The Gorgeous China-Only Mazda EZ-6 Is The 6 Successor We Crave

Mazda is one of a plethora of brands to have exited the shrinking saloon car market in Europe, with its handsome but ageing 6 axed here last year in the face of dropping sales. Just as we’ve seen with Volkswagen, though, Mazda remains committed to the saloon in other markets, especially China, where four-doors are still a big deal.

It’s for the Chinese market only, then, that Mazda has unveiled this, the EZ-6, and… would you just look at it? Mazda says it features the latest evolution of its ‘Kodo - Soul of Motion’ design language, and while we’re not entirely sure what that means, we’re absolutely here for it, because it’s an undeniably gorgeous thing.

It’s been unveiled at the Auto China motor show in Beijing, alongside the Arata, an electric crossover concept. It can be thought of as sort of an electric 6 (no, not the band that did ‘Danger! High Voltage’), although it’ll be available as both a full BEV and a plug-in hybrid. Mazda hasn’t said what engine the PHEV version is fitted with.

Sad it’s not coming to other markets? Allow us to make you sadder: the EZ-6 is rear-wheel drive, gets multi-link rear suspension, and, on the fully electric version, a 50:50 weight distribution. Excuse us while we sigh wistfully.

The interior looks just as lovely, with a big floating centre console and panoramic glass roof giving it a nice, airy vibe.

The idea of a Mazda saloon for Europe and North America isn’t totally dead – rumours have been swirling for a while now that a four-door based on the native rear-drive platform used by the CX-60 and CX-80 is in development, but we’ve had nothing concrete from Mazda either way.

If that doesn’t happen, then we’ll take this as a substitute. Please, Mazda.