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Mazda9
Is there space for a rwd or awd entry luxury Mazda 9? V6 or V8?
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Above that, they'd just end up making another Lincoln LS clone. Or worse, a Taurus.
I just don't see that happening.
-juice
I think all depends on how consumers accept their new line-up. At least the automotive press has praise all their new offerings and I believe the public has done so too since Ive seen a lot more new Mazdas on the street.
As for something on the Taurus platform, won't happen either since the platform will die in the next few years.
The 3.5L will debut in a Lincoln product first, before it is being phased into other vehicles.
Don't be surprised if the 9 becomes a close twin to the Ford Futura since it'll be vastly bigger in size.
Also Mazda has announced they will supersize the 6 for 2007 or 2008 model year just for the NA market while Europe and Japan get the regular versions. Myself I don't think thats a good move to supersize the 6 but if mazda thinks that well thats their call I guess they have to make.
Mazda sales are up 21.3% percent this year. The 6 has done well where the last generation 626 really didn't do that well. The 3 is doing splendid. Mazda has been the most interesting car company to watch the last 2 years it seems.
The Mazda 929 failed because RWD vehicle with an anemic 3.0L didn't set it apart in any sense.
Now Mazda has the resources to grow a bit if it wanted to. It's 4year/50K warranty (as many other luxury automaker's use) helps it's case as well. One more vehicle slotted about the 6, if outsourced correctly, can be done profittably even if it's sold in limited quantities.
There is a narrow niche market where a Mazda 9 could work. It's the 25-29k luxury sedan category. Make it nicer styling wise then the mundane Accord/Carmy bunch and offer more features at a price less then the TL/ES330 class. The competitors would be the XG350, Amanti, Diamante, Avalon, and Maxima. Nothing wrong with Mazda trying to get a piece of the pie. The more competition the merrier!
I can see up-sizing (please don't say super-sizing) the Mazda6 a little though, to compete with the interior volume of the Accord and Camry, as long as it doesn't hurt the handling.
However, I really think Ford will sell any big cars that are based on the Mazda6 platform as Ford or Lincoln, or maybe even Volvo.
The Camry & Avalon kinship is what comes to mind....
Ever brand most mature with its costumers in order to not lose them to other brands. In a couple of years some 6 costumers might need a bigger car, even though they like the characteristics of Mazda and might want to buy another Mazda they wont have any alternative within the Mazda lineup, therefor they'll have to look for different brands.
So how would a "big" Mazda make sense, and what advantage would this have over a Ford-badged product based on a stretched Mazda6 platform?
Avalon room + zoom zoom+ sporty styling and handling doesn't sound too bad to me.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mitsu is putting out a Diamante for the 06 model year. I'm kinda shocked at that myself: we will see how that sells.
Another I am worried if Mazda decides to put a mid-luxury car in another couple years will it be too close to a Mazda 6s on the sticker price?
Of course, the 3 can cover some of the low end duties, so you could really focus the 6 if you wanted to.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Maybe, but with the Mazda6 being "up-sized" in a couple of years (gaining interior volume), couldn't that compete with the TL, assuming the right drivetrain and luxury equipment?
Similar to what Ford is doing to replace the Taurus (Futura smaller, 500 bigger).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
a 2003 Diamante is near luxury car and has sportier character than the 6?
the 9 is a bad move for mazda look at the Volkswagen Phaeton.
Honda and Subaru don't have big near luxury car and their doing will.
"While the 6 is a nice car it still is rather boring and common styling wise in base versions
ans simply is a sedan with a sporty flair".
I don't see nothing wrong where the 6 is positioned in the car market. Not everybody wants a super-sized sedan like the Accord and Altima.
The Mitsubishi Diamante I'll judge that car when they come put with a new one in a couple of years. The current one is kinda dated.
On Kia they sell cars on the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty mainly. I wouldn't buy a Kia over any Japanese Car.
I also agree all a near luxury car for Mazda would have to do is be a little more roomier than the 6.
Audi8q:
I was on Mazda's case alot on of these boards when the 6 first came out. Since you are a Mazda salesman isn't Mazda's higer up(bosses) happy they are finally regaining a little presence in the US after kind of a bad mid to late 90's period?
I have read Mazda wants to add more dealerships around the US. As long as they have good product I don't see why Mazda can't have stand alone dealerships.
On another matter Mazda just needs to grow to where they were around 1993 in terms of market presence to compete with Honda and Nissan.
what are the chances of that.
What if the Mazda9 were the Mazda6 based AWD sedan that Lincoln will be getting? (Which will be displayed at the NYC Auto Show).
That move would make the car profitable for Lincoln since it'll have a cheaper versions, the 9 and the Futura, and Mazda would make profit out of it, even if it sells in small numbers. After all in the future we wont see a lot of 200 or 300k sales for a particular model since the market is going to to be more segmented, for example Ford Five Hundred & Ford Futura.
oh, BTW: to all you mazda6 fans....There is going to be a Mazda6 based AWD Lincoln car making a debut in a few weeks at the NY auto show. This different than the mazda6 based Aviator replacement that we have already seen.
Yes, this will be coming from Ford and Mazda around 2007-2008 (this will "compliment" the Explorer"). Look at the Honda Pilot as an example....Built on the Mazda6 platform, AWD, 3 rows of seats, etc.
Future Tribute, currently built on a last generation Mazda 626 will switch to a Mazda3 platform.
New crossover built on the 6 platform.
New B- series Pick up, developed by Ford and Mazda.
Possibly a Mazda9, maybe from an stretched 6 platform with AWD.
New Miata MX-5, built on the current RX-8 platform.
The Mazda2, possibly coming up next year, expect styling very similar to the MX Micro Concept shown this year at Detroit.
IMO it seems Mazda, might turn out with a very complete and competitive Line-up.
just joking!