[TJ95GAGT]

do some reasearch- Cadillacs do have push button start- XLR and STS. Its standard on both. CTS has optional keyless start.

ugh, I cant stand people who bash GM and dont even no the facts.

BTW, the Camry nor new Accord have LED tailights. The Malibu does. DO SOME RESEARCH.

The Hybrid Camry has LED's. The outgoing accord had LED's, seems odd that the new one wouldnt.

Bottom line is, why do we defend the Malibu for having what the competition does, using the LED's, why not offer them in all of trim levels? I want GM to offer things the competition doesn't, besides Onstar which is just another monthly fee IMO.

 

[ford&holden]

All mazdas have hard plastic- including the CX-9 and CX-7. Trust me I have checked it out and my brother has a 3 so I am very familiar with the plastics in Mazdas. When I first sat in the CX-7 I couldnt believe how hard all the dash panels were. The current 6's interior is very similar to that of the G6, but with harder plastics.

Mazda is much smaller than Chevy and 6 sales will not touch Malibu sales.

As for exterior I cant say the 6 looks worlds better than Malibu but I will say it looks sportier and "younger". The Malibu has a more mature luxury car look to it. 6 looks like an IS competitor on the outside while the Malibu LTZ looks like an ES350 competitor if that makes any sense to you.

BTW, most people who have posted here have said the 6 blows the Malibu away so I dont know why you are claiming that the Malibu fans are out in force on this thread.

No incorrect again, i said the current Mazda 6 has soft touch dash panels which it does! the 3 doesn't like all it's competitors, it's relative! you can't take one model and compare it with a different class of car, it comes down to others in it's direct class. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc all use hard dash plastics, do you understand that?

Harder plastics? is there such a thing?

Mazda doesn't intend on the 6 to reach malibu sales figures, i bet Mazda makes more money on the 6 per unit than GM does on malibu, sales figures are one part of the whole story, you wanna brag about higher sales, the malibu wins that contest.

I never compared the new 6 with the new malibu in relation to interior quality, many have and many are jumping the gun.
Based on history the current 6 beats the current malibu, GM is playing catch up, not Mazda.
Hmmm the attention this new 6 is getting based on pictures alone in relation to styling alone, not quality, appears to be far above many new competitor models, including the new accord.
would you buy this over the current top selling camry based on looks alone?

 

[ford&holden]

^^EHM - WHAT non VW compact has soft plastics? azda3 has hard platsic .. yes .. but so does eveyone else ..

Mazda's plastics are usually firmer than cometition, but they are soft-touch ... and good quality ... I smell bias here ... no one of the people you are attacking is bashing your belowed Malibu - we are just tryingto point out some facts ... the comptition for Midsize customer next year will be FIERCE .. none of use are attacking you.

Igor

Exactly! i don't see the difficulty in understanding this.

 

[ford&holden]

yes small volume Mazda is going to single handed crush the Malibu in sales and force GM to do an emergency redesign.

The 6 we are seeing in these pics is likely to cost $32k or more. How many 6's do you think Mazda will sell in that price range?

The heart of the market is $20k-$25k and I am willing to bet 6s and Malibu's equipped in that price range will be more similar than you want to believe.

So Mazda 6 = smaller volume with a higher price...how is this any less desirable than higher volume/cheaper purchase price?
Mazda has been pulling record profits over the last few years, GM?

 

[ford&holden]

PS: I was writing about this in PM.s ;;;

ENGINES AND POWETRAINS

Base engine: 2.5l I4 - this is an all new engine divelopped by Ford oE and Ford NA (NOT Mazda the way the 2.3l was). This engine is more powerful, smoother, AND more economical than the 2.3l It is so much more economical that in the same car (like the Mazda6 or the 09 Fusion) the engine makes better EPA numbers than the smaller 2.3l.
2.5l I4, PFI, 190-200hp

Optional Engine: 3.7l V6 - this is a larger version for the Ford D35 engine. It is not the Lincoln version however. Mazda took the D35 head and the D37 block and bolted them together, increasing displacement and power, but keeping the basic D35 head with only single exhaust vriable cam timing and all. All lincoln version will have a more advanced head with twin independent cam timing and direct injection. This MazdaD37 will also appear i nthe 08 CX-9, but it will not appear in Fords - Ford will keep the D35 engine in its cars - including the 2009 Fusion, where the D35 will replace the D30.
3.7l, V6, PFI, 280hp

Other Engines: The 2 pieces uncertain at this point is the 2.5l TwinForce engine (Twin Turbochagged, direct injected I4 good for 260+ hp) and the Hybrid. the TwinForce is again a Ford oE and Ford NA project, and I do not know whether Mazda will want to use it. But it will produce V6 power with I4 economy- the engine will debut in the 09 Fusion.

