Gasoline-Sniffing Spiders Strike Back, Mazda Recalls 42,000 Mazda6 Sedans in the U.S.

Remember Mazda’s 2011 recall caused by gasoline-sniffing spiders? Well, despite the automaker’s efforts to solve the problem, spiders have still found a way to get into the Mazda6’s fuel tank vent line.

New Photos Mazda's SEMA Show Custom Concepts

Mazda has unwrapped a pair of customized concepts of its new 2014 Mazda3 compact and Mazda6 mid-size models at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The two Mazda3 studies are the Club Sport hatchback with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit paired to a manual gearbox and an array of performance upgrades, including an aero package and 20-inch wheels, and the other is the Vector 3 sedan with a bespoke Soul Red paint highlighted by custom blend of Deep Crimson in varying shades of depth, a ground effects kit and 19 Rays Volk rims.

The bigger Mazda6 also gets a Club Sport version only this time, power is provided by the European model's 173hp (175PS) 2.2liter turbo diesel, which will be available in North American from late spring of next year. The CS6 (Club Sport 6) is finished is a dark grey shade and sports a discreet aero package and Rays 57 Motorsport G07FXX 20-inch Black alloy wheels along with an assortment of other performance tweaks.

Finally, we have the Ceramic 6 Concept boasting a matte Ceramic White finish littered with Taupe Silver accent stripes, which Mazda says, resembles "linear frequency patterns found on the likes of couture dresses and flowing fabrics". The car rides on Rays Volk Racing Original G25 10-spoke, 20-inch wheels finished in Taupe Silver, with performance goods including an H&R spring kit, a Racing Beat custom dual-exhaust and custom Brembo two-piece, six-piston 380x32 drilled rotors. Mazda tells us that it has also reworked the interior with "premium soft leathers, intricate stitching and overlapping weave patterns".

PHOTO GALLERY

New 2014 Mazda6 Goes on Sale on January 2 Priced from $20,880*

Given Mazda USA's subpar press site, we weren't surprised to learn that the Japanese carmaker has silently released pricing for the all-new 2014 Mazda6 sedan on its consumer website.
U.S. sales of Mazda's stylish mid-size sedan that's powered by a 184hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine will begin on January 2, with prices starting at $20,880 for the base Sport model fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission, not including (*) a $795 destination fee (if you live in Alaska it's $840).

New Mazda6, 2014 CX-5, Facelifted 2013 CX-9 and Global Motorsports Premiere Coming to LA

Mazda is the next carmaker to confirm its North American and global debuts for the LA Auto Show that runs for the public from November 30 to December 9, 2012.
While not a world premiere, the star of the Japanese brand's booth will no doubt be the all-new Mazda6 mid-size sedan, which in the U.S., will launch in January 2013 with a new SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine and a number of fresh technologies.

One UK Customer will get His or Her 2013 Mazda6 for Free

The new Mazda6 may speak for itself, but the Japanese carmaker is looking to create some additional buzz for the arrival of the mid-size model in the United Kingdom by announcing that all customers who already have or will pre-order a Saloon or Tourer version on or before 31 December 2012, will automatically be entered into a prize draw.

All-New Mazda6 Sedan and Wagon Arrive in Paris, get Priced in the UK [89 Photos]

Mazda’s new-generation mid-size model series in both saloon and estate (Tourer / Wagon) flavors are the focal point of the brand's exhibit at this year’s edition of the Paris Motor Show.
Redesigned from the ground up, the new Mazda6 brings a sportier design language along with a lighter chassis that promises to deliver in the handling department, new and more fuel efficient engines and transmissions, plus fresh technologies such as the i-ELOOP, the Japanese company’s brake energy regeneration system.

2014 Mazda6 Station Wagon Hits the Photoshop Crowd

Thanks to some revealing spy shots, a couple of official teaser videos and of course, the knowledge that the 2011 Takeri Concept was created to preview the new Mazda6, we have a pretty good idea of what Mazda's new mid-size model will look like.

