The All-New Mazda6e Looks Great, Brings Back Fond Memories

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I’ve fond recollections of Mazdas. Mazda had a big footprint in Zimbabwe’s car meeting sector through the heydays of auto meeting in Zimbabwe. Throughout its peak period (from the Eighties to the late Nineteen Nineties), car meeting crops assembled about 20,000 autos per 12 months. One of many essential crops throughout that point was Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries (WMMI). The unique meeting plant, Willowvale Motor Industries (WMI)was established in 1961 when Ford Motor Company of Canada imported an entire meeting plant to assemble Ford motor autos for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (modern-day Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi). The Industrial Improvement Company (IDC) purchased the corporate in 1967 for contractual meeting.

WMI was later restructured into an automotive group known as Motec Holdings beneath a three way partnership partnership between Industrial Improvement Company of Zimbabwe (IDCZ), Mazda Company of Japan, and Itochu Company (C Itoh & Co then) of Japan — thus, WMMI was born. In the course of the tenure of the settlement, between 1989 and 2014, WMMI, targeting assembling the Mazda model, attaining important features in productiveness. WMI says over time the partnership contributed to the enhancement of manufacturing capability, high quality, and abilities growth to allow the corporate to provide world class autos for Zimbabwe and the area.

A number of the fashions assembled in Zimbabwe throughout that interval had been the next:

• First- and second-generation Mazda 3
• Mazda T3500 gentle truck
• Mazda BT-50 4×2 and 4×4 pickup vans
• Mazda B1800-B2200 Sequence pickup vans
• Mazda Familia (323 GL hatchback and GLX sedan)
• Mazda 323 hatchback and sedan
• Mazda 626 GL 1^st Technology
• Mazda 626 Commonplace and GLX Govt

With all of those fashions being assembled in Zimbabwe, it was fairly widespread for many households that had vehicles to have considered one of their autos being a Mazda throughout that period. In actual fact, because of import restrictions meant to advertise uptake of regionally assembled autos within the Eighties to the very early Nineteen Nineties, most households had both a Mazda or a automotive from one of many different meeting crops, reminiscent of a Nissan or a Peugeot.

Within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, my father had considered one of these Mazda 626 Govt sedans. It was a stunning automotive — very spacious for our household and fairly comfy too. We went on plenty of street journeys throughout Zimbabwe in that Mazda 626, together with a 1,700 km spherical journey from Harare to Victoria Falls. My household was initially from the japanese border city of Mutare, however we had moved to the capital metropolis, Harare, within the mid-Nineteen Nineties. This meant that we might take plenty of journeys to go to household and buddies within the Japanese Highlands in that Mazda 626. Harare is 263 km from Mutare. Journeys to the Vumba Mountains and Nyanga had been additionally common options on our calendar. I used to be nonetheless in highschool on the time, so in fact my father would drop us at college each day in that Mazda 626.

That mannequin of the Mazda 626 Govt Sedan was succeeded by the Mazda 626 GL First Technology, which was additionally assembled by WMMI in Harare. Later fashions such because the Mazda6, nevertheless, weren’t assembled in Zimbabwe. The economic system had crumbled because of a number of components, together with extended durations of hyperinflation. Demand for model new autos additionally dropped drastically when import restrictions had been lifted, ensuing within the inflow of used autos from Japan that continues to immediately.

The Mazda model continues to be sturdy in Zimbabwe, as lots of people nonetheless drive Mazdas. These are principally fashions such because the Mazda Verisa, Demio, Mazda 3, and Mazda6, principally as 8-year-old used imports from Japan. Some corporates nonetheless purchase model new Mazda pickup vans such because the BT-50. As you drive round Zimbabwe, you see numerous fashions of the Mazda6, as it’s nonetheless fairly well-liked right here. Because of this I used to be excited to see the all-new 100% electrical Mazda 6e being launched in Europe. Hopefully this mannequin will probably be launched in a number of African markets as effectively. Mazda says this new fashionable electrical hatchback with a fastback saloon fashion arriving within the UK in 2026 is the following chapter in Mazda’s EV story in Europe. Why 2026 and never now? This mannequin is already accessible in different markets, reminiscent of China, in left-hand drive (LHD), however we most likely have to attend a bit for the right-hand drive model. Mazda additionally revealed the automotive will go on sale in LHD European markets this 12 months earlier than arriving at UK sellers within the first half of 2026.

Mazda says in its press launch that this all-new mid-sized electrical automotive, the Mazda6e, brings a recent take to the well-regarded inner combustion engine powered Mazda6, which throughout three generations from 2002 to 2023 was a preferred mannequin with European and UK clients. Mazda provides that the all-new Mazda6e represents a recent tackle its predecessors, that includes a contemporary flowing exterior, modern cabin design, and Mazda’s famed deal with the expertise from behind the wheel.

The longer vary model will get an 80 kWh battery that permits a variety of as much as 345 miles, and with 244 ps reaches 62 mph in 7.8 seconds. Each variations produce the identical 320 Nm of torque with a rear-wheel drive structure. The longer-range 80kWh Mazda6e will cost from 10 to 80 % in 45 minutes.

Mazda says the Mazda6e was designed beneath the idea of “Electrifying Design Crafted to Perfection” and introduces the following evolution of Mazda’s “Kodo Soul of Motion” design philosophy. Mazda provides that its clean, flowing strains and daring options give the automotive a robust but refined presence. The low roofline and short-deck coupe silhouette supply a sporty and trendy look whereas on the similar time preserving the performance of a five-door hatchback. That is what I really like concerning the Mazda6 and its predecessor, the Mazda 626. It’s a really sensible 5-door car.

Mazda says the sensible driver-focused cockpit contains a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a ten.2-inch instrument set, complemented by an augmented actuality head-up show. Mixing craftmanship, considerate design, and cutting-edge expertise, the Mazda6e is the proper automotive for the return of the Mazda6 as a BEV within the age of electrification, whereas a 330-litre boot, wonderful passenger house, and 70-litre entrance boot guarantee sturdy practicality.

Commenting on the reveal of the all-new Mazda6e, Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director of Mazda Motors UK, mentioned: “the Mazda6e is the car our dealers have been waiting for, with a nod to the popularity of the Mazda6 it’s a real statement of intent for the future and illustrates how Mazda can bring great design, technology, and style to battery electric vehicles. And with the suspension, power steering and braking carefully calibrated by the team at Mazda Research Europe in Frankfurt to match European and UK preferences, I’m sure the Mazda6e will be an electric car that delivers the engaging driver experience you’d expect from Mazda.”

The Mazda 6e was co-developed with Changan Car utilizing the identical platform as Changan’s Deepal L07. Even on this age of latest “New Energy Vehicle” manufacturers, it nonetheless good to see conventional manufacturers which have a loyal following reminiscent of Mazda going electrical. I cant wait to check drive this new Mazda6e.