Next Mazda6 and RX to Use Toyota RWD Platform, Reports Suggest
Mazda is reportedly planning to base its next-generation Mazda6 saloon and revived RX sports car on a Toyota rear-wheel drive platform, signalling a shift towards premium and performance segments.
Mazda is reportedly preparing to move its next-generation Mazda6 saloon and the anticipated production RX sports car onto a rear-wheel drive platform sourced from Toyota, according to Japanese media reports. The move would mark a technical and strategic shift for Mazda, positioning both models further upmarket and potentially changing their appeal to buyers.
The reports indicate that Mazda’s partnership with Toyota, which already covers commercial vehicle sharing and a US manufacturing joint venture, will soon yield its most visible passenger car results. The next Mazda6, currently a front-wheel drive saloon, would switch to a rear-wheel drive layout, sharing architecture with Toyota’s premium Lexus IS and GS models. This would be a major departure from Mazda’s current mainstream positioning and aligns with its stated ambitions to move upmarket.
Mazda6: Upmarket ambitions and new powertrains
A rear-wheel drive platform would allow the Mazda6 to compete more directly with premium European saloons, offering the driving dynamics and proportions associated with the segment. Japanese sources suggest the next Mazda6 will also introduce a new design language and a more premium interior, supported by Mazda’s latest Skyactiv-X engines. These engines use compression ignition technology to improve efficiency and performance, a feature Mazda has been developing as part of its push for technical distinction.
RX revival: Production car to follow RX-Vision concept
The production version of the RX sports car is tipped to draw heavily on the RX-Vision concept, which debuted to acclaim for its styling and rotary engine ambitions. While details remain unconfirmed, the use of a Toyota rear-wheel drive platform would give the RX a capable foundation for handling and performance. The RX-Vision concept was intended as a spiritual successor to the RX-7 and RX-8, and a production RX would mark Mazda’s return to the rotary sports car market.
- Mazda6 to switch from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.
- RX production car expected to use same RWD platform as Mazda6.
- Both models to incorporate Mazda’s latest design direction.
Timing and partnership context
The timeline for these new models is unclear. Sources differ on whether the rear-wheel drive Mazda6 and RX will arrive as soon as the current Mazda6 retires, expected around 2019, or if the shift is planned for a later date, potentially as far out as 2025. Mazda and Toyota’s partnership has grown in recent years, with the two companies sharing resources in manufacturing and technology development. This latest move would extend cooperation into core passenger car product lines.
A rear-wheel drive Mazda6 would place the model in direct competition with established premium saloons, while a production RX would revive Mazda’s rotary sports car legacy. Both moves would depend on the success of the technical collaboration with Toyota and the market’s response to Mazda’s upmarket ambitions.
