Automotive News, Media & Press - Ford/Mazda to compete against WRX/EVO

From Autoweek
Autoweek.com photos by John Johnson, seen at carspyshots.tk
Mazda is prepping its own entry for the Subie-Mitsu rally wars—a 276-hp, 265-lb-ft Mazda 6 scheduled for a mid-2005 world debut. Spotted during hot-weather tests in the California desert, this sizzling prototype gets a twin-turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four that is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and sends power via all-wheel drive to 18-inch tires.

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2004/0719/mazda6main.jpg
http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2004/0719/mazda6rear.jpg

Twin turbo on a four? Reduced turbo lag? I'm fairly ingnorant about turbo's. I need to get some books or something and read up since I plan on turbo charging my '71.

I would bet on an I4 they're running twin sequential turbos rather than parallel twins.

Ok, I dig the all-wheel drive...but my V6 6i already has 220hp. And the 18's are right off the rx8. I like mine better for looks as well. Oh well I guess...its a different market. I never cared for the EVO's anywho.

Its cool...but not that cool.

w00t. The Mazda 6 MPS/Mazdaspeed 6 concept they showed a year or two ago was just friggin sweet and I heard that the car was confirmed for Japan but they were unsure about bringing it to the US. All I can say is awesome news. Not only does the sharp looking 6/Atenza get an injection of power and AWD, but you can be sure that if Mazdas bread and butter sedan gets 280hp, their flagship rotary powered RX-8 will get its turboed rotary sometime very soon.

BTW, how is this Ford going after the Evo and WRX? I know that the 6 platform/architecture will be applied to Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles and that the Mazda developed 2.3L 4 banger is used in Ford applications, but honestly the 6 MPS is Mazda going after Mitsu and Scooby, not Ford. That's like someone saying that the Aston Martin DB9 with its 3.0L Duratec V6 based 5.9L V12 is Ford upping the ante on the Modena/Gallardo market from their last Blue Oval product, the DB7. :eyes:

w00t. The Mazda 6 MPS/Mazdaspeed 6 concept they showed a year or two ago was just friggin sweet and I heard that the car was confirmed for Japan but they were unsure about bringing it to the US. All I can say is awesome news. Not only does the sharp looking 6/Atenza get an injection of power and AWD, but you can be sure that if Mazdas bread and butter sedan gets 280hp, their flagship rotary powered RX-8 will get its turboed rotary sometime very soon.

BTW, how is this Ford going after the Evo and WRX? I know that the 6 platform/architecture will be applied to Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles and that the Mazda developed 2.3L 4 banger is used in Ford applications, but honestly the 6 MPS is Mazda going after Mitsu and Scooby, not Ford. That's like someone saying that the Aston Martin DB9 with its 3.0L Duratec V6 based 5.9L V12 is Ford upping the ante on the Modena/Gallardo market from their last Blue Oval product, the DB7. :eyes:The Mazda 6 is a cross platform car that Ford uses on a few different lines including the new Mondeo, next-gen Jag X-Type, and next gen Lincoln entry level car. There is also a rumor the Mazda 6 may underpin the next Lincoln LS.

Anyhow, Ford-Corporate knows that a WRC-Type car would be more succesfuly launched under a Mazda brand than a Ford, Lincoln or Jag platform. Mainly because Subaru and Mitsubishi have already established those markets as Import-niche cars. So thats why I said it's Ford going after the EVO/WRX.

-Adam

New Photos

http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/Car/Mazda/6Saloon/13744111834.jpg (http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/Car/Mazda/6Saloon/13744111834.jpg)
http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/Car/Mazda/6Hatchback/2334444240.jpg (http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/Car/Mazda/6Hatchback/2334444240.jpg)
Foto's: AutoCar (http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/News_Article.asp?NA_ID=209344)

Wouldn't the Mazda 3 be a better platform for this since the focus is a rally car to begin with?

-Todd

Chevy needs a WRX competitor.

I heard the G6 is supposed to get an AWD version sometime in the future.

-Todd

I heard the G6 is supposed to get an AWD version sometime in the future.
:nod: AWD and some more potent engine options as well. :cool:

Chevy needs a WRX competitor.


GM owns 20% if Fuji Heavy Industry the parent company of Subaru.

This a GM built WRX (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=98)

I heard the G6 is supposed to get an AWD version sometime in the future.


I wouldn't count on that being in the same league as the others mentioned, the STi and Evo are very heady competition.

[QUOTE=Shinkaze]The Mazda 6 is a cross platform car that Ford uses on a few different lines including the new Mondeo, next-gen Jag X-Type, and next gen Lincoln entry level car. There is also a rumor the Mazda 6 may underpin the next Lincoln LS.



I seen a picture in the newspaper of the new Mustang, it is built in the same factory as the Mazda 6. They were both on the same work line even.

This a GM built WRX (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=98)

You do know that "Borrego" means "Lamb" in spanish, and is often used as slang for "Dumbass" :engarde: :hump: :cool: :ripped: :D :gruffy: