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Overview

Image credits: Mazda

In its first year, the acclaimed Mazda6 sedan won 60 domestic and international industry awards, including Car and Driver magazine's '10Best' and Automobile magazine's 'All-Star' titles.

For 2004, Mazda is adding sport wagon and five-door versions of its sporty midsize sedan, giving Mazda6 the broadest lineup in its category.

'Mazda6 had a very successful launch, and we want to continue to build on its momentum,' says Jim Sailer, Mazda6 vehicle line manager. 'We've created the sport wagon and five-door to reinvigorate the Mazda6 line and provide that same exceptional driving experience to those who simply require more than a sedan can offer.'

The new Mazda6 sport wagon captures all the versatility of a wagon or a sport utility vehicle without surrendering its authentic sports sedan driving dynamics. Its second-row seats fold nearly flat at the touch of a lever for up to 60.4 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear. With a hint of wedge to its profile, the Mazda6 sport wagon is athletic with an almost European flair. It comes standard with a 220-horsepower, 3.0-liter double overhead cam V-6 engine, and unlike most wagons, a five-speed manual transmission is standard. Five-speed Sport Shift with manual shift mode also is available.

The five-door Mazda6 looks more like a four-door sport coupe, but is indeed a versatile hatchback – the only midsize five-door hatchback currently sold in the United States, in fact. Its roofline slopes gradually to the rear deck lid for a sleek and aggressively aerodynamic appearance. The rear liftgate opens to reveal 22 cubic feet of cargo space inside, nearly 50 percent more than in the Mazda6 sedan, and provides a wide opening for storage of large or awkwardly shaped objects. The hatchback's rear seats also can fold down at the touch of a button for almost 37 additional cubic feet of space – 58.7 cubic feet in total.

All five-door models come standard with a sport package, which includes 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels, aggressive front and rear fascias, integrated fog lights, side sill extensions, rear wing, oval-tipped exhaust outlets and titanium-looking power window switch panels. All also have a body-colored sport grille and rear windshield wipers.

The Mazda6 five-door is powered by a 160-horsepower, 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed Sport Shift transmission or the sport wagon's 3.0-liter V-6 mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed Sport Shift transmission.

Both engines feature double overhead cam valve trains with continuously variable intake valve timing for smooth running at low speeds and extra power at high rpm.

Both the Mazda6 sport wagon and five-door hatchback models sit on double-wishbone front and E-type multi-link rear suspension for sharply tuned reflexes and maximum road holding. A wide front track and standard stabilizer bar also help resist body roll and weight transfer. Rack-and-pinion steering is tuned to be precise, linear and responsive, and for controlled brake performance, both sport wagon and five-door models employ 11.1-inch ventilated brake discs for the front wheels and 11.0-inch solid discs in back.

Like all Mazda products, the new Mazda6 sport wagon and Mazda6 five-door hatchback are back with four-year roadside assistance, a comprehensive four-year/50,000-mile warranty and a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty.

Source - Jennifer Shatwell | Ford Communications Network

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