Mazda will soon field a rear-wheel drive mid-sizer in the form of the 2026 Mazda 6e fully electric sedan.
Sourced from Chinese partner Changan Automobile Co (who also supply us with Deepal cars), the 6e will be sold here from mid next year in electric form. A plug-in hybrid variant exists in China but that is not expected to come here at this stage.
Known as the EZ-6 in its home market, the sedan shares core components with the Deepal L07, but graphics, interior and exterior design as well as suspension calibration are all done by Mazda, so it should have the characteristic sporting bias that its vehicles are known for. Mazda’s head of local operations, Vinesh Bhindi, said:
“This is a watershed moment for Mazda. The 6e is a car we are extremely excited to add to our portfolio, opening up a whole new realm of opportunity for our customers who still desire our acclaimed Jinba Ittai dynamics and unmistakable design, but also want to experience the myriad benefits of its electric drive and a host of next-generation technologies, which are some of the most advanced we’ve ever launched in a production vehicle.”
The sole configuration features a single electric motor producing 190kW, which, given that it’s sent to the rear wheels, might feel like a base model Falcon XT and VF Commodore Evoke, given they produced a similar output. Although, this is likely to be heavier.
Power will come from a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which can facilitate a 30-80 per cent charge in as low as 15 minutes. Range is said to be more than 500km. Pricing and finer specs will be revealed closer to its launch.
Although many of us would prefer a Mazda in this category to be powered by the 254kW 3.3-litre turbo inline six as seen in the CX-90, fear not. A teaser for Mazda’s upcoming concept car for the Tokyo Mobility Show shows a four-door coupe with distinctly rear-drive proportions. Could this be what we’ve all been waiting for? We will have all the answers by the end of this month when the show commences.
