2009 Mazda6. Click image to enlarge. Click here for more photos

Richmond Hill, Ontario – Mazda has announced that the all-new 2009 Mazda6 sports sedan will go on sale in Canada in late summer. The new version is the second generation of the popular model and will be available only as a four-door sedan.

“This is a very important vehicle for Mazda Canada because the sales potential is so great,” said Don Romano, president of Mazda Canada. “The midsize sedan segment, where Mazda6 competes, is a real battleground, with some of the best vehicles in the industry going toe-to-toe for sales. This new Mazda6 was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market, the third Mazda in a row to be so, and will take on the very best cars from Asia, Europe and North America.”

As with the previous-generation Mazda6, the new model will be built at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Michigan. It differs from Mazda6 models sold in other countries, with larger interior and exterior size, more powerful engines and unique styling.

The 2009 Mazda6 will be available with an all-new, Mazda-designed and developed MZR 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, and the 3.7-litre V6 used in the 2008 CX-9, with six-speed automatic transmission.