A camouflaged prototype of the Mazda EZ-6 was caught undergoing testing in Germany, just one month after the automaker confirmed plans for launching it in Europe. The electrified sedan with the Chinese origins will serve as a spiritual successor of the discontinued Mazda6, and a fitting rival to the VW ID.7 among other players in the segment. Launched in April 2024, the Mazda EZ-6 rides on the same platform as Changan’s Deepal/Shenlan SL03 sedans. Initially intended only for the Chinese market, Mazda has now decided to offer it globally, although it won’t be hitting North American shores.
Despite having already been revealed in
China, the development prototype spotted in Europe remains shrouded in
camouflage. It’s unclear if there will be any aesthetic differences from the
Chinese model, though for what it’s worth, the prototype appears to be
identical. We also get to see the active rear spoiler in action, and a
different set of black alloy wheels. At 4,921 mm long, the
mid-size sedan is about an inch longer than the discontinued Mazda6 and 40 mm shorter than the VW ID.7. It’s built on a Changan-derived
architecture that supports both fully electric and range-extender powertrains.
Mazda has yet to unveil full details for
the EZ-6, but they’ve shared that the EV variant will offer a maximum CLTC
range of 600 km, and the EREV version will exceed 1,000 km. The closely-related Deepal/Shenlan SL03 features rear-mounted electric
motors that deliver 215 hp or 255 hp. Its
EREV variant includes the less powerful motor paired with a 1.5-liter gasoline
engine that acts as a power generator.
The automaker has confirmed that the
European market launch of the EZ-6 will take place this fall, meaning that
we’re not far from its debut in the Old Continent. At this point, there is no
word on a possible export in North America, which sounds unlikely.
