Redesigned 2014 Mazda 6 sedan revealed

Mazda Motor Corp. has released photos of the third-generation Mazda6 sedan in full-production sheet metal ahead of the vehicle's global debut in late August at the Moscow auto show.

The redesigned Mazda6 will give the company some fresh blood in the key midsize sedan segment. When the sedan arrives early next year for the 2014 model year, it will have to compete with a field of newly redesigned vehicles in the segment including the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

A source with knowledge of Mazda's product plans said the U.S.-market Mazda6 will get a 2.5-liter, direct injection four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed manual transmission as its base powertrain. The Russian-market Mazda6 gets a base, 2.0-liter direct injection engine, according to Mazda's announcement.

Mazda executives have said they're targeting best-in-class fuel economy figures for the 2014 Mazda6. The segment-leading 2013 Nissan Altima gets 38 mpg on the highway.

Helping to achieve that goal is a new regenerative braking system on the Mazda6. Called "i-ELOOP," the system converts kinetic energy created during braking into electricity stored in a capacitor. The capacitor powers the car's fuel pump, lights, audio, air conditioning and transmission and engine control systems.

The current Mazda6 has been a disappointment, with annual U.S. sales consistently hovering at about half of the 75,000-unit annual target set before its 2008 launch. Still, sales during the first half of this year rose 63 percent to 25,369, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Production of the new Mazda6 begins at Mazda's plant in Hofu, Japan, next month. The vehicle goes on sale stateside in early 2013.

By Ryan Beene- Automotive News