Topic: 2017 Mazda 6 coupe

[Noto]

It would likely cost very little to alter the Mazda6 to have a coupe version...and it would definitely come in the 2.5L 6MT combination!

...but the lack of a V6, and the lack of interest in the Mazda6 in the first instance, suggests that this won't steal the show.  How many Altima, Challenger, Mustang, or Accord coupes sold last year (excl convertibles).  Then subtract all that have V6s.  The niche keeps getting smaller and smaller - that is my concern.  I want Mazda to succeed on this one, I just worry for it.

At least the Mazda6 would have 60/40 split rear seats (as opposed to the Accord!)

[OliverD]

The Altima coupe was discontinued for '14, which really leaves the Accord as the only mid-size FWD coupe available. For some reason Honda has always been able to justify keeping coupe versions of the Civic and Accord around, while others like the Altima, Solara, Monte Carlo, and Sebring have come and gone.

If Mazda does enter this space, I hope they attempt something different and don't come up with a product that sticks around for a few years and is ultimately discontinued.

[Snowman]

The world does not need another FWD coupe. So it will sell as well as the 6 sedan. Fail.

[EV-Light]

The world does not need another FWD coupe. So it will sell as well as the 6 sedan. Fail.

[OliverD]

The world does not need another FWD coupe. So it will sell as well as the 6 sedan. Fail.

It would be a huge win for Mazda if the coupe sold as well as the sedan. 

[Serniter]

The Altima coupe was discontinued for '14, which really leaves the Accord as the only mid-size FWD coupe available. For some reason Honda has always been able to justify keeping coupe versions of the Civic and Accord around, while others like the Altima, Solara, Monte Carlo, and Sebring have come and gone.

If Mazda does enter this space, I hope they attempt something different and don't come up with a product that sticks around for a few years and is ultimately discontinued.

Sure, but none of those coupes have style.  The Accord Coupe looks better, and so does the 6 sedan.  A Miata coupe would be nice, but that is a whole different class of car. 

[OliverD]

The Altima coupe was discontinued for '14, which really leaves the Accord as the only mid-size FWD coupe available. For some reason Honda has always been able to justify keeping coupe versions of the Civic and Accord around, while others like the Altima, Solara, Monte Carlo, and Sebring have come and gone.

If Mazda does enter this space, I hope they attempt something different and don't come up with a product that sticks around for a few years and is ultimately discontinued.

Sure, but none of those coupes have style.  The Accord Coupe looks better, and so does the 6 sedan.  A Miata coupe would be nice, but that is a whole different class of car.

Hey now, there's no question that the Solara had style. Whether it was actually good style is another matter.

[tooscoops]

this is a nice looking idea... and if it was priced so a student could afford it, then it would sell great!

but there are two target audiences for the coupe.... students/young people who give two drops of about the back seats, and businessmen/women who are looking for that sleek and sporty ride...

a 4 cyl fwd car would appeal to the former... the style would appeal to the latter...

but price of a midsize to the former is a non-starter and the power/image of a four banger fwd "sports car" makes it dead in the water for the latter.

a shame. nice idea with some tweaks.

[Ice]

this is a nice looking idea... and if it was priced so a student could afford it, then it would sell great!

but there are two target audiences for the coupe.... students/young people who give two drops of about the back seats, and businessmen/women who are looking for that sleek and sporty ride...

a 4 cyl fwd car would appeal to the former... the style would appeal to the latter...

but price of a midsize to the former is a non-starter and the power/image of a four banger fwd "sports car" makes it dead in the water for the latter.

a shame. nice idea with some tweaks.

Chasing the student crowd is a losing proposition. There is less interest in car ownership and even when there is they are too saddled with education debt to be able to afford anything like this. They are more in the market for an old Sunfire or the original MX-6 than a new one.

I wonder if to cater to the crowd Mazda might opt for a turbo SkyActive I4? They have done turbos before...

[rrocket]

Awesome!   Another Mazda6 that won't sell for sh*t.

[OliverD]

Awesome!   Another Mazda6 that won't sell for sh*t.

The 6's poor sales are brought up often but Mazda is on track to have its best year for 6 sales since 2008 and possibly even 2007 in the U.S. That's a 50% improvement over the average year for the second gen.

[Serniter]

Hey now, there's no question that the Solara had style. Whether it was actually good style is another matter.

Agreed. 

[Noto]

I wonder if to cater to the crowd Mazda might opt for a turbo SkyActive I4? They have done turbos before...

I would explain it to you, but better to refer you here:
http://www.livelifedrive.com/malaysia/news/view/150350/why-mazda-doesn-t-turbocharge-its-skyactiv-g-engines---we-ask-the-father-of-skyactiv

Mr. Hitomi explained that he does not agree with the common opinion that downsized (turbocharged or supercharged, or both) petrol engines deliver better fuel economy, and does not believe that downsizing is the right path to go in pursuit of better fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions.

However, he acknowledged that downsized engines perform better in regulatory mode fuel economy testing, which are done in controlled environment. Hitomi's says in the real-world, Mazda's SkyActiv-G engines deliver better fuel economy, citing an independent test conducted by Germany's ADAC.
...
"Boosted downsized engines have turbochargers and intercoolers. We are sure that the cost of SkyActiv is much less than downsized engines. SkyActiv has relatively larger displacement, however its cost is less than downsized engines and its real world fuel economy is better, we believe." 

That, and these engines are already operating at insane compression ratios. 

[OliverD]

There are rumors that the next MazdaSpeed 3 will have a turbocharged 2.5 and AWD. I wonder if that drivetrain would work in a 6.

[Noto]

There are rumors that the next MazdaSpeed 3 will have a turbocharged 2.5 and AWD. I wonder if that drivetrain would work in a 6.

IIRC, the rumours were absolutely false re: AWD.  ...and it was also suggested that the boosted engine would be the 2.0L

...but, Mazda, feel free to prove me wrong

[tooscoops]

this is a nice looking idea... and if it was priced so a student could afford it, then it would sell great!

but there are two target audiences for the coupe.... students/young people who give two drops of about the back seats, and businessmen/women who are looking for that sleek and sporty ride...

a 4 cyl fwd car would appeal to the former... the style would appeal to the latter...

but price of a midsize to the former is a non-starter and the power/image of a four banger fwd "sports car" makes it dead in the water for the latter.

a shame. nice idea with some tweaks.

Chasing the student crowd is a losing proposition. There is less interest in car ownership and even when there is they are too saddled with education debt to be able to afford anything like this. They are more in the market for an old Sunfire or the original MX-6 than a new one.

I wonder if to cater to the crowd Mazda might opt for a turbo SkyActive I4? They have done turbos before...

chasing students has always been an odd one... you want to be cheap, but good enough that young buyers have good memories. you need good lease programs...

plus, the mazda3 is a popular student car already... convincing kids to pay more for a bigger car with less capacities would be a very tough sell indeed.

[Serniter]

Students would prefer something that looks sporty.  NoTo's photoshop makes it look more like a tourer (although the concept rendering at the top of the thread does look sporty).  I expect it to be expensive and appeal to an older demographic.

[OliverD]

Do they really chase students or is it simply young people in general?

Regardless of which it is, young people buy a comparatively tiny amount of new cars. In the U.S., the non-luxury brand with the youngest buyers is Dodge and the average age is 48.6. Only 15% of Dodge buyers are in the 25-34 age bracket.

[tooscoops]

lets not forget that most young people can't get financed, so their parents are the ones on the contract.

[Jaeger]

Great looks and gutless would not be a winning combo.