JEDDAH, 19 June — The new generation Mazda 6 was launched at a colorful ceremony at the Madinah Road showroom of Haji Husein Alireza & Co. here last night.
“The new car stands in a class of its own. It has created a new segment where the distinction between sports and sedan no longer exists. It’s a car that does not define its owners by their age but by their exuberance. And in spite of its strikingly good looks, it’s a car that must be driven to be truly appreciated,” Ali Alireza, director and general manager, HHA, Mazda’s sole Kingdomwide dealer, said in his address. Attending the launch were other directors of HHA and a Mazda delegation. Leading the visiting team was Tsuneo Matsubara, managing director, overseas sales, Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC).
The new design of Mazda 6 has succeeded in combining the features of a sports car while at the same time setting new standards in the global midsize vehicle segment. This unique combination of dynamic elegance and high tensile strength with an extremely well balanced suspension system will provide pleasure even to the most discerning driver, according to Alireza. He said the new car also marks a milestone in Mazda’s innovation. “This is a car that combines the best of today’s family vehicle in comfort, convenience and safety, as well as the thrill and excitement of a sports car. It’s a car for those of us who expect a family sedan to give us that same feeling we had when we sat behind the steering wheel for the first time and wished that feeling could last for ever,” he added.
He recalled Mazda’s many important and successful models over the past 35 years of HHA’s association with Mazda in the Kingdom. The most famous of these was Mazda 929, which set the standard for the Japanese family sedan following its introduction to this market over 25 years ago. “There was also the Mazda RX-7; the innovative and successful sports coupe powered by Mazda’s trademark rotary engine, the technology that made Mazda the only Japanese manufacturer to win the prestigious 24-hour race at Le Mans,” Alireza said.
“With its overall polished design and high quality engineering that pays close attention to every detail, the Mazda 6 helps to redefine the spirit of the future by redefining the midsize car of today. It is available in a 2 or 2.3 liter capacity aluminum engine, which is connected to a front-wheel drive 5-speed gearbox” he added.
Matsubara said: “A lot of changes are taking place at the MMC and we’re committed to provide the market with cars that are next generation products and built with the spirit of our rich 82-year history. Mazda is committed to change and creating a new history for the benefit of users. The birth of our new “Global brand” strategy is a reflection of this change. We’re creating vehicles differently for the future and in keeping with our objective that all Mazda cars should be distinctive and have an identity.”
About Mazda’s new philosophy of “Zoom-Zoom,” he said: “This is an English word, used by children, to describe a vehicle in motion. Remember your childhood! Zoom-Zoom is Mazda’s spirit, which creates for people who never lost the spark for the joy of motion felt as a child.”
According to Matsubara, the Mazda 6 is a car “that promises to let you go Zoom-Zoom”.