Three Tuned Mazdas for Tokyo Auto Salon

The 2008 Mazda Atenza (the new Japanese-market Mazda6) was launched

in November at the Tokyo Motor Show, and while it's just going on sale, Mazda is preparing a tuned version of the model which will debut at the nation's Tokyo Auto Salon early next year. The Salon, which is the equivalent to our SEMA aftermarket parts show in Las Vegas, but in the land of the rising sun, opens on January 11th, so as such it's attended by both automakers and the performance aftermarket and usually serves as the launching pad for the “unobtanium”, the Japanese domestic market performance parts and accessories that make Japanese car enthusiasts drool here in North America.

The previous Atenza was much like the Mazda3 in that it is a global car sold all around the world, but this won't be the case for the second generation car. It will be a completely different vehicle as North American tastes dictate a larger and more powerful car. While we know that the second generation Atenza will not be our future Mazda6, to the disappointment of many enthusiasts, Mazda has rubbed it in a little more

by releasing a concept tuned version of the Atenza by in-house brand Mazdaspeed.

Visual changes to this tweaked Atenza include new more aggressive front and rear fascias with bigger, contrast-color intakes and skirts. Mazda has also fitted a set of highly-polished 10-spoke aluminum wheels, which display anodized blue brake calipers. The ride height appears to be lower than stock, which looks like the work of Mazdaspeed springs and dampers, and the whole package is graced by a sport-tuned muffler.

Mazda hasn't released many details about the car (we suspect it's a visual-based concept), although there's a good chance that there are some mild modifications under its hood like a cold air intake.

That engine is the newest version of Mazda's MZR 4-cylinder

family displacing 2.5 liters as opposed to 2.3 in the current car. This more powerful motor will most likely end up in the Mazda3 in the not too distant future too.

Additionally, the look found on the tuned Mazdaspeed Atenza is also consistent with two other cars that Mazda will be showing at the Tokyo Auto Salon. A tuned version of the Mazdaspeed3 (known as the Axela in its home market) as well as the Mazda2 (known as the Demio domestically) will be on display, featuring similar visual upgrades and the same wheel and brake package as the Atenza. Both the Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda2 also feature interior upgrades in the form of a pair of highly bolstered Mazdaspeed racing-style bucket seats.

Hopefully, once the crowds at the Auto Salon have come and passed, Mazda will have received a positive reaction towards its show cars. Who knows, perhaps one day soon we'll see Mazdaspeed versions of the 2 and new 6, although how this affects the cars we get here is anyone's guess.