The Hybrid is coming for the 09 Fusion, however nothing was mentioned about it for the Mazda6. I have no definitive info on the Mazda6 application of the new Hybrid, but I am certain that even if Mazda will use it, Ford will not let a single bit of info escape before Hybrid is announced for the 09 Fusion.

Transmissions are anyone's guess, but we can see that the pictures show a 6speed manual. I predict this will be a V6 option, with the I4 getting a 5speed manual, but that is just a guess. I predict 6 speed automatics with both engines. I have no definiteive information however.

AWD is to be optional on the new model

Igor

I very much like the sounds of the new 2.5l engine, will this be launched with the new 6 at the same time? it's making my decision to purchase the new 6 even easier
Apprently Australia is getting the new 6 with the 6 speed auto mated to the 4cyl engine, i wonder if NA will follow?

 

[sa_seahawker]

This is SHARP car! I can't wait to see the next Fusion, now. But, knowing Ford....it'll be incredibly tame.

 

[1487]

^^EHM - WHAT non VW compact has soft plastics? azda3 has hard platsic .. yes .. but so does eveyone else ..

Mazda's plastics are usually firmer than cometition, but they are soft-touch ... and good quality ... I smell bias here ... no one of the people you are attacking is bashing your belowed Malibu - we are just tryingto point out some facts ... the comptition for Midsize customer next year will be FIERCE .. none of use are attacking you.

Igor

i dont know how you evaluate quality of plastics other than determining if they are hard or soft touch. if you knock on mazda plastics they make noise in my experience. not saying that makes them cheap, but i am saying they are no softer than average gm model. i have not seen a mazda with deep grained, soft touch materials on dash.

 

[ford&holden]

This is SHARP car! I can't wait to see the next Fusion, now. But, knowing Ford....it'll be incredibly tame.

Good point, it will be very interesting to see the next fusion...Ford NA you mean

 

[igor]

This is SHARP car! I can't wait to see the next Fusion, now. But, knowing Ford....it'll be incredibly tame.

No interior has been spotted yet.

Igor

 

[ford&holden]

i dont know how you evaluate quality of plastics other than determining if they are hard or soft touch. if you knock on mazda plastics they make noise in my experience. not saying that makes them cheap, but i am saying they are no softer than average gm model. i have not seen a mazda with deep grained, soft touch materials on dash.

The current 6 has a soft touch/push feel for the main dash panel and it also comes down to how an auto maker executes the design/materials.
In the past Ford and GM NA have not done as well as the Japanese brands when it comes down to execution.

 

[nadepalma]

I think this is a really good design. Personally, I think that this car will sell HUGE. It's based on the enlarged version of the CD3 platform that's under the Fusion/Milan/MKZ right?

If that's the case, I hope that the update for the FoMoCo triplets is nice in keeping step with what their sister brand from Hiroshima has done --- though not nearly as extensive.

Sebring, Altima?

I see Mazda3, Lexus IS and Acura TSX.

IS in the flanks a bit. The Sebring in the general shape of the tail lamps. The Altima in the "thick vertical surface" around the wheel arches. The only TSX I see is in the body extensions. The Mazda3 a little bit in the way the C-pillar meets the body on the hatch version.

 

[igor]

i dont know how you evaluate quality of plastics other than determining if they are hard or soft touch. if you knock on mazda plastics they make noise in my experience. not saying that makes them cheap, but i am saying they are no softer than average gm model. i have not seen a mazda with deep grained, soft touch materials on dash.

but they ARE SOFT ... Mazda just makes a decision to make them not 2inch deep like say Ford Fusion .. but more firm.. reistant.. in line with the tough sporty car image they are protraying .... did you sit in the MAzda6, Cx7, or CX9? did you touch the dash? was it a soft touch platoc, or MAzda3 hard plastic?

there is your answer ..

