Not all marketing. Lots of concepts serve as design studies; for the designers to explore where they could take the brand and its production models... with no holds barred. It’s called back-casting. You design something to your ultimate vision, then backtrack from there to arrive as something more realistic on a mass…

Because it’s moot to beat a dead horse.

Concepts are just ideas. Can’t be taken too seriously, or literally.

A car can be up-market AND FWD. See history of Audi A4. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be too far fetched to expect a AWD Mazda6 in the future. There’s already been plenty of reporting on this.

The obvious answer, sales figures. People didn’t buy enough manuals to make a business case for it. In the corporate environment, decisions have to be backed by business case. Things usually aren’t done just because Joe Schmoe felt like it.

No.

Not that you’d believe me, but it’s definitely coming. I’ve seen the photographs.

Nappa leather. Ultrasude lower dash, below the wood trim. Revised seat padding material. Ventilated front seats (that pull air and heat from your body, instead of blow). Aside from obvious visual differences, generally better materials for things that are both seen and not seen. It really is a step above the previous…

A whopping 310 lb-ft of torque on tap at low rpm, regardless of 87 or 93 octane. You also get a fully redesigned interior, updated seats (more supportive and comfortable). Signature trim also gets ventillated front seats (pull air from you rather than blow), real wood and ultrasuede dash trim. The 2018 interior is…

I think the result will be pretty much what you predicted. Don’t expect it to be a track car (who would??). But, with all that torque available on tap at low rpm (2k?), it will be a very responsive daily driver. Stop lights and light controlled on-ramps should be a hoot. Hope the aftermarket picks up on this engine…

And the predictable outcome is almost everything the luxury one has at several thousands less. Big question is, will there be enough buyers who think almost is good enough.

Ever watch Pirelli World Challenge? Gentleman racer would not be driving a hatchback with a sub 20k starting price. However, the TCR series could be an interesting place for them to get involved.

Anyone know the location? Hangar at El Toro?

And with cheaper (and abundant) labor of China... yes, definitely possible.

Oh yah... what was up with that FlexBo car and driver? the team should be reprimanded. Two laps down and not moving over for race leaders.

Mazda Canada is part of Mazda North American Operations (duh). Watch this:

The Mazda boys need a little more speed/power. They also need to grow up a little and not race one another and wind up fucking themselves, like they did at the start this race and towards the end last race.

I find it a bit annoying when the commentating crew make inside jokes among themselves and the drivers they interview. We the viewers don’t have the relationships they share and the jokes are lost on us.

They are.

And it would be great if I am the Powerball winner. Fact, 2.5T is not going into the 3. And Mazdaspeed is history. Boy-racer appeal is far from where the brand is going. Get over it. The horse is long dead.