What If Mazda Built An Inline-Six Sports Wagon From The EZ-6?

We envision a 400hp six-cylinder Mazda6 replacement that could take on BMW’s M340i Touring

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/josh-byrnes/                                    

Remember those endless rumors that Mazda might actually build a rear-drive sedan with an inline six to rival the BMW 3 Series? Well, as we know, that never happened. Instead, the Chinese and European markets got the EZ-6/6e, a Deepal-based liftback featuring both EV and extended-range electric (EREV) powertrains. Nice, but still not quite the Mazda6 successor we were all craving for.

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But that doesn’t stop us from dreaming. Here’s a look at what could’ve been if Mazda decided to go for a new mid-size wagon. We’ve taken the EZ-6, stretched its wheelbase, lengthened the roof, and naturally threw in an inline six. Curious? Read on to see what could have made a whole lot of sense.

A New Take on the EZ-6

As many have noted since its debut, the EZ-6 is based on Changan’s Deepal SL7, with the byproduct being a handsome liftback sedan with a few proportional quirks, especially around the back end.

So, what are those quirks? Well, the rear end tends to look a bit… top-heavy, with hefty D-pillars and a tailgate that’s clearly doing too much. The proportions also scream “front-wheel drive” even though, technically, it’s rear-wheel drive. Not ideal.

Our illustrative study fixes these aesthetic quibbles with a longer axle-to-dash ratio (helping fit that hypothetical inline six) and a rear bumper that’s more upright than tapering inwards. The rear quarter glass sweeps down towards the rear, yet the roofline is such that it doesn’t impact the wagon’s versatility.

MAZDA 6e SEDAN INTERIOR

You’ll also notice the sheet metal looks different; we’ve added a more prominent shoulder line and rear haunches to give it a wide, planted stance – as opposed to the upright (and often dorky) look many EVs suffer due to having a battery pack sandwiched in the floor.

The interior? We’d keep it mostly the same, with a few modern updates. Picture a Cadillac-style curved OLED instrument cluster and infotainment screen, plus more physical buttons for essential shortcuts. No need to fumble through touch controls at 60 mph. The new longer dimensions would also boost cargo capacity to a respectable 600 liters (21 cubic feet). Practical and stylish, it’s pretty much what you’d want from a Mazda wagon.

Performance: Inline-Six, Please

In terms of performance, our proposal’s headline act would be Mazda’s next iteration of the 48-volt mild hybrid 3.3-litre straight-six, dubbed SkyActiv-Z. 

Currently, the turbocharged six-cylinder unit maxes out at 340 hp in the CX-90 (although, piggyback tunes are seeing numbers nudging the 390 horsepower mark), and further tweaks could see it pushing the 400 horsepower barrier (294 kW). Power would be sent to all four wheels via a re-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission.

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Both EV and range-extended options would carry over from the EZ-6, albeit with improvements to the 80kWh EV variant which currently develops 241 hp (180kW). This could be improved to 295 hp (220kW), making it more competitive with Tesla’s Model 3.

Potential Rivals

So, who’s the competition for this dream machine? Well, let’s talk about some of the heavy hitters: BMW’s M340i xDrive Touring, Audi’s S5 Avant, and Mercedes-AMG’s C43 Estate. All are blistering fast, loaded with premium vibes, and, let’s face it, come from lineages Mazda isn’t exactly known for (yet).

However, the Japanese automaker has what it takes to develop a vehicle that challenges those old perceptions. Hey, they just need to stop sitting on the sidelines and make it happen.

What do you think? Do we have a shot at seeing something like this from Mazda in the future? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

MAZDA 6e SEDAN EXTERIOR