![]() ![]() However, Kajiyama said such projects are not a priority for a car that has not even gone on sale yet. “Coupe style is less of a priority,” he said. He said a Mazda6 crossover would take precedence over a traditional two-door coupe. I cannot put the number 6 to a vehicle that is not fun to drive.” “Unless the vehicle is fun it’s not a Mazda. ![]() “While maintaining that driving performance … and maybe eye sight height is a bit higher like an SUV, maybe we can create that kind of model,” said Kajiyama. Whatever way such a new Mazda crossover goes – if it is even produced – the car’s design and focus on driving enjoyment will rate ahead of high sales volumes. Some suggest such a new body style could in principal be similar to the new breed of sleek four-door coupes – such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 – or even the higher riding BMW X6 that looks like a sportier, less practical version of the X5. “The good thing about car is the low centre of gravity allows you to make you really feel the driving pleasure.” “I don’t think an SUV is going to offer a ton of driving pleasure,” he said. The unexpected move has halved the number of 6 body styles previously being produced by Mazda (there was also a larger North American-only sedan that was never sold in Australia), potentially paving the way for a new variant later.īut Kajiyama is adamant any Mazda6-based crossover would not fall into the traditional SUV mould and would have to adhere to the brand’s “zoom zoom” mantra of being fun to drive. Instead Mazda will have to make do with a US-focused sedan and slightly smaller European-focused wagon. The all-new third generation Mazda6, which goes on sale here in early 2013, will arrive what was previously the best selling body style for the car in Australia, the hatchback. “If you try to fill the empty space in the portfolio then you will be followed by other manufacturers immediately. “It is one of the things I am looking at,” he said. Kajiyama said such a crossover vehicle would be a completely new style of vehicle (rather than Mazda’s interpretation of another SUV-style vehicle) entering “white space” in a crowded market. “I want to create a crossover model … I can do it quite easily,” he told Drive. Speaking at the launch of the new Mazda6 in France this week the car’s program manager Hiroshi Kajiyama said a new, driver-focussed style of crossover car was on his wish list for new derivatives of the 6.Īlready Mazda is looking at reviving the high-performance Mazda6 MPS, but Kajiyama said he would also like an all-new body style to grow the family. Mazda is considering a radical crossover vehicle to provide a sleeker and more aggressive-looking alternative to its 6 mid-sized car. ![]()
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