The tiny Japanese automaker has become quite small in the United States, where it gave up on its MX-30 electric CUV ambitions with no zero emissions alternative in sight and also retired the CX-9 three-row mid-size crossover in favor of the all-new, first-ever CX-90.
Currently, the company sells the legendary MX-5 Miata (in Roadster and RF body styles) from $28k, the Mazda3 Sedan and Hatchback from a little over $24k, and four CUV nameplates: the CX-30 from $25k, the CX-5 and CX-50 compact CUV siblings from $29,300 and $30,300, respectively, plus the $39,595 CX-90.
One interesting model is, of course, the CX-90 PHEV, the only electrified option on sale by Mazda in America, from $50k for now. It is as if they didn't get the memo that the EV revolution is upon us. Or maybe they just waited long enough to see if the zero emissions sales are slowing down – and there are signs of that happening all around Tesla's untouchable best-selling domain.
Anyway, it is pretty clear that Mazda could use another nameplate or two in its lineup to pose a more significant threat to its Asian foes like Honda or Nissan. Well, as it turns out, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has just finished dreaming of the perfect return: the good folks over at the PoloTo and Q Cars channels on YouTube have some CGI visions about the potential comeback of the (once) popular Mazda6 mid-size sedan.
The resident pixel master from PoloTo has decided to portray the unofficial revival of the moniker in North America in a minimalist way that's akin to the company's OEM philosophy. As such, the front has very few design lines and puts an emphasis on the sleek LED headlights and the prominent grille with symmetrical bumper vents, while the profile is simple, and the rear has a fastback-like treatment with broad LED taillights that almost touch the emblem in the middle of the trunk.
On the other hand, the CGI expert from Q Cars makes the Mazda6 almost feasible as a full-size sedan rather than a mid-size four-door and gives a slightly more futuristic appearance to the front with larger LEDs and a smaller grille. Unfortunately, the rear is not too original as its LED taillights clearly reflect Audi's treatment of the e-tron GT all-electric sedan. Speaking of an electrifying appearance, both channels have also found the perfect target for their Mazda6 projects.
That would be Toyota's newly introduced 2025 Camry, which was announced in November during the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show with exclusive hybrid power under the hood (228 hp in FWD and 232 hp in AWD form). Naturally, that makes us think that a Mazda6 Hybrid could easily borrow the CX-90 PHEV's 323-hp 2.5-liter e-Skyactiv plug-in hybrid powertrain and teach it a comprehensive lesson about performance, right?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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