2023 Mazda 6 To Follow In BMW's Footsteps With RWD And An Inline 6

I'm not sure that's a great place to move, but it should be interesting. If possible the platform should support awd and a pure EV option.

Mazda isn't long for this world as an independent manufacturer.

Unless this platform is borrowed from Toyota, the expenditure of engineering dollars on an RWD sedan with an inline six is just dumb as bricks. It won't be taken seriously as a premium and people will expect a bargain basement price on it because of all the money on the hood Mazda has to do right now to sell anything other than the CX5.

They should have instead inked a deal with Tesla or GM for an EV skateboard to put a Mazda hat on.

Mazda will be OK long term.

They just need to have 2-3 partnerships with stronger automakers to ensure future access to technology & secondary consumers. I would've expected Mazda to have had a dozen "buildable" gas-electic hybrid & EV concepts today - with partnerships with other larger automakers. I don't think its smart to expect Mazda to be well represented in all the mainstream vehicle categories. In that aspect, they're behind the curve. They just have offer exciting vehicles in the handful of categories they do have vehicles for.

I cant imagine this next-gen Mazda6 not being RWD/AWD. It would be silly not to have an AWD midsize sporty sedan.

Totally agree.... I wish GM had bought them years ago but if they had GM would have destroyed Mazda vs Mazda really helping GM. This new concept could be a Cadillac its so pretty, better looking than any GM car currently in production or that I've seen for future production.

The Mazda6 doesn't sell. The Mazda3 doesn't sell. The Miata sells in the dozens. Only the CX5 sells. Mazda has had dealers that have had the franchise for decades walk away and Mazda has had to turn over the franchise to dealers with grabbing hands. Mazda is in deep caca right now.

There is clearly a problem with Mazda but they do make compelling products, IMO.
If GM had Mazda build their small SUV's and small/mid size vehicles, GM would elevate. The Mazda CX9 that they can't give away is a very nice vehicle, better than any competitive GM vehicle and the CX5/3 are terrific, again IMO. No question the economics are going to take Mazda out but they deserve a saviour....

The smart move would have been for Marchionne to use Mazda as Ford did.

Mazdaspeed3-->Giulia
Mazda CX5-->Stelvio 2.5 turbo
"Mazdaspeed6"--> Giorgio 2.5 turbo
Miata--> Graduate 2.5T

Non-turbo or less turboed versions would be Dodges/Chryslers.

Alfa-Romeo would have been a Subaru-positioned brand.

Maserati repositioned as a BMW/Mercedes brand

If nothing else, you can be assured of one thing: It's engine will not spring leaks from every conceivable engine gasket at 60000 miles like a Bayerische product.

Mazda needs to follow the trend of a single platform that can span all mainstream models. In this case this would need to work also for their mid to large SUVs. Not sure they can continue a separate platform for the Mazda 2/3 and CX 3/30. platform.

I personally disagree...I think their styling is the best in the Japanese game and looks Italian more than anything. A rear wheel drive Japanese non luxury car with a perfectly balance inline 6 would and their beautiful styling would change the game for that segment. Sure it would be a little more expensive but easily worth the added expense which would ultimately not really be that much.