2014 Mazda6 sedan gets its quick unveiling at the Moscow Motor Show

Mazda is in a hurry. The Japanese carmaker's financial struggles over the past two years have left it in need of an immediate sales boost, not just at home but in the United States and Europe. Which is why Mazda took to today's Moscow Motor Show to unveil the 2014 Mazda6 midsize sedan, a car that will need to be successful to keep Mazda afloat.

For a type of vehicle bought by millions of Americans every year, midsize sedans don't spur much enthusiasm. They're meant to shuttle commuters and occasionally families quickly, efficiently and reliably, without fail for years on end. With all five of the top-selling sedans either recently redesigned or soon to be, Mazda needed a major upgrade of the Mazda6 -- a model that was about 15 percent too small for Americans, and never sold well on these shores.