The Auto Writer

Mazda has taken the wraps off of the next generation Mazda6, the latest version of its successful mid-size sedan. The car is expected to go on sale stateside late this summer.

Designed for the North American market, the 2009 Mazda6 will be built at AutoAlliance International, in Flat Rock, Mich, a joint venture with partner Ford Motor Company.

Mazda is unabashedly giddy about the sedan citing:

“This is the most important new vehicle Mazda has launched in a decade,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO, from Denver, where the car was unveiled to Mazda dealers a day earlier at the company’s North American Dealer Meeting. “The midsize sedan segment — where MAZDA6 competes — is a real battleground, with some of the best vehicles in the industry going toe-to-toe for sales. This new MAZDA6 was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market — the third Mazda in a row to be so — and will take on the very best cars from Asia, Europe and the U.S.”

The other models alluded to by Mr. O’ Sullivan were the CX-7 and the CX-9, a pair of crossover vehicles introduced over the past few years by Mazda. The CX-9 was named the 2008 North American Truck of the Year at this year’s auto show in Detroit.

The Mazda6 will offer both a 2.5L I4 and a 3.7L V6 engine with various five and six-speed automatic transmission choices. Suspension will be all-independent, with four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS and dynamic stability control. The sedan will be available in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels with varying levels of standard and optional equipment.

As the sedan nears production, Mazda promises to share additional information about the car, details we plan on presenting to you here.

Photo copyright Mazda North American Operations