands and reduced Benefit In Kind costs offer buyers significant savings, while prices for the upgraded Mazda6 now range from £16,995 to £23,445 on-the-road, increased by an average of just 4.8 percent.

“Distinctive styling has always given the Mazda6 ‘stand-out’ looks from other family cars and the refreshed model has an even more sophisticated appearance,” comments Mark Cameron, Sales Director, Mazda UK.  “Dynamic and engaging driving characteristics have also played a big part in the success of Mazda6 and they remain at the heart of the new model.”

“The upgraded Mazda6 has been given a make-over that is much more than a cosmetic exercise.  While the car has more aggressive front styling, the engines, suspension and steering have been fine-tuned, enhancing refinement.  Mazda6 remains among the best-in-class for CO2 emissions and its ownership experience is underpinned by reduced costs and Mazda’s outstanding build quality and reliability,” adds Cameron.

“With a continuing list price advantage versus the competition and lower rates of depreciation, we expect the revised Mazda6 to retain its leading position in the fleet market and provide a springboard for further fleet sales growth as it appeals to even more company car drivers.  During the next 12 months, we expect to sell more than 10,500 new Mazda6 models in the UK – a rise of approximately 1,500 units compared with last year – with about 72 percent destined for fleet buyers,” concludes Cameron.

Retuned engines deliver reduced CO2 emissions

A new 2-litre DISI petrol engine delivers 155ps (up from 147ps), while the lower power 2.2-litre diesel generates more power and torque – up 4ps to 129ps and up 20Nm to 340Nm at 1,800rpm.  The highest power 2.2-litre diesel now produces 180ps (down 5ps) but modifications to the turbocharger boost torque delivery (while aiding fuel economy and cutting emissions), and its overall excellent performance is retained.

A Sport 2.0-litre petrol model with Mazda’s five-speed automatic transmission is introduced after dealers reported a latent demand for a top-of-the-range model with this specification.

The upgraded Mazda6 achieves fuel economy average improvements of 3.2 and 4.1 percent (petrol/diesel) and CO2emissions reductions that average 4.4 and 4.8 percent (petrol/diesel), so the lower power 2.2-litre, 129ps diesel hatchback now has a rating of just 138g/km.  These improvements move many models into a lower RFL band.  All new Mazda6 models now meet Euro5 emission standards.

Four, highly specified equipment levels

Although Mazda is keeping the upgraded Mazda6 range as simple as possible, buyers will continue to be offered a broad choice of powertrains and specifications, with each of the four equipment levels – S, TS, TS2, and Sport – highly specified within its price band.

Upgraded equipment for the new Mazda6 encompasses ‘smart’ turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) for all models.  Additional items for 2010, moving up the range include: rear spoiler (TS upwards); front & rear parking sensors and Hill Hold Assist (TS2 upwards), and swivel?type AFS front lights (Sport).

A choice of eight exterior colours is available – including a single solid colour (Brilliant Black), two metallics (Clear Water Blue and Sunlight Silver), and five micas (Black, Graphite, Stormy Blue, Copper Red and Crystal White Pearl).  Standard interior trim is Black cloth (S, TS and TS2), with part cloth/part leather trim on Sport models.  Full leather trim is now available as an option on all TS2 and Sport models (priced at £1,150 and £750, respectively), and includes powered driver and front passenger seats with a memory function on the driver’s seat.

Even stronger appeal for fleet customers

“The Mazda6 was the model that put our brand on the fleet map.  Now, with a range of revised engines delivering significant CO2 emissions reductions, we are confident that demand among core company car drivers for the upgraded model will rise,” comments Peter Allibon, Fleet and Remarketing Director, Mazda UK.

“Together with CO2 emissions reduced by between 3.1 and 6.1 percent, and cuts of up to 10g/km on a model-for-model basis, upgraded Mazda6 delivers benefit-in-kind tax savings for company car drivers and a range of financial savings on other vehicle-related taxes for companies – such as Class 1A National Insurance contributions paid on benefits-in-kind, Vehicle Excise Duty and capital allowances,” adds Allibon.

Although the power output of the 2.0-litre petrol engine has been raised (from 147 up to 155ps), Mazda6 models with this powerunit are among the most ‘improved’ for CO2 emissions with the estate down 10g/km to 161 and the hatchback down 9g/km to just 159 – putting the hatch in the 20% company car tax bracket for 2010/11.

Power output on the ‘low power’ 2.2-litre diesel engine is increased from 125ps to 129ps, but its CO2 emissions in the hatchback are reduced from 147g/km to 138g/km putting this model in the 19% company car tax bracket in 2010/11.

All estate diesel model CO2 emissions are now below 150g/km to help offset the April 2010 5g/km increases in company car tax thresholds and rises in VED rates on cars with emissions of 151g/km and above.

Although list prices across the upgraded Mazda6 range have risen, the line-up remains extremely competitive versus the competition.  The benefit-in-kind tax bills have been trimmed by up to £4.67 / £9.35 (for a 20% / 40% taxpayer), and now span from a low of £53.15 to a high of £182.2 for a 40% taxpayer.

Mazda expects the residual values of the upgraded Mazda6 to improve even further as a result of the revised model’s reduced emissions and improved specification – a view that is endorsed by Jeff Knight, Forecast Manager at CAP.

“The Mazda6 has achieved first-class residual values throughout its history and that is unlikely to change with the latest version.  Experts at CAP think that residual values for the upgraded Mazda6 will improve particularly on the TS2 grade where the styling revisions are at their most effective.  This bodes well for the best-selling TS2 163ps diesel and the TS ‘low power’ diesel model as they already retain 35 percent of their value over three years/60,000 miles,” comments Knight.