Moving On - 2006 Mazda Mazdaspeed6

That New Car Smell

The Ride: '06 Mazdaspeed6
The Sticker: $27,995
Under The Hood: 2.3L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder turbo
The Power: 274 hp @ 5500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Scale Tipping: 3,589 lbs.
Layout: Front engine, AWD
Gearbox: 6-speed manual transmission
Stiff Stuff: Front: Independent, high-mount double wishbone;Rear: Independent, E-type multi-link; coil springs and stabilizer bars
Rollers: 18x7.0J wheels; 215/45R18 tires
Stoppers: Power assist, 4-wheel, 4 sensor, 3-channel ABS with EBD;12.3-inch ventilated front and 12.4-inch solid rear discs
At The Pump: EPA 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway
The Pack: Audi A4 3.2, BMW 330xi, Subaru Legacy GT,Volvo S40 Sedan and, um, Mitsubishi Evolution IX, Subaru Impreza STI
Deep Thoughts: The Mazdaspeed6 is not quite ready for the 330xibut it does have so much more to offer than the Evo and STI.

That Mazdaspeed Magic
What is Mazdaspeed, some sort of elixir or magic potion mixed into the DNA of everyday ordinary Mazdas? Yes, but it's also so much more. Mazdaspeed was launched in '67 as part of the Mazda Sports Corner motorsports team based out of Mazda Auto Tokyo, Japan's largest Mazda dealer. Because of the success of the team the Mazda Motor Corporation brought Mazdaspeed from Tokyo to the manufacturer's corporate HQ in Hiroshima. In '91 the Mazdaspeed team laid the smack down in a way that no other Japanese OEM had been able to do before or since, taking the overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In '99 Mazda took over the Mazdaspeed operation completely and in '03 Mazda released its first Mazdaspeed-badged vehicle for the US-the Mazdaspeed Proteg.This was followed by the Mazdaspeed Miata. However, both of these cars were essentially port-installed Mazdaspeed versions. The '06 Mazdaspeed6 represents the first truly-engineered Mazdaspeed model. In addition to complete vehicles Mazdaspeed is also responsible for motorsports development as well as full-warranted and factory-engineered performance parts. Zoom-zoom never sounded so good.

The lines of the Mazdaspeed6 are fluid, clean, and harmonious.

The MS6 makes 274 horsepower, making this the most powerful vehicle Mazda has ever sold in the US-including the third-gen RX-7.

By Nadsy Nads

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