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Mazda is bullish about the corporate chances for its new 6 after revealing the all-important 2.0-litre diesel model will be an incredible six benefit-in-kind tax groups lower than its predecessor.
At 19% with 149g/km of CO2, saving 22% tax company drivers around £23 per month, the new upper medium challenger arrives in saloon form in January, with the UK having to wait until March for its two favoured variants: the five-door hatchback and estate.
The CO2 drop is due to several factors, including reduced weight, some improvements to the carry-over 140PS 2.0-litre diesel engine, and the new model having claimed best-in-class aerodynamic figures.
As yet there is no clever technology along the lines of BMW's Efficient Dynamics package of features, although Mazda engineers admitted developing stop-start technology but not implementing it due to costs. A concept car featuring the firm's stop-start system will appear at this month's Tokyo motor show, suggesting the technology could be in the pipeline
"Over the life cycle, the new 6 will average 13,000 units per year, which is just under the previous 6's average, but we're being realistic about volumes," Mazda fleet boss James Hopkins told BusinessCar. "It'll be capped at round 60% into fleet because we have very strong retail demand for the car, which is unusual for the segment. That helps residual values and we won't be flooding the less desirable fleet channels - this car is aimed squarely at user-choosers."
Hopkins identifies the fellow Japanese pair of Honda Accord and Toyota Avensis as key rivals, along with the perceived more premium VW Passat.
"If you look at CAP Monitor we now have a better RV for the 6 than in January 2006, and that's because of the continued demand for used cars," said Hopkins. "Dealers can't get enough two- and three-year old cars."
Mazda will also introduce a higher-powered diesel around next autumn, rumoured to be a 2.2-litre unit with something in the region of 160PS. That engine will also find its way into the CX-7 off-roader before the end of next year, giving it a much-needed diesel alternative to the current 2.3-litre petrol engine.
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