Mazda 6 likely to get 2.5-litre turbo engine, smaller models also possible
The all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that has debuted in the 2016 Mazda CX-9 is highly likely to be fitted to the Mazda 6 sedan and wagon.
CarAdvice spoke with Mazda North America vehicle development engineer Dave Coleman at the launch of the new CX-9 this week, and he said that the new turbo engine can fit in the Mazda 6 – and the Mazda 3, as well.
"It fits in a lot of our cars, and where we're actually going to put it is another question," Coleman said.
"It fits in the same package as the diesel fits in, and the same package that the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre fits in. Basically, that big space we used for the bundle of snakes exhaust manifold, the turbo is in that space too. They're all packaged to occupy the same space," he said.
Pictured above: Dave Coleman, Mazda North America vehicle development engineer.
That could mean the 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo unit, which produces a chunky 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque, may find an application in the Mazda 6 model range, and possibly the Mazda 3 line-up, too. Mazda 3 MPS to return? Possibly, though the brand has made it clear in the past that it had no plans to revive that hot hatch model.
Currently, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder normally-aspirated (non-turbocharged) petrol engine fitted to both the 3 and 6 tops out at a far less satisfying 138kW and 250Nm.
But Coleman said that it's not his decision to choose which cars will get the newly developed 2.5-litre, which is matched exclusively to a six-speed automatic gearbox but can be paired with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
"It's up to the product planners to decide what they're going to put it in," he said. "It's exactly the same clearance as the exhaust manifold of the other engines."
Coleman said that the company hasn't yet developed any prototype cars with the new engine fitted, but confirmed "we know where it fits".
"It fits. I'm not a product planner so I don't get to make that call," he said of it being added to the 6, which is sold in North America in much bigger numbers than it is here.
Coleman surprised us by stating what car he thought it would be a dream fit to – the Mazda CX-3 baby SUV. That car, though, is built off a different platform – it is shared with the smaller Mazda 2, not the bigger 3, CX-5, 6 and CX-9.
"I'd love to put it in a CX-3. But it only 'hot-rod' fits into a CX-3. It doesn't production fit. The belts are rubbing on the frame rails," he said.
More: Mazda CX-9 news and reviews
More: Mazda 6 news and reviews
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