The Mazda BT-50 Thread

Don’t expect new BT-50 to spawn Fortuner-fighting SUV, says Mazda

Mazda says it has no plans to offer a seven-seater SUV based on the new BT-50 bakkie and targeting the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest.

As a reminder, the new BT-50 uses the underpinnings of the latest Isuzu D-Max, with the latter firm having developed (and now building) Mazda’s fresh-faced bakkie.

While Isuzu seems likely to reveal its new MU-X in the fairly near future, Mazda says it won’t follow suit.

“This deal is for BT-50 and to supply a [bakkie], and that’s where it begins and ends,” said Alastair Doak, Mazda Australia’s marketing director, according to CarExpert.com.au. “Obviously there’s a wider collaboration with Isuzu in Japan, but for us it’s just for BT-50.”

www.carmag.co.za

Don’t expect new BT-50 to spawn Fortuner-fighting SUV, says Mazda...

Mazda says it has no plans to offer a seven-seater SUV based on the new BT-50 bakkie and targeting the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest.
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
New Mazda BT-50 bakkie handed full five-star crash-test rating!

The new Mazda BT-50 has been handed a full five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).

As expected, the BT-50 effectively inherits the impressive crash-test results of the Isuzu D-Max, the bakkie on which it’s based. However, due to differing front bumper, bonnet and facia designs, the safety authority conducted “supplementary testing” on the BT-50.

These additional tests, says ANCAP, revealed a “very slight increase in potential injury risk” for pedestrians and cyclists, with the BT-50 achieving 67 percent for vulnerable road-user protection (as opposed to the D-Max’s 69 percent).

Still, since it shares its platform with the D-Max, the BT-50 was handed maximum points for its protection of adult occupants in the side impact and oblique pole tests. Full points were furthermore awarded for the protection of child occupants in the frontal offset and side impact tests.

www.carmag.co.za

New Mazda BT-50 bakkie handed full five-star crash-test rating!

The new Mazda BT-50 has been handed a full five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
Mazda BT-50 (2021) International Launch Review

The new Mazda BT-50 is set to arrive in South Africa in 2021, a year before local production of the bakkie on which it is based, the new Isuzu D-Max, will commence in Port Elizabeth. Could that be a crucial advantage for one of the market’s most underappreciated double-cabs? We've driven the newcomer in Sydney.

Summary

As previously reported, Isuzu SA has delayed the introduction of the next-gen D-Max until 2022 and the Port Elizabeth-based brand is conducting a local development programme to tailor the bakkie’s construction, suspension and other components for South African conditions. Given that Isuzu will build the bakkie in several guises – for various types of customers – that stands to reason.

Mazda SA, on the other hand, will introduce the D-Max’s cousin next year… and it’s well worth waiting for. Compared with its predecessor, the new BT-50 offers much more appeal for buyers who want the practicality and macho looks of a bakkie, but ultimately utilise their vehicles as family cars.

A double-cab will never be able to match the sophistication of a unibody SUV, that's common sense, but Mazda's newcomer clearly demonstrates that standards are rising rapidly in the "leisure bakkie segment". Given that Toyota Safety Sense tech is now standard on the Hilux Legend 4x4, the proverbial genie is out of the bottle and, although South African specification for the new range has yet to be finalised, there is little to suggest that the BT-50 will be stripped out compared with the Australian-market bakkies when it gets here. We'll keep you posted on its official release date.

www.cars.co.za

Mazda BT-50 (2021) International Launch Review

The new Mazda BT-50 has arrived in South Africa, a year before the bakkie on which it is based, will go into production in Port Elizabeth. Could that be a crucial advantage for one of the market’s most underappreciated double-cabs?
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
Mazda finally made a good looking bakkie, I still dont think it will sell well in SA with all of the other options.
 
Raptor rival? Mazda promises ‘something special’ for BT-50 bakkie

Mazda in Australia says it has “something special” in store for its BT-50 in 2021, reviving speculation the company is planning a Ford Ranger Raptor rival.

Vinesh Bhindi, Mazda Australia’s managing director, dropped the hint to CarsGuide.com.au.

“We’re also working on something special for BT-50 in the near future, but today is not the day to discuss those details, so please stayed tuned,” Bhindi said.

The publication claims the upcoming special version of the D-Max-based bakkie (remember, Isuzu builds the BT-50 for Mazda) won’t gain a power boost, with its 3,0-litre turbodiesel engine likely to stick with the stock outputs of 140 kW and 450 N.m. Instead, CarsGuide.com.au suggests it will boast more aggressive styling and perhaps a suspension upgrade.

However, that doesn’t quite line up with an earlier report out of the same country, which claimed both the new D-Max and BT-50 were in line for a “factory-backed” power increase as well as an off-road pack.

www.carmag.co.za

Raptor rival? Mazda promises ‘something special’ for BT-50 bakkie...

Mazda in Australia says it has “something special” in store for its BT-50 in 2021, reviving speculation the company is planning a Ranger Raptor rival.
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
New Mazda BT-50 ‘Thunder’ revealed as fresh flagship Down Under

Mazda in Australia has unwrapped a new flagship version of the BT-50, adding a smattering of off-road kit, styling tweaks and the “Thunder” badge.

From what we can tell, the Thunder (a nameplate already used by the Ford Ranger here in South Africa) will remain exclusive to Australia, with most of the additions having been developed in that market, for that market.