(Other dimensions of platic quality include the flimsiness ofh te plastic, the snse of "solid build" of the plasitc and the overall testure of the platc .. you want to see the worst plastics, see 05-07 Focus or Cavalier ... you want to see good quality hard platic, see Mazda3 or Civic ... really .. park 07 Focus next to a Mazda3 and compare the plastics .. it is day and night -- I know I owned both).

Igor

 

[Mcmflow]

Looks great. I would almost say it looks even better than the Altima. And it is amazing how good the Wagon looks!

 

[oppositelock]

i dont know how you evaluate quality of plastics other than determining if they are hard or soft touch. if you knock on mazda plastics they make noise in my experience. not saying that makes them cheap, but i am saying they are no softer than average gm model. i have not seen a mazda with deep grained, soft touch materials on dash.

Graining, texture are also criterion for evaluating plastics. To be honest, if it looks good and has reasonable "give", I'm fine with it. Whatever it is, it musn't look or feel cheap in person.

The last 6 I was in had soft plastics.

 

[SSJ]

GM, I love you dearly but for the love of Pete, Please Please Please give us a optional manual tranny in your mid-size cars! G6 GTP, Aura, Malibu etc...
This is the reason I am looking to Mazda and others for my next car, I don't want to drive a slushbox auto. GM Cars with a maunal are out of my price range (Saab,CTS, and Corvette) or are basic cars (G5, and basic G6). I would love to come home to GM but not until I get a manual tranny.

 

[oppositelock]

but they ARE SOFT ... Mazda just makes a decision to make them not 2inch deep like say Ford Fusion .. but more firm.. reistant.. in line with the tough sporty car image they are protraying .... did you sit in the MAzda6, Cx7, or CX9? did you touch the dash? was it a soft touch platoc, or MAzda3 hard plastic?

there is your answer ..

(Other dimensions of platic quality include the flimsiness ofh te plastic, the snse of "solid build" of the plasitc and the overall testure of the platc .. you want to see the worst plastics, see 05-07 Focus or Cavalier ... you want to see good quality hard platic, see Mazda3 or Civic ... really .. park 07 Focus next to a Mazda3 and compare the plastics .. it is day and night -- I know I owned both).

Igor

Yup, it's not just any one thing but how the material and design integrates with the rest of the interior.

I don't think that the new Civic has good plastics. They look good but they're very hard (not in a good way) and even with the multiple textures at various spots, just don't work for me. The previous Civic had FAR higher quality plastics.

The Cavalier plastics are actually soft but they're junk to look at. You honestly feel like you're driving the cheapest car on the planet. Mazda3 plastics are hard, but they don't feel cheap at all. Same with the CRV which has hardish plastics at spots but overall, I think has a high quality interior.

It's all in the way things are designed and presented.

 

[nadepalma]

Overall, if you are in a market for a new midsize, next year will be a GREAT year to be in that market:
- 08 Accord
- 08 Malibu
- 08 Mazda6
- 09 Fusion

and htey will ALL be excellent choices .. of couse Ford and GM will be cheaper and slightly less optioned out, the Mazda will be a bit higher, and Accord will be quite a bit more expensive.

I am already loking forward to the comparo of the 4 cars above .. it will be interesting.

Igor

I think so too Igor -- but more than that, the Americans will be able to compete in this segment for the first time in awhile. The Fusion/Milan are excellent choices in this segment and the Aura is nearly class leading. Honda has just raised the bar with the new Accord and the 6 is nipping at its heels.

Gonna be a great year for midsizers, you got that right.

Base engine: 2.5l I4 - this is an all new engine divelopped by Ford oE and Ford NA (NOT Mazda the way the 2.3l was). This engine is more powerful, smoother, AND more economical than the 2.3l It is so much more economical that in the same car (like the Mazda6 or the 09 Fusion) the engine makes better EPA numbers than the smaller 2.3l.
2.5l I4, PFI, 190-200hp

Wait, stop the presses -- is this accurate? The new 2.5 is NOT based on the Mazda MZR engine? How can this be? I thought that outside Volvo and their architectures, Ford's "Center of Excellence" for their 4 cylinder engines was Mazda. Is this no longer true? Did they actually start from scratch to build this engine?

