The dynamic excellence of familiar sedans has come to be an
obsession of so far indifferent constructors to this (primordial) factor.
Amongst them, Mazda (the constructor of the MX-5...) stands out with the new
concept Zoom Zoom, that results in the admirable Mazda 6.
Text: Filipe Xavier * Photos:lmagepress/Nuno
Laranjeira
Translated: bihus/CapBarbaRuiva
If recent proposals as the Opel Vectra GTS and the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan had been born with intention to pull out applauses from the specialized Press in dynamic handling, another one arrived that will cause noisiest ones. And more than the persistence, only the cult achieves these things.
A platform built exclusively for the new Mazda 6, that claims almost unbeatable rigidity levels, suspensions calculated to satisfy the most demanding driver in the limit, controls that communicate well between themself and whoever controls them, and a low driving position, that can be made perfect with the multiple regulations of the seat and the steering wheel are the first indications of a well thought work from scratch. But the final proof for the millions and millions of yens spent in the project is the road, and here, they are worth each single one of them.
The first impression taken of Mazda 6 is of an amazing balance between stability and agility, where the precise steering with little multiplication, with an almost magnetic assistance, plays a determinative paper in the envelopment. It isn't only the speed with which we're able to defeat the bends of more demanding support than frightens, is the very controlled movements, where to the compression is followed by a soft and almost fiscalized decompression and an ending in the vertical animation.
The front follows the vortex of the bend with blind will and very little projecting, with the ability where the profile of the same one can be dictated by the accelerator - it is alliviated, and all the body falls in a soft and gradual rotation, making more effect the more speed it carries to the bend. Push the gas and it wastes this effect.
And this agility isn't paid in instability, strange and random movements. Quite the contrary, the rightness, the consistency and the constancy in the reactions gains a great meaning in the dynamics of Mazda 6.
If in the range of high speeds it's high and mighty, in the lowest ones also lines up with the same virtues, keeping unbroken the qualities of behaviour, agility and driving easiness to diminish winding roads proper of (some good ones) less generous dimensions cars. It doesn't stop being curious that despite the ton and a half, the resultant inertia of sharper movements is brilliantly dissolved by the suspensions. Now to the braking. Undeniably powerful, finds in the dosing capability a point in favor of the interactivity - the pedal positioning is a temptation for the heel-toe - but suffers from some fatigue, in part because of the raised weight. Well placed, the gearbox showed precision, good in the shift handling and fast enough, even though the strictness in the shiftings is imperative.
In fact, and very well, the Zoom Zoom is a well extended concept to this familiar. We didn't wanted to close this chapter without emphasizing an ackward point. In very fast movements of the steering, the power steering showed an insufficience in the power debit, making it immensely weighty, what's an unnecessary spot in a dinamically magnificent set. What a pitty!
The best ally for an excellent chassis can only be a powerful engine. The 2.0L MZR-CD
is managed by a unit of Denso, and shows whats capable of after the 1700/1800
rpm, and from there on prospers continuously, vigorously and fast till the 4500
rpm, producing in the middle and high range a sultry sound, far away from the
typical sad notes of the Diesel engines. But it lacks capacity of progression
below the referred barrier, due to the "turbo-dependency" and, namely,
to the high weight - the reinforcements of the platform to confer very
high levels of rigidity have showed up in the scale.
Nevertheless, and in the power bank, it delivered 164 CV/3863 and 339N.m/2233rpm! And it's precisely when analyzing the power curve that we better understand its temperament and specially the apathy in the lower regimes. Before the 1750 rpm does not go beyond 45 CV and 180 N.m, and in the 500 rpm following, gains 60 CV and 160 N.m, what expresses very well the vigorous delivery and somehow brusque.
But a familiar sedan with sporting accent must, above all, establish itself as familiar. In the inhabitable space it's bigger than practically all the direct competitors, competing in what concerns width, length and luggage with others of a more familiar/dinamically inferior character, as the Renault Laguna and the VW Passat! In comfort doesn't envy them, either. And if dynamics excellence doesn't ring any bell, keep in mind that you won't find anything this big and with this level of equipment for 33.514 euros. Tempting, isn't it?!