Mazda 6 estate (2012) first official pictures

Just a fortnight after the new Mazda 6 saloon was revealed at the 2012 Moscow motor show, the estate version of the 6 is headed for its own spot in the limelight at the Paris show later this month.

Powered by the same range of engines as the saloon, and underpinned by Mazda's fuel-supping 'SkyActiv' architecture, it'll reach UK shores before the end of 2012.

The Mazda 6 has always been a fleet market favourite, and as such the most important engine will be the diesel. Like the saloon, the estate 6 will use a 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D turbodiesel unit. It's the same powerplant that sees duty in the CX-5 crossover.

Available in two states of tune, you can spec either a 148bhp or 173bhp derivative, with manual or automatic transmissions.

Petrol Mazda 6 estate come in the shape of 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre direct-injection engines, and like the diesel, are Euro6 emissions compliant.

To try and bolster the Mazda 6 estate's eco credentials, Mazda has equipped the car with its innovative i-Eloop system, which uses kinetic energy from the wheels to juice the car's electrical functions, lessening the strain on the engine itself to trim fuel bills.

It's clever, but Mazda won't be offering it as standard on all UK models, so think before you spec. It might take a substantial mileage figure to break even on your investment if you pick i-Eloop.

For the full story on the new Mazda 6 saloon, please click here.

By Ollie Kew