Yes, it looks good - and hi tech, too! But why no hatchback model - it will be just saloon and estate!! That's crazy, for the UK market...

Many volume manufacturers seem to be following the lead of the German makes in not offering a D-segment hatchback, which may be a marketing ploy to raise the perceived status/quality of the car in question; although the market's shift towards SUVs is clearly a factor.

Maybe, but I suspect in Mazda's case the reasoning is more straightforward -- there aren't many markets they have significant presence in that like large hatchbacks. UK != The World, and as far as a Japanese manufacturer is concerned, the UK is a small, remote market.

Large Korean cars have been saloon/estate only for a good long while, because these cars are aimed at the US market. Mazda is now in the same position -- cut free from Ford, the number of Eurohatches to be sold is small.

Note that all the makes you mention are Japanese -- except Citroen, who are just odd for odd's sake a lot of the time anyway!

since the new technology is entirely mazda's and ford had no part in it

Which is probably why there isn't any new technology in it. 'Skyactiv' indeed! Nice spin on the fact thaat they couldn't afford to develop a turbo motor like all their competitors...

Excellent. So what you're saying then is that Mazda's newest offering is old-school.

Must remember that, and put the new 6 high on the list when looking for next car :)

Their diesel has a turbo doesnt it?

They have plans for an mps version apparantly - so that will have two turbos like previous models on the mps

They have lost money for two years on the trot; this model and launch will make or break them

Does this sound familiar.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123817637-Engine-Oil-Rise

CR Diesel technology is broken. Never seems to improve.

Probably the best 4pot diesel engine made

Bit premature to make that claim about an engine that has only just been released. It took mazda a while to get to grips with DPFs, going to ~14:1 is a big leap for a company with a chequered history in diesel design. Designers have being trying to drop compression for decades while Mazda was still trying to convince everyone that the w***el was the way forward. Everyone else has petered out at about 16:1. Now, Mazda might have cracked it, but then again...