What If Mazda Built An Inline-Six Sports Wagon From The EZ-6?

Remember those endless rumors that Mazda mightiness really physique a rear-drive sedan with an inline six to rival the BMW 3 Series? Well, arsenic we know, that ne'er happened. Instead, the Chinese and European markets got the EZ-6/6e, a Deepal-based liftback featuring some EV and extended-range electrical (EREV) powertrains. Nice, but inactive not rather the Mazda6 successor we were each craving for.

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But that doesn’t halt america from dreaming. Here’s a look astatine what could’ve been if Mazda decided to spell for a caller mid-size wagon. We’ve taken the EZ-6, stretched its wheelbase, lengthened the roof, and people threw successful an inline six. Curious? Read connected to spot what could person made a full batch of sense.

A New Take connected the EZ-6

Illustrations Josh Byrnes / Carscoops

As galore person noted since its debut, the EZ-6 is based on Changan’s Deepal SL7, with the byproduct being a handsome liftback sedan with a fewer proportional quirks, particularly astir the backmost end.

So, what are those quirks? Well, the rear extremity tends to look a bit… top-heavy, with hefty D-pillars and a tailgate that’s intelligibly doing excessively much. The proportions besides shriek “front-wheel drive” adjacent though, technically, it’s rear-wheel drive. Not ideal.

Our illustrative survey fixes these aesthetic quibbles with a longer axle-to-dash ratio (helping acceptable that hypothetical inline six) and a rear bumper that’s much upright than tapering inwards. The rear 4th solid sweeps down towards the rear, yet the roofline is specified that it doesn’t interaction the wagon’s versatility.

You’ll besides announcement the expanse metallic looks different; we’ve added a much salient enarthrosis enactment and rear haunches to springiness it a wide, planted stance – arsenic opposed to the upright (and often dorky) look galore EVs endure owed to having a artillery battalion sandwiched successful the floor.

The interior? We’d support it mostly the same, with a fewer modern updates. Picture a Cadillac-style curved OLED instrumentality cluster and infotainment screen, positive much carnal buttons for indispensable shortcuts. No request to fumble done interaction controls astatine 60 mph. The caller longer dimensions would besides boost cargo capableness to a respectable 600 liters (21 cubic feet). Practical and stylish, it’s beauteous overmuch what you’d privation from a Mazda wagon.

Performance: Inline-Six, Please

Illustrations Josh Byrnes / Carscoops

In presumption of performance, our proposal’s header enactment would beryllium Mazda’s adjacent iteration of the 48-volt mild hybrid 3.3-litre straight-six, dubbed SkyActiv-Z. 

Currently, the turbocharged six-cylinder portion maxes retired astatine 340 hp successful the CX-90 (although, piggyback tunes are seeing numbers nudging the 390 horsepower mark), and further tweaks could spot it pushing the 400 horsepower obstruction (294 kW). Power would beryllium sent to each 4 wheels via a re-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission.

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Both EV and range-extended options would transportation implicit from the EZ-6, albeit with improvements to the 80kWh EV variant which presently develops 241 hp (180kW). This could beryllium improved to 295 hp (220kW), making it much competitory with Tesla’s Model 3.

Potential Rivals

So, who’s the contention for this imagination machine? Well, let’s speech astir immoderate of the dense hitters: BMW’s M340i xDrive Touring, Audi’s S5 Avant, and Mercedes-AMG’s C43 Estate. All are blistering fast, loaded with premium vibes, and, let’s look it, travel from lineages Mazda isn’t precisely known for (yet).

However, the Japanese automaker has what it takes to make a conveyance that challenges those aged perceptions. Hey, they conscionable request to halt sitting connected the sidelines and marque it happen.

What bash you think? Do we person a changeable astatine seeing thing similar this from Mazda successful the future? Drop your thoughts successful the comments.