Mazda 6 2014 now in US- Diesel delayed, again!
#103
#106
IMHO Audi is the "Average Joe premium brand", not focused on drive pleasure....just good marketing....pimped VW's
#107
If mazda wants to sell that kind of car it has to fight and beat m3\m5 cars at a fraction of the cost. This is Europe, sadly.
That's why only a handful of MPS\Mazdaspeed 3 and 6 were sold. People still like the golf gti\r32 or audi s3 more.
Put a golf and an a3 on a lift and you see the same car. Same parts numbers etc.
Sad fact is... put a seat leon there and it's still the same, at 40% the price
#108
watching some magazine, on line stuff, some Hollywood movie, this forum... i'm pretty sure that VAG USA is trying to screw a LOT of american customers (they have did the same thing -successfully- here in EU for a couple of decades).
They are investing a lot of money for pump inside the brain of US motorists this DOGMA:
"Audi is cool, hi-tech and SPORTY".
this is UNTRUE for about 80% of their products.
#109
A Mazda 6 MPS should be able to tackle the S4 (333 hp and 325 lb/ft) with better power to weight ratio. It weighs over 3900 lbs I'm not familiar with the rest of the products available in Europe but what ever is in the same class as S4 would be the competition and they need to stay away from any comparisons to WRX or EVO. Wrong comparison.
Paul.
Last edited by Mazmart; 07-19-2012 at 11:22 AM.
#110
Would a MPS 6 really need to compete against the S4 and M3? Mazda has never really competed in HP wars with other car makers. Does Mazda want to move up to the near luxury market like the A4 and 3 series?
#111
I think if they can give 90% of the performance at almost halt the cost, yes, they should market against them.
#112
I'm like a stuck record with this, but, with YEN/USD ratio or even YEN/Euro being what it is, Mazda needs to get more per car and especially on stuff made in Japan. They need to make 'made in Japan' the equivalent 'made in Germany'. Mazda is always viewed as a cheap alternative; until that changes they will struggle with their cheap minded customers until they are no more. Small and unique is good if you can sell it.
Paul.
#113
#114
Was it the mid 90s Audi made a strong push to move to near luxury? IMO Acura and Infiniti are basically in the market you guys are describing and I'd love to see Mazda get in that segment. However their Customer Service and overall dealership appearance needs to step up. IMO their "curb appeal" is always somewhat lacking compared to the others.
#115
They have to compete against the brands that sell here... so Audi and BMW.
Even Opel buys their Corsa chassis from FIAT... same goes for most of their engines.
The Corsa OPC is basically a rebranded fiat punto abarth with a sportier engine and narrower wheelbase.
Even Opel buys their Corsa chassis from FIAT... same goes for most of their engines.
The Corsa OPC is basically a rebranded fiat punto abarth with a sportier engine and narrower wheelbase.
#117
Any guesses of if the 6 could share the underpinnings with the CX-5? I'd guess that yes, they will share a lot to minimize costs. If they do, then an AWD diesel 6 is viable?
Could be quite a serious GT car at that point.
Could be quite a serious GT car at that point.
#118
Mazda sold way less Mazda 3 than Ford did with their Focus. Same happened for each and every class.
A "Mazdaspeed\MPS" model would have to fight against the best selling sport sedans to be a source of income and not a money pit like the rx8. Those sport sedans are made by VW and BMW.
Just like the small segment sees the majority of french manufacturers keeping the lead because FIATs despite being far superior are produced in poland and friggin overpriced.
A Mazdaspeed 3 would see the Focus RS as its direct competitor. People would still buy the RS over the 3 given how mazda prices the cars here...
Mazda Japan should cut all the heads of Mazda Europe and start from scratch.
#119
Was it the mid 90s Audi made a strong push to move to near luxury? IMO Acura and Infiniti are basically in the market you guys are describing and I'd love to see Mazda get in that segment. However their Customer Service and overall dealership appearance needs to step up. IMO their "curb appeal" is always somewhat lacking compared to the others.
At least here in EU the "cluster" of brands positioned like this are: BMW (mainly) and Alfa Romeo (but now is crippled, they not have a real line-up).
Acura, Lexus and Infiniti are more "luxury oriented" (i'm excluding super cars..supercars are only a spot for entire brand)..
Last edited by MattMPS; 07-19-2012 at 12:47 PM.
#120
is just a marketing problem.... an entire 4WD lineup for 6 is a good idea....
#121
Infiniti has the G series which I think the Mazda 6 and Mazdaspeed 6 could directly compete against if it moved up market.
Acura has the TL.
Lexus has the IS. Granted this is way more up market and not an area Mazda can really compete with. However it could come into play from a very performance and cost conscience buyer.
IMO their Japanese counterparts is definitely direct competition. Mazda needs to prove they can be just as good. In addition they need prove they can take on Audi and BMW from an overall performance and fit and finish perspective.
Acura has the TL.
Lexus has the IS. Granted this is way more up market and not an area Mazda can really compete with. However it could come into play from a very performance and cost conscience buyer.
IMO their Japanese counterparts is definitely direct competition. Mazda needs to prove they can be just as good. In addition they need prove they can take on Audi and BMW from an overall performance and fit and finish perspective.
#122
I think they can exceed the performance and come in at similar cost. Maybe a little less. The time has come to stop playing second fiddle and establish themselves as a true player in the game.
I'm like a stuck record with this, but, with YEN/USD ratio or even YEN/Euro being what it is, Mazda needs to get more per car and especially on stuff made in Japan. They need to make 'made in Japan' the equivalent 'made in Germany'. Mazda is always viewed as a cheap alternative; until that changes they will struggle with their cheap minded customers until they are no more. Small and unique is good if you can sell it.
Paul.
I'm like a stuck record with this, but, with YEN/USD ratio or even YEN/Euro being what it is, Mazda needs to get more per car and especially on stuff made in Japan. They need to make 'made in Japan' the equivalent 'made in Germany'. Mazda is always viewed as a cheap alternative; until that changes they will struggle with their cheap minded customers until they are no more. Small and unique is good if you can sell it.
Paul.
Mazda wants to build cars like the Germans but their marketing is like the Koreans.
#123
#124
Mazda wants to build cars like the Germans but their marketing is like the Koreans.[/QUOTE]
i think even koreans have better marketing than mazda.
mazda can't even get their cars imported to korea.
i think even koreans have better marketing than mazda.
mazda can't even get their cars imported to korea.
#125
Paul.