So, what sets the BT-50 Thunder apart from standard versions of the Isuzu-based bakkie? Well, the newcomer gains a steel bull bar up front, complete with an LED light bar and an integrated underbody protection plate.

Black (anti-slip) side steps and fender flares are also part of the package, along with black 18-inch alloy wheels and an electrically operated roller cover fashioned from aluminium and linked to the vehicle’s central locking system

www.carmag.co.za

New Mazda BT-50 ‘Thunder’ revealed as fresh flagship Down Under…

Mazda in Australia has unwrapped a new flagship version of the BT-50, adding off-road kit, styling tweaks and the "Thunder" badge. From what we can tell, the Thunder (a nameplate already used by the Ford Ranger in SA) will remain exclusive to Australia, with most of the additions having been...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za

Mazda.jpg
 
Mazda unveils 'bush-spec' BT-50

While Mazda South Africa is preparing to introduce the new-generation BT-50 double cab bakkie on the local market soon, the Hiroshima-based firm’s Australian subsidiary has introduced Thunder flagship derivatives that look a lot more purposeful than their urbane siblings

And that brings us to the first sticking point... Even if Mazda Southern Africa decided to co-opt the accessories that Mazda Australia’s in-house engineering team sourced and adapted for their top-of-the-range BT-50 Thunder derivatives, the firm would have to call those beefed-up bakkies something else in Mzansi, because there’ll definitely be no stealing of Ford’s Thunder.

The handsome and significantly more sophisticated BT-50 was launched in Australia last year (as was the next-generation D-Max, upon which the Japanese bakkie is closely based); our correspondents Down Under have already driven both the Mazda [read more] and Isuzu [read more]. Although we will have to wait until 2022 for the (locally-produced) D-Max to become available in South Africa, we understand that the local introduction of the BT-50 is a matter of a few months away…

www.cars.co.za

Mazda unveils 'bush-spec' BT-50

While Mazda South Africa is preparing to introduce the new-generation BT-50 double cab bakkie on the local market soon, the Hiroshima-based firm’s Australian subsidiary has introduced Thunder flagship derivatives that look a lot more purposeful than their urbane siblings… While the South...
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za

Mazda 1.jpgMazda 2.jpgMazda 3.jpgMazda 4.jpgMazda 5.jpgMazda 6.jpgMazda 7.jpgMazda 8.JPG
 
New Mazda BT-50 here soon: SA model range announced

Mazda’s all-new BT-50 double cab bakkie is set to be launched in South Africa in July, but the local importer has released some of the information ahead of time, including the specification grades and engine line-up.

In an indirect way the new BT-50 is also South Africa’s first taste of the new-generation Isuzu D-Max, which is scheduled to be produced locally from 2022. The previous BT-50 was based on the Ford Ranger but after splitting up with the Blue Oval, Mazda turned to Isuzu to produce its new-generation bakkie, given that BT-50 sales volumes likely didn’t justify going it alone. Although it shares all of its greasy bits with the new D-Max, the Mazda BT-50 does boast a completely unique frontal design, retouched rear end and a largely unique cabin.

South Africans will have three basic models to choose from, in the form of Active, Dynamic and Individual grades. The Active is powered by a new 1,9-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 110 kW and 350 N.m. The Dynamic and Individual receive Isuzu’s new 3,0-litre turbodiesel, which is good for 140 kW and 450 N.m. Only the Individual model is available in 4×4 guise, while the others sport a rear-wheel drive configuration.

Standard features in the new BT-50 include an MDZ Connect infotainment system (with a screen size of 7 or 9 inches depending on the model) and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto connectivity. The new models also ship with cruise control, LED headlights, reverse camera, parking sensors, Trailer Sway Mitigation and seven airbags. While these features are standard across the board, Mazda has not yet provided details about the spec differences between the grades.

www.carmag.co.za

New Mazda BT-50 here soon: South African model and engine line-up announced

Mazda’s all-new BT-50 double cab bakkie is set to be launched in South Africa in July, but the local importer has released some of the information ahead of time
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
Mazda BT-50 SA Engine Specs Confirmed

The SA-spec Mazda BT-50 engine line-up and some specification details have been confirmed.

The all-new Mazda BT-50 will be touching down in SA soon and Mazda SA has confirmed what engines and features our market will be getting.

The SA-spec Mazda BT-50 is assembled in Thailand and while it is a shared platform with the all-new Isuzu D-Max, we think Mazda has pulled off quite the trick. See, South Africa will be getting the new Isuzu D-Max, but that model will be assembled at Isuzu’s facility in the Eastern Cape, but due to Covid-19, the conversion of the plant from old to new has taken longer than planned.

With an estimated SA market release of 2022 for the D-Max, the all-new BT-50 is going to have a substantial head start. We’re keen to see what the differences are between the Thai-built BT-50 and the SA-built D-Max, but that’s on 2022’s to-do list.

As far as engines go, the Active derivative is powered by a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 121 kW and 350 Nm. Customers can choose from a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission.

The BT-50 Dynamic and Individual derivatives will have the 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine which produces 140 kW and 450 Nm. This powertrain is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The BT-50 Individual will feature 4×4, while the rest of the range is 4×2.

www.cars.co.za

Mazda BT-50 (2021) Specs & Price

Mazda South Africa has confirmed its engine lineup and derivatives for the all-new Mazda BT-50 bakkie which launches soon.
www.cars.co.za www.cars.co.za
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X