CD Article: 2006 Mazdaspeed6

[mdxtasy]

"Acceleration is awesome. As tested by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at the recent Car of the Year "Testfest", the Mazdaspeed6 had a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 5.5 seconds – quicker than an Audi A4 3.2, BMW 330i, and Lexus IS350 - and 0.1 seconds faster than the smaller, lighter Subaru WRX. AJAC didn't test the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited this year, but Subaru's official 0 to 60 mph time is 5.7 seconds.

From 80 to 120 km/h, the Mazdaspeed6 took just 4.3 seconds, quicker than all of its rivals. "

I was going over the article and that just struck me. Those times are at least a good 1 second lower than all other figures on the internet. Did the author make a mistake?

So you're saying the MPS6 is a 4.5sec 0-100kph barn burner and a 3.3sec 80-120? 

I'm going to call....

[johngenx]

So you're saying the MPS6 is a 4.5sec 0-100kph barn burner and a 3.3sec 80-120? 

I'm going to call....

Nah, he said "lower" NOT "slower."  He's saying C/D times are better than others.

And here's a cooler BS flag...

[mdxtasy]

Ooohhh....gotcha.  These times are 1 second lower.....whoops.   

[Snowman]

I believe the 5.5 second 0-60 time with the MPS6. I would say the times are very similar to the LGT. The MPS6 will also be more consistent as there is virtually no lag with the direct injection turbo 2.3. The 80-120 range on the MPS6 is nuts. When I was playing in traffic on the multi-lane Trans-Canada the car had amazing pull, 4th gear was intoxicating.

[Oz]

Crazy quick draw Albertans. 

Yeah Mazda's official times are 6.2 seconds. A lot of tuner enthusiasts I've talked to were sure these were the 0-100 kms. But it turns out that AJAC managed to smoke IS350 times with 5.5 seconds. Yet another incredibly shoddy piece of marketing by Mazda... Love the car but the the marketing dept simply sucks. Hello! the car is actually faster than you claim it is! 

Of course every characteristic matters but 0-60 times are huge with the 25-30 year old crowd going after cars like this.

[84im]

For the average driver does it really matter if the car does 0 to 100 km in 6.2 or 5.5 seconds.  Also, how much do you have to abuse the car to get those numbers?

[Oz]

I didnt know average drivers bought turbcharged MTX sedans with 280 lbs/ft of torque. 

Either way as a buyer I'd love to know that I can leave a 300HP IS350 in the dust. 5.5 seconds says exactly that.

[wing]

.1 seconds certainly isn't the dust, but 5.5 and 6.2 is a pretty large difference........

[mdxtasy]

Most automakers are conservative in their claims.  Nobody wants to say our car does this test in 5 seconds....only to have journalists say 'BS....the best we got was 6."  It's the smart marketing move.  Underpromise and overdeliver.  The other way is the PR nightmare....and nobody wants that.

[Snowman]

Most automakers are conservative in their claims.  Nobody wants to say our car does this test in 5 seconds....only to have journalists say 'BS....the best we got was 6."  It's the smart marketing move.  Underpromise and overdeliver.  The other way is the PR nightmare....and nobody wants that.

I think Mazda learnt their lesson with the hp reporting for the RX-8. Mazda did have the intelligence to offer an escape option to he current buyers, how many auto makers would have done that? As MD pointed out it is prudent to error on the conservative side.

[AVToller]

Forget what journalists might say. Imagine all the buyers who might take the cars back to their dealer saying "Factory specs say 5.5. I can only do 5.7. Fix it!" 

[johngenx]

I agree, better "safe than sorry."  The Germans learned this years ago, and Mercedes and BMW have long understated accel times on all models save for M and AMG models.  The brochure for my C230 states a 0-60mph time of 10.2 seconds.  We had the car at the strip and it handily went under 8.5 without loading the converter.  I was happy with my 8.3's!  Imagine how unhappy I would have been if the brochure has said 8.1 and I got 8.3.  A teeny margin and easily within driver/strip error/conditions, but MB took the right route and played it conservative.

Mazda got burned with HP numbers on Miata and other models and many makes have been hurt when their pro-driver times are not repeatable by a customer.  They're playing this one smart.

[Oz]

Hmm good points.

Plus I just read the people testing the same car in warmer climates got slower results. Around 6ish.

[msian]

Hmm good points.

Plus I just read the people testing the same car in warmer climates got slower results. Around 6ish.

Heat and humidity definitely play a huge factor in a turbocharged car's performance. Especially for a top-mounted intercooler setup. And likely noticeable in 0-60mph runs as the short amount of "test" time does not allow efficient cooling.

[msian]

One thing that I heard a few years ago was that (for Subaru specifically and not sure if it applies too most manufacturer or not though), the quoted 0-60 times were achieved with 1/2 tank of gas and 2 persons in the car (1 driver and 1 passenger)....which may skew the results a bit when compared to no-holds-bar magazine testings.

[Snowman]

Intercooler heat soaking are big issues with Subaru’s. The IC is directly on top of the engine and the proximity to the turbo cause a noticeable drop in performance during hot humid days. Having the hood scoop opening directly above the IC helps to vent the hot air. The MPS6 design has no route for the hot air to escape.

Having a water injection kit tuned to the cars ecu would compensate for the higher intake temps.

[ghost]

there are a few accounts of the MS6 running into performance issues already in the Mazda6 boards. Something about ECU opening the wastegate early at 4000rpm when 91 octane is detected as opposed to 94?! And also heat soak causing performance to drop dramatically. That's what happened to lousy engine bay desgin. Too bad so sad. I hope Mazda will do something about this as it will turn into another RX-8 engine fiasco!

[Snowman]

That’s the first I hear about the wastegate issue. It sounds like an easy fix though. I wonder if the aftermarket will develop a solution for the top mounted IC.

[safristi]

When my Waste Gate gsts IC'ky.!!! ........the AFT Market is HUGE......Prep H Cat_"back".....Free FLOWS and that OLD stanby and F*art Can...Metamucil.......

[Giant Dwarf]

Feb issue of Car and Driver shows they managed to get an MS6 to do 60 in 5.4 s I believe. 

I drove one a few weeks back.  Lots of power (much smoother than I had expected... virtually no lag), but overall, still kind of boring.  I stand by my previous claim that unless I needed the extra space for cargo / people, I'd choose an RX8 for the same moolah.  More fun to drive and listen to.