2014 MAZDA6 Wins NEMPA Gene Ritvo Award for Design and Elegance

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Last evening, the all-new 2014 Mazda6 was presented with the prestigious Gene Ritvo Award for Design and Elegance from the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) in conjunction with Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.

The Ritvo Award honors the best in design in the automotive world, whether it's a concept car, production vehicle, a marketing campaign or a particular element of a vehicle that defines elegance in design.

"The 2014 Mazda6 is a stunning example of the real-world application of the 'Soul of Motion' design language," said NEMPA President Keith Griffin.  "It was beautiful on the TAKERI concept and now is a stunning sedan that is turning heads around the world. Gene Ritvo would be proud to have his name associated with the Mazda6."

"The subtle but distinctive styling of the Mazda6 caught my eye when reviewing entries for the Ritvo Award," said Meghan Melvin of the Museum of Fine Arts. "After reading the accompanying description, I was struck by the fact that the KODO design language was clearly reflected in this particular model."

An evolution of the TAKERI Concept, Mazda6 features the brand's KODO "Soul of Motion" design language, which is inspired by the movement of animals in the wild—their ability to showcase power in its purest form combined with agile finesse. KODO's prominent personality, inside and out, easily distinguishes the Mazda6 from competitive people movers, whose personalities seem to have been relegated to match their prudish exteriors. With pronounced sheet metal strokes, the vehicle evokes a controlled intensity, seemingly moving yet standing still. Not meant to be ignored, the stunning Mazda6 presents an uncommon but welcome appeal of emotion to the mid-size segment.

On sale now, the 2014 Mazda6 starts at $20,880[1] MSRP and is the second vehicle in the Mazda lineup to fully incorporate SKYACTIV®^[2] TECHNOLOGY, the brand's breakthrough engineering approach toward increasing overall vehicle efficiency.  Offering both powerful performance and improved fuel economy, the 2014 Mazda6 features best-in-class highway fuel economy of 38 miles per gallon (MPG).  Available with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine, a SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine will be offered on 2014 Mazda6 vehicles during the second half of the year. 

Also taking home an award was the MX-5 Miata. Miata is as uncomplicated and pure as a sports car can get. Since the two-seater entered the marketplace more than 20 years ago, the MX-5 has defied the convention that sports cars, particularly convertibles, were pricey, unattainable flights of fancy reserved for those with deep pockets. But enthusiasts come in all shapes, all ages, and with a variety of pocket sizes so it's no wonder that with more than 900,000 units sold, the MX-5 is by far still the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world, and with the Guinness World Records to prove it.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. 

For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. 

[1]  Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

[2] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation (MC).

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations