At the press introduction of the '06 Mazda Mazdaspeed6 the company brass were quick to quell any associations between what is easily the fastest accelerating, best handling and most advanced sports sedan Mazda has ever built and those radical rally-spec sedans from Mitsu and Subaru. According to Shiro Yoshioka, the vice president of research and development for Mazda's North American Operations, comparisons to "rally-replica" cars might seem easy but those cars don't offer the amenities of the Mazdaspeed6.
True dat, Yoshioka-san. But with all due respect to the corporate Mazdaspeak message there is no denying the obvious similarities when glancing at the specs. Each of these three cars is a hot rodded version of a lower base model in an AWD, four-door,four-cylinder turbocharged layout. But this is where the resemblances end. The lines of the Mazdaspeed6 are fluid, clean, and harmonious. There are no tacked-on wings, scoops, or other aerodynamic bric-a-brac favored by the angular, harsh, and oh-so dirty, dirty Evo and STI. And herein lies the rub. Mazda doesn't want to play in this $30K sedan supercar segment, and even though the Mazdaspeed6 coulda been a contender this car is so much more.
When we look at the Mazdaspeed6 visions of the M3 dance in our heads (in addition to the visions of exotic dancers that are always dancing in our heads). We're not so misguided as to suggest any direct comparisons here, but if you consider the way the M3 elevates the performance of BMW's base 3-Series with its subtle, yet serious athleticism then you'll understand the Mazdaspeed6. The MS6 saga starts with the sedate Mazda6 and, much like the M3, at first glance the changes may appear to be minor but the overall improvements are dramatic.
First the chassis is assaulted by a barrage of body reinforcements making for approximately 50 percent more torsional rigidity and, as the ladies can attest, a little extra rigidity goes a long way. Oh yeah! Firmer springs, larger brake discs, and meaty 18-inch rollers round out the chassis work.
To envelop the larger wheels the Mazdaspeed6 gets slightly flared front fenders. Other exterior changes include minor tweaks to the grille and a barely detectable intercooler bulge in the hood. Special head and taillights, side skirts, a rear bumper with integrated exhaust cutouts and a subtle rear spoiler complete the aesthetic alterations. It takes a keen eye to distinguish a Mazdaspeed6 from the standard version but the understated elegance Mazda wants to create is not the primary directive of this car. In order to earn the Mazdaspeed badge the MS6 better have some serious stones-and thankfully it does have 'em, in a very large and very brass package.
The 2.3 liters of displacement is about all the standard 6 powertrain shares with its more machismo Mazdaspeed sibling. The MS6 is flavored with a forged steel crank and rods, a 9.5:1 compression ratio, and a Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI). All of this is in preparation for the Hitachi-Warner K04 single-scroll turbocharger. Once this Mazdaspeed mlange is mixed together the MS6 makes 274 horsepower, making this the most powerful vehicle Mazda has ever sold in the US-including the third-gen RX-7.