Mazda Mazda6

The Mazda Atenza or Mazda6 is a midsize car from the Japanese carmaker Mazda. It replaced the Capella/626. As of March 31, 2005, 467,319 Atenza and Mazda6 models had been sold worldwide since introduction.

The model lineup consists of a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, and a 4-door station wagon . Drivetrain combinations include a 2.3 L 4-cylinder L-family engine with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed (with sequential-automatic option, dubbed the "4-Speed Sport AT") automatic transmission. A 3.0 L Duratec 30 V6 engine is also available with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic (with sequential-automatic option, dubbed the "6-Speed Sport AT"). European versions also feature a four-cylinder turbodiesel. In its first years, the Mazda6 came with a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic "AT" and a 5-speed manual transmission. During 2005, a 6-speed automatic became available. Final drive is to the front wheels only in most markets, although full-time all wheel drive models are available in Japan and Europe. There is speculation of a larger sedan, the Mazda Mazda9 for the model year 2008 or 2009, to replace the older Mazda 929 and Millenia.

Not all configurations are available in all areas - for example, the Mazda6 as released in Australia was a four-cylinder car only, while the last 626 which it replaced was a four or six-cylinder car. This has led to much amusement as to the choice of names. Speaking of which, the name Atenza is used only in Japan - the Mazda6 name is used everywhere else in the world.

Like the 626 before it, Ford is using the Mazda6's CD3 platform as the basis for a number of other vehicles, including the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, Lincoln MKX, and a range of SUVs and minivans. Ford also plans to offer a hybrid powertrain on the platform. For its part, Mazda themselves refer to this chassis as either the GG (sedan/hatch) or GY (wagon) series - following the previous 626/Capella in its GF/GW series.

North American Mazda6 production is handled at the AutoAlliance International plant which is a joint venture between Ford and Mazda. The first Mazda6 rolled off this Flat Rock, Michigan assembly line on October 1, 2002, one month after production of the 626 ended. There are also satellite plants building Mazda6 models in China and Thailand.