Mazda is launching a new ‘Business Line’ model of its Mazda6 in an attempt to broaden its appeal to the corporate market.  

The Mazda6 Business Line is on sale now priced from £18,300 and features a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 127bhp, emitting 138g/km of carbon dioxide and it sits in the 20% benefit-in-kind tax bracket for 2011/12.

The first deliveries of the car will begin in late summer and Mazda anticipates that it will sell approximately 500 Business Line models in the remainder of 2011. Annual sales are expected to total around 1,000 units.

The Mazda6 Business Line will be available in the three most popular colours chosen by company car drivers - black mica, sunlight silver metallic and stormy blue mica.

Equipment on the Mazda6 Business Line shares standard model specification, plus a Sanyo TomTom satellite navigation system with Bluetooth technology and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Steve Jelliss, Mazda fleet and remarketing director, said: “With this well-equipped, fleet focused Mazda6 model, we are anticipating significant incremental sales.

“This is the first time Mazda has introduced a model specifically intended to appeal to company car drivers through a combination of both features and attractive benefit-in-kind rates.”

Jelliss said company car drivers choosing the new Mazda6 Business Line would pay £60.43 a month if a basic rate taxpayer or £120.87 a month if a higher rate taxpayer. He also believes the new model will appeal to employees choosing a car within a salary sacrifice scheme.