SCOOP: 2014 Mazda6 Test Mule Trying Out its New Hardware

Mazda engineers continue the development of the next generation "6" sedan's chassis and mechanical hardware under the cloak of the existing model's body panels, albeit in modified form as you can see from the wheel arch extensions on this prototype that our spies snapped in Europe.
If you're wondering what the new Mazda6 will look like, then all you have to do is take a gander at the photos of the swooping Takeri concept car displayed at the last November's 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
The handsome study with its voluptuous curves generally received praise for its design. Hopefully, the production Mazda6, which is due sometime in 2013, won't stray too far away from the original concept.

‘Tis Official: Mazda to Stop Building the North American Mazda6 in the USA, Successor will Come from Japan

For better or for worse, depending on which side of the line you are standing on, Mazda has confirmed rumors that it will stop building the Mazda6 at the AutoAlliance International (AAI) plant in Michigan, which it runs jointly with Ford, after the mid-size sedan's current cycle ends.
The company said the Mazda6's replacement for the North American market will be produced at its Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan, adding that the decision was driven by the firm’s “ongoing efforts to increase global manufacturing efficiencies”.

Report: Mazda to Cut Ties with Ford and Stop U.S. Production by 2013

Earlier in May, we told you about a report concerning Mazda’s plans to discontinue production of its Mazda6 mid-size model at its joint-venture plant with Ford in Michigan. Today, new reports from both Japan and the U.S. are claiming that Mazda Motors will dissolve its 50-50 joint venture with Ford and stop building cars in the USA by 2013, with the Japanese company already in talks with the Detroit automaker to sell its stake in their car production venture Auto Alliance International [AAI].

Mazda6 and Subaru Tribeca to be Axed, According to Report from Japan

Mazda and Subaru may soon be forced to axe two of their models in the US market, the Mazda6 mid-size vehicle and the Subaru Tribeca SUV, due to low volumes that undermine the efficiency of the U.S. plants that they are built in, according to a newspaper report from Japan’s business daily Nikkan Kogyo. It should be noted though that spokesmen for both companies declined to comment on the report.
Nikkan Kogyo wrote that Mazda is planning to discontinue production of the Mazda6 at the Flat Rock, Michigan plant, which it operates as a joint venture together with Ford Motor Co., as sales missed expectations. When Mazda introduce the latest generation of the mid-size model in 2008, the company expected an annual production of around 100,000 units, but last year, the plant churned out just 45,168 Mazda6s. In April, Mazda6 posted an increase of 7.8 percent but sales reached just 2,734 vehicles.

A Gasoline-Addict Spider Gets 52,000 Mazda6 Cars Recalled in the US

This must be by far the most hilarious recall action we've ever heard about. It involves some 52,000 US-market Mazda6 cars from the 2009 and 2010 model years and a gasoline-loving spider. Yes, you read correctly; it's about a species of a spider that loves to build its web in the Mazda6 vent line, thus endangering the integrity of the gas tank.

New Mazda Takuya Special Editions for UK Market

Obviously Mazda has embarked on a journey to teach Japanese to British buyers. After the MX-5 Miyako limited edition series - named after a Japanese island, Mazda is now introducing the 'Takuya' special edition range, available on the Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 models. The name 'Takuya' – pronounced 'tah-koy-yah' – is taken from the Japanese for forerunner or pioneer. Changes on the special edition models are limited to cosmetic and equipment upgrades.

2009 Mazda6 by Troy Lee Design Bows at SEMA

While we're all patiently waiting to see what's going to happen to the successor of the Mazda6 MazdaSpeed or as it's called in Europe and other markets, the MPS, the Japanese firm decided to join forces with Troy Lee Designs and introduce a beefed-up variant of the latest generation '6' at the SEMA show. The Troy Lee Mazda6 features the usual visual upgrades that you see on most SEMA show vehicles including a custom paint job, peripheral spoilers and larger 18-inch Momo alloy wheels in Hoosier tires.


The SEMA show Mazda6 also gets a set of Eibach springs to improve handling as well as cross-drilled, 6-piston big brake kit by Wilwood Engineering and custom brake fabrication by JD Performance.