Plenty of 'zoom zoom'

While new car sales in the UK are generally down one Japanese manufacturer is 'zoom-zooming' the trend.

Mazda which during the last few years has completely revised its model range has bucked the trend and in January had their best ever sales in the UK, up more than nine per cent.

This week sees the launch of new versions of its top-selling Mazda6 - the car that literally changed the image of Mazda when it was launched in 2002. So far it has sold 1.2 million units and won some 130 automotive awards.

At the end of last year we saw the new saloon version, but now come¼¼ the really popular top sellers in the UK - the five-door hatchback and five-door estate including 10 diesel-powered versions.

Now after some 100 miles of test-driving in the Italian mountains this new model is really something to shout home about.

Although Mazda is virtually owned by Ford the company has been very much left to do its own thing - the whole car is Mazda designed, engineered and built - just a few minor bits and pieces come from the Ford parts bin.

The majority of my driving was with the revamped 2.0 litre diesel engine in the estate version.

Within its stylish new bodyshell the new car has a cavernous luggage compartment that is longer and more practical - there's even an automatic tonneau cover inspired by the traditional Japanese art of Origami paper folding.

The load floor is now 45mm longer than the outgoing model and with the rear seats folded will hold 1751 litres.

The car itself is bigger - 30mm longer and 50mm higher which increases the rear leg and headroom.

In the past estate sales in the UK have accounted for around 12 per cent of total sales whereas in Europe they amount to 40 per cent. Now Mazda expects the new diesel estate to account for 20 per cent of UK sales, which will be offered in four trim levels - TS TS2, Sport and the new Sport Luxury.

The firm's engineers have really worked hard on this power plant -Êso that it now produces 140PS (up 4PS), but a CO2 figure of just 149 - down from 165 in the old model.

This has the added attraction of placing the diesel version of the hatchback in band C for Vehicle Excise Duty (formerly Band D) and for company car drivers there is also good news - the hatchback is down from 23 per cent to 19 per cent tax.

Although the oil-burning versions weigh an extra 120kg this new diesel Mazda6 retains all the 'zoom-zoom' and fun-to-drive attributes associated with the brand.

The diesel's acceleration is just 0.5 sec slower to 60 than the 2.0 litre petrol (10.9 secs compared to 10.3), and top speed is 123mph while fuel economy is 50mpg for the diesel and 40 mpg in the petrol version.

Every Mazda 6 diesel now comes with a six speed manual gearbox (there is an automatic version on the petrol models).

Although the new model is bigger and better equipped it should have weighed an extra 90kg. But with the use of high and ultra high tensile steels the car is actually 50kg lighter than the old version.

The car's cockpit has been given a new much smarter look with better controls and all the usual safety systems including larger and more efficient front brakes.

On very windy and hilly Italian roads I had every opportunity to test the car's stability and cornering abilities with the new electric assisted rack and pinion steering.

The car's road holding and ride were first class and, dare one say it, even better than the new Ford Mondeo which is also good.

Prices for the saloon (2.0 litre) start from £16,630, the five-door hatchback (1.8 litre petrol) £15,100, and the estate, £17,330 (2.0 litre petrol) For diesel add £610 - the entry-level diesel estate is the TS at £17,940.

For those who really want to push the boat out, there is the new Sports Luxury model which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a sports appearance pack, full leather trim, BOSE audio, bi-xenon headlamps and front and rear parking sensors and a price tag of £22,040 for the estate version.

By Brian Vertigen