Optional Engine: 3.7l V6 - this is a larger version for the Ford D35 engine. It is not the Lincoln version however. Mazda took the D35 head and the D37 block and bolted them together, increasing displacement and power, but keeping the basic D35 head with only single exhaust vriable cam timing and all. All lincoln version will have a more advanced head with twin independent cam timing and direct injection. This MazdaD37 will also appear i nthe 08 CX-9, but it will not appear in Fords - Ford will keep the D35 engine in its cars - including the 2009 Fusion, where the D35 will replace the D30.
3.7l, V6, PFI, 280hp

This is a bit different from what we've been hearing then. The other articles I've read basically made it sound as though Mazda went out and designed their own 3.7L V6 --- which this isn't the case according to what you're writing here. This sounds like a better solution to their powerplant needs while also keeping the much more "higher content/feature" version for Lincoln. Good move. But of course, when the Fusion finally does get the D35 engine with their MCE, I'm assumig the 3.7L version will be online and under the hoods of the MKZ and MKS by then, no?

SIDE NOTE: There was discussion on another thread re: MKS that the car would come without AWD as standard - a big mistake IMHO.

I made the arguement that fuel-economy and price point should be of lesser concern to Lincoln (what a few folks gave as the justification for the car coming without AWD standard). But to me making the car come standard with AWD is paramount from an image/marketing/PR/"Premium-ness" perspective; even if some buyers don't care. This is important in raising Lincoln's profile. Additionally, they aren't gonna sell a ton of them (at least when compared to the MKZ) and b/c of that, Ford should bite the bullet and make it standard fare.

However, PRICE is still an issue --- and for that I would argue that the D35 should remain the standard engine in the MKS if it were paired with AWD STANDARD to lower the average transaction price. Then the 3.7L would be the mid-level offering and the TwinForce 3.7L as the up-level engine. This would enable them to keep AWD standard on the car while also keeping it relatively "cheap" with the D35 as the entry-level engine -- thus getting the best of both worlds.

Sorry for the aside...just a point to go along with the engine discussion regarding what Mazda is doing v. what FoMoCo will do with this architecture.

Other Engines: The 2 pieces uncertain at this point is the 2.5l TwinForce engine (Twin Turbochagged, direct injected I4 good for 260+ hp) and the Hybrid. the TwinForce is again a Ford oE and Ford NA project, and I do not know whether Mazda will want to use it. But it will produce V6 power with I4 economy- the engine will debut in the 09 Fusion.

Glad to see that Ford will get this in the Fusion before Mazda gets it -- just to spread the wealth a bit.

Transmissions are anyone's guess, but we can see that the pictures show a 6speed manual. I predict this will be a V6 option, with the I4 getting a 5speed manual, but that is just a guess. I predict 6 speed automatics with both engines. I have no definiteive information however.

I would LOVE to see the 6 speed stick make a jump to the Fusion/Milan(or even the MKZ for that matter to give some younger folks a reason to shop Lincoln), but I'm sure it won't happen.

Regardless, these are all good moves for Mazda -- and I hope that the Fusion gets the same treatment for it's MCE.

 

[nadepalma]

GM, I love you dearly but for the love of Pete, Please Please Please give us a optional manual tranny in your mid-size cars! G6 GTP, Aura, Malibu etc...
This is the reason I am looking to Mazda and others for my next car, I don't want to drive a slushbox auto. GM Cars with a maunal are out of my price range (Saab,CTS, and Corvette) or are basic cars (G5, and basic G6). I would love to come home to GM but not until I get a manual tranny.

Amen to that brother.

But honestly, you can't even get a "basic" G6 with a stick --- they all come with autoboxes.

But even though I've said this before (many times), I'll say it again --- I bought a Fusion b/c I could get it with a stick (if only on the I4). I didn't have the money to spend on a 9-3 or 9-5 or CTS and I'm too big a kid to fit in a Cobalt or G5 comfortable. GM lost my sale.

But if this keeps up -- I'll have no choice but to shop Mazda or Nissan or some other foreign marque to get my fix.

I hope someone from GM is paying attention.

 

[Xenon]

So is all the engines available with a 6-speed?

 

[HEVguy]

VERY NICE!!! And there is a sedan, wagon AND hatch version, Sweet!! Mazda does a really great job with their sedans! Pontiac is getting closer these days, but Mazda is consistently doing great! Very impressive indeed! I'd have to cross-shop the Aura with this bad boy. Although, they'd need a hybrid version.