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- Mazda6 beats family rival Mazda3 and Corvette Stingray for top honours -

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Feb. 13, 2014 /CNW/ - The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) kicked off the 2014 Canadian International Auto Show by announcing the 2014 Mazda6 as the winner of the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) award for 2014.

The journey began at AJAC's TestFest in October, when the Mazda6 handily won its category (Best New Family Car over $30,000), alongside its stable mates, the Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport, which also scored top marks in their respective categories. The strong march toward victory continued when the Mazda3 and Mazda6 were nominated as finalists for the award, finally culminating in the AJAC CCOTY win for Mazda6.

"Today, the Mazda6, our flagship vehicle, etched its name in history by winning the overall AJAC Car of the Year award," said Kory Koreeda, President, Mazda Canada. "This impressive achievement confirms what we already knew - the 2014 Mazda6 is nothing short of a Game Changer, once again raising the bar and outclassing other cars in its segment."

The Canadian Car of the Year is one of the most coveted automotive awards in the automotive industry, and represents the collective voice of more than 80 of Canada's top automotive experts. Vehicles are judged on a large variety of objective and subjective qualities, meaning there is no single factor that determines a win. Instead, the vehicle must represent an overall package of quality, value, comfort, fuel economy, and many other factors that are critical to the Canadian consumer.

The third-generation Mazda6 features ground-breaking Mazda-engineered technology; i-ELOOP, the world's first capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system to power all the vehicle's electrical systems, along with the front collision-detecting Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system, make their first appearance in the Mazda6.

Developed solely by Mazda, SKYACTIV Technology is the umbrella term for a host of performance-oriented, fuel-saving engine, transmission, body, and chassis components.  Introduced in the 2012 Mazda3 compact car, and fully-incorporated into the 2013 CX-5 compact SUV, the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 is the second vehicle in the brand's lineup to feature the great technology that indeed offers real-world results.

The 2014 Mazda6 has a starting MSRP of $24,495 and features a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm.  Standard equipment for all three trim levels - GX, GS, and GT - the SKYACTIV-G 2.5L can be paired with a choice of transmissions in the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic.

The 2014 Mazda6 comes equipped with a SKYACTIV-MT transmission as standard equipment and offers a Transport Canada-estimated fuel economy rating of 8.1 city/5.3 highway litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km).  When compared to the previous generation Mazda6 with a six-speed manual, the 2014 Mazda6 sees a 19 percent increase in the city and 23 percent increase on the highway.  When paired with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive automatic and i ELOOP regenerative braking system, fuel economy improves to a best-in-class 7.2 city/4.9 highway L/100km.

About Mazda Canada Inc.
Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 162 dealerships. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca

SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.

Image with caption: "Kory Koreeda, President, Mazda Canada, accepting the 2014 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year award for the Mazda6 (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140213_C9993_PHOTO_EN_36697.jpg