Bravo buffs up with V6 vroom
BY MARTON PETTENDY | 29th Nov 2005
This month’s release of the most powerful Bravo ever follows the launch in January of the first V6-powered Ford Courier, with which the B Series shares many components.
As such, the Bravo’s fuel-injected 12-valve SOHC V6 delivers the same 154kW at 5250rpm and 323Nm of torque from 3000rpm, and is mated to the same five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
As with its opposite number at Ford, both single and double-cab versions of Mazda’s Bravo (which go by the Freestyle and Dual Cab names) are now available with V6 power.
The V6 joins Bravo’s existing 2.5-litre turbo-diesel and 2.6-litre petrol engines. B Series V6 pricing is marginally higher than that of Courier V6, starting at $31,790 for manual and auto versions of the Freestyle Cab Chassis.
The V6 is available in 4x2 and 4x4 models, the latter priced from $37,590 for the Freestyle Cab Chassis manual. Dual Cab versions are priced from $32,090 for the 4x2 variant and from $39,090 for the 4x4.
Along with "4.0 V6" badging, all Bravo V6 models feature a more pronounced bonnet, body coloured wheelarch flares, 15 x 7.0-inch wheels, 245/75 R15 tyres (265/70 on SDX) and 205mm of ground clearance.
Bravo V6 4x4 auto variants also feature remote front locking hubs, a limited-slip rear differential and the ability to switch between 2WD, 4WD and low-range 4WD.
A bullbar is available on all 4x4 models, all Dual Cabs can be optioned with a canopy and the range-topping SDX 4WD variants (priced from $40,840) add an anti-theft alarm as standard.
Bravo V6 claims fuel consumption of 13.5L/100km on the combined 81/01 government fuel cycle, while 4x2 variants can tow up to 1800kg and have a payload of up to 1120kg. An 85-litre fuel tank is standard.
The double-wishbone front and leaf-sprung rear suspension remains unchanged from four-cylinder variants, however V6 variants feature larger front brake discs and larger rear brake drums.
Mazda Australia expects to sell up to 100 examples a month, as part of an expected total of 6000 Bravo sales in 2005, rising to 6500 in 2006.
| 2006 Mazda B Series V6 pricing: | ||
| 4x2 | ||
| Freestyle Cab Utility DX | $31,790 | |
| Freestyle Cab Utility DX (a) | $31,790 | |
| Dual Cab Utility DX | $32,090 | |
| Dual Cab Utility DX (a) | $32,090 | |
| 4x4 | ||
| Freestyle Cab Chassis DX | $37,590 | |
| Freestyle Cab Utility DX | $38,790 | |
| Freestyle Cab Utility SDX (a) | $40,940 | |
| Dual Cab Utility DX | $39,090 | |
| Dual Cab Utility SDX | $41,840 | |
| Dual Cab Utility SDX (a) | $41,840 | |