新型 『マツダ6』（日本名・アテンザ）は、従来モデルのスポーツ性と納得のパフォーマンス性能を踏襲しながらも、北米市場のニーズを色濃く反映させてのデビューとなる。若干広まった車幅、エンジンの改善など、運動性能・快適性能ともに向上させたという。
エントリークラスモデルには2.5リッターI4エンジン、上位モデルには3.7リッターV6エンジンを搭載。I4エンジン搭載モデルは、すでにヨーロッパ、および日本国内で販売中だ。組み合わされるトランスミッションは、6速MTまたは5速ATから選べるようになっている。一方、V6エンジンモデルは2008年第二四半期から販売開始となる予定で、6速ATのみの設定となっている。
以下、プレスリリース（英文）
“Following the CX-7 and the CX-9, the 2009 North American Mazda6 is the third model that was designed and engineered specifically to meet the needs of our North American customers,” said Daniel T. Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing and overseas sales. “The midsize sedan segment is extremely competitive and the Mazda6 will be up against some of the best vehicles in the industry.
“The all-new Mazda6 offers plenty of Mazda’s characteristic Zoom-Zoom vitality and we believe it will succeed in the challenging North American market. We will continue to deliver products that reflect our customers’ needs and build Mazda’s brand image in order to achieve the goals set out in our mid-term Mazda Advancement Plan.”
The all-new North American Mazda6 will be powered by Mazda’s newly developed 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder (I4) engine and its 3.7-liter V6 engine. The I4 engine is already available in the European and Japanese Mazda6 models and the V6 promises an exhilarating ride, coming straight from the 2008 North American Truck of the Year, the Mazda CX-9. A six-speed manual and a five-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode will be available for the I4 engine. The V6 will be coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode. The North American Mazda6 will be available only as a four-door sedan.
The all-new North American Mazda6 will be produced at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Michigan, a joint venture with partner Ford Motor Company, as it has been since the first Mazda6 launched in 2002.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Posted on 28/04/08 By G-A.G
