Mazda6 Refresh Conveys Brand Evolution, Automaker Says

The Mazda6 flagship sedan receives a major refresh for ’16, with improvements made to the exterior, interior and noise, vibration and harshness characteristics.

Unveiled today at the L.A. auto show, the Mazda6 receives a new front grille that the automaker says has a “stronger horizontal flow.” Redesigned LED headlamps have a more eye-like appearance, reflecting Mazda’s Kodo design language, while a new shark-fin antenna streamlines the vehicle’s form.

New LED taillamps adorn the rear, giving it a “sharp, taut look,” Mazda says. The Mazda6 also gets a number of new color choices, including Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica, first introduced on the Mazda3.

Inside the instrument panel and floor console have been redesigned for a less cluttered look, while gaps between interior panels have been minimized. Interior seating offerings include black or white leather, as well as black or sand-beige fabric.

Another interior improvement is revised front and rear seat structures that the automaker says provides excellent bolstering and the feeling of “comfortable snugness and a good fit.”

NVH performance has been stepped up, with cabin noise reduced 10% on rough roads and 25% on highways compared with the outgoing model, Mazda says.

The Mazda6 also gets the automaker’s i-ActiveSense suite of safety technologies that include blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and smart brake support, which primes the brakes to avoid frontal collision or minimize damage when traveling mid- to high-speed.

The ’16 Mazda6 carries over the 2.5L Skyactiv gas engine from the outgoing model that produces 184 hp and 185 lb.-ft. (251 Nm) of torque. The engine can be mated to either a 6-speed manual Skyactiv transmission or a 6-speed Skyactiv automatic gearbox.

Fuel economy is rated at 25/37 mpg (9.4-6.4 L/100 km) city/highway when equipped with the manual and 26/38 mpg (9.0-6.2 L/100 km) with the automatic transmission.

“While the sophisticated air born of Kodo design remains, the refreshed Mazda6 marks an evolution to a bolder and more elegant expression that lends it stronger presence as the flagship model and clearly conveys the further evolution of the brand,” the automaker says in a statement.

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