Officially, just China will take the EZ-6 and Arata shown off in Beijing. Seems a waste, right?

ELECTRIC is the future for the Mazda6 and quite potentially the CX-5 as well - but, officially, that’s only if you happen to reside in China.

Mazda has used a biennial motor show currently running in Beijing to reveal two technology-linked products, EZ-6 (above) and Arata (top), that show Mazda’s battery-pure ambition runs well beyond the quirk MX-30 that stumbles along here.

The Mazda EZ-6 is a rear-drive five-seater set for production and, as the name suggests, is basically a whole new generation of the medium passenger car Mazda NZ recently retired from sale, and suggested would never be replaced by Mazda Japan. 

It probably won’t. EZ-6 is going to be produced in China, Hiroshima head office says, by Changan Mazda Automobile, which is a joint-venture between a Chinese government-owned manufacturer named Changan and the Japanese brand.

 But does mean it will never be availed in other markets, or in right-hand-drive? That’s where the message gets a little hazy.

The Mazda Arata might not be so restricted. Officially, this is a design concept model for an electrified sports utility. It’s about the same size as the CX-5, which is now in the latter years of its design life. So could it at least point to a replacement? Mazda only says they will have Arata in production in 2025. Which is when CX-5 is expected to put on its slippers.

What’s known is that two share drivetrain ideals. EZ-6 is set to be offered as either an all-battery EV or plug-in hybrid. Arata will accept the same two powertrain variants.

The battery EV version of EZ-6 will have a driving range of about 600 kilometres, whereas the plug-in hybrid version will have a range of about 1000km, says Mazda Japan chief executive Masahiro Moro, who announced the cars in Beijing. Arata is expected to almost as good.

Both products clearly stick true to the ‘Kodo: Soul of Motion’ design language that is familiar to fans of this Japanese brand.

Those whose been close up and personal say the sedan looks more futuristic than the Mazda 6, thanks to sharper-looking headlights that stretch into a wide grille-like trim panel with LED illumination. Its door handles are integrated into the body, and the fastback-like silhouette flows into a tall, swept-back rear end. 

At 4921mm long, 1890mm wide and 1485mm tall, it is slightly longer, wider, and taller than the Mazda6 as we’ve most recently known it. 

Mazda says the EZ-6 embraces the jinba-ittai philosophy of the ‘car and driver as one’, something which has served up such dynamic gems as the current MX-5 roadster.

It has 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution as an EV, as well as multilink rear suspension and an electrically powered spoiler at the back that deploys to improve high-speed stability.

Chinese consumer desire for tricky tech is not being ignored. The car driver can control some functions by voice even when standing outside of the car. Inside, numerous features respond to voice and gesture controls.