Mazda BT-50 to debut at Sydney Motor Show

By Brett Davis | September 13th, 2010

Mazda has announced it will launch the all-new Mazda BT-50 at the upcoming international motor show in Sydney. Mazda calls it an ‘active lifestyle vehicle’ and it’s the new approach Mazda is taking on the conventional ute design.

Mazda says the new BT-50 is an all-new design, built from the ground up. It turns away from the typical tradesman appearance and form. Although still maintaining those tough and dependable ingredients, Mazda says they’ve built a ute that’s just as much a recreational vehicle as well as a typical work horse.

Mazda also hopes that it has created a new market segment by combining crisp design and sporty and dynamic underpinnings with traditional and trustworthy capabilities.

The new BT-50 will officially debut on Friday, October 15 during a Mazda press conference on the night of the show’s opening.

Mazda will also debut its new range of SKY Concept powertrains at the upcoming show, emphasising the focus on reducing its average fuel consumption levels by 30 percent. Look out for more details on these and more Sydney Motor Show details as the show gets closer though.

roger rabbit

looks like a bbbbbbbbangyong to me
cerebralfortitude

Is this the Ute that Ford Aust engineers have been developing??

falcon

the very same, FOA will be should be showing the new ford ranger as well at SMS.

Stoney!

I have a sense of CX-9 Meets trayback.

Stoney!
t39

Good work, Mazda. Like Mazda 3 overtaking Corolla sales, we are about to see the same in the ute market, with Hilux taking a dive.

Stoney!

As much as I would LOVE to see that happen, it won’t. Specially not from mazda. Though combined New Colorado, New BT-50 and the great amarok, We might see the sales slow a little.

Stoney!

Andrew M

Dont forget the new Ranger in there too Stoney, and if its anything like the new F truck (as hinted) it will be a massive hit

http://www.ozmazdaclub.com Tien

I agree with Stoney

Mazda doesn’t give big discounts to fleet buyers so chances are Ford, Holden, Toyota… will still be on top

Shak

Could also be the beaut record that Hilux has built up amongst the tradie set. People just dont see cars like this as an alternative. It may put a small dent in Hilux sales, but it wont overtake it anytime in the near future.

c3vzn

is that an official sketch?
http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Wow looks rather good for a ute! Give it a decent 4wd system with a heavy duty transfer case and gearbox, decent turbo diesel, proper 1 tonne payload and I think mazda have a winner! Maybe not with the fleets, but definitely for private buyers.

I’d definitely have this over the Mitsu Triton/hilux/Navara.
Jabba the Hutt

If I ever buy another duel cab ute it will be the Mazda and largely for the engine and reliability of said donk. I’d never own a hilux (overpriced and poorly styled) and will never trust nissan again after numerous issues with my D40.

If the finished product looks half as good as that sketch and maintains the towing / performance of the current vehicle then mazda will have a winner and largely at the expense of Toyota. The timing couldn’t be better with many hilux owners about to receive recall notices for what I would term a “potential dangerous” fault in their “unbreakable” utes.

The mazda has perhaps had a more commercial appearance up until now and a more stylish vehicle will see more weekend warriors sign up in my opinion. Good move Mazda and far removed from the smiley face mess on the current 2 and 3.

roger rabbit

hi jabba in your opinion what do you think would be a better choice of dual cab, a d-max or a D40 navara? i have a mate looking at these types of vehicles and i am trying to talk him out of the navara as ive heard they have issues but he reckons he would go navara over d-max any day. any feed back owuld be appreciated.
thanks in advance

Jabba the Hutt

I’d take the Isuzu. The D40 is useless off road due to very poor under body protection. The isuzu has been around for decades in various guises and the motor is proven reliable. Isuzu do some of the best diesels around. When have you ever heard of issues with them?

Then of course there is the countless issues with the D40 I owned. Everything from faulty injectors (twice) to leaky rear axles to airbag issues and more.

I never considered the D-max /Rodeo but those that did love them. If I was choosing between the two the D40 wouldn’t be on the table at all. Once bitten…..

roger rabbit

thanks jabba i appreciate your input.

Millatime

roger rabbit

One thing to consider with the Isuzu is it is now a generation behind most of the competition. The cab and overall size of the vehicle is smaller than Hilux/Navara/Triton and the engine lacks power and torque compared to the class leaders. I have also heard of problems with the Nissan, including clutch and with a lot of people complaining about excessive fuel economy.

I recently drove a MY10 Triton 2.5 td with manual from Brisbane to Cairns and back. Cruising @ 100kph saw 2000 rpm, right at the beginning of peak torque so overtaking really was effortless. Spot a gap and nail the throttle the Triton would easily surge forward and by the time you pulled back in the speedo would routinely show 140+ kph. Brimming the tank would take 60 – 65 litres (after usually driving for 10 – 30 k’s with fuel light on) and then return 800 – 850 k’s to a tank.

I would suggest if your mate can wait for the new BT50/Ranger to be released, it’d be worth a look. It’ll be a size up from the current model, which is good, and worth checking what the state of tune will be ie power, torque and economy figures. The Triton is a good truck too, it won Overlanders 4X4 of the year. I wasn’t a big fan of the styling but after driving it up to Cairns and back – I’d own one.

roger rabbit

cheers millatime, i will pass on your feedback too.

to jabba that was my arguing point to my mate exactly how often do you see an isuzu truck or ute on the side of the road, on the same topic does anyone know when isuzu will be replacing the current shape vehicle thay are selling now and if so do you know how much different it may be?

roger rabbit

gee im having a good run with my spelling, ( would )
and literature ( how much different it may be ) im on fire someone get me a drink please.

Aquahead

Seeing the current BT-50 and the Ranger are twins that share just about everything except their “face” (front facia), I wonder how close they will be in the future? I have always assumed that they will be built off the same chassis and would utilise the same drivelines and a lot of the body panels and interior would be indentical, but after reading the press blurb, I am begining to wonder…

I have great hopes and high expectations for the T6 Project, I own a PJ Ranger and am wrapped in it. The comment about the current drive line being the best are so true, I’ve driven all the others bar the new Triton and haven’t found one that can surpass the amazing grunt and well built feel you get from the the existing driveline.

As long as the new BT-50/Ranger can achieve this with their new drive trains, i’ll be buying another one.

Andrew M

At least we know that since its been designed/engineered in OZ that it will be good to drive.

Looks like Mazda has taken the Triton sort of styling (twisted body lines etc) and Ford have taken the tough sort of Navara stance.

A pretty good way to corner the market if you ask me.

Baddass

Good on them for trying something different. God knows the dual cab ute sector hasn’t seen such a dramatic change sice airbags were invented.
http://ozmazda.com ozmazda

firstly how ironic that the anti-spam word was mazda…lol

Now where do I sign as I had an old Bravo and it took me to Central Australia and the Birdsville Track..

The BT50 was given the award of 2007 4×4 Ute of the year

Lets hope that the umbrella handbrake has been flicked and they have wound out more power from that great 3ltr turbo diesel….

Ozmazda forum nite at Sydney Motor Show..
Zandit

I heard a rumour yesterday from a guy at the Mazda dealership that they are playing with the idea of a 3.5ltr Diesel! Anyone able to shed light on that?
Car Fanatic

Zandit, I work Know several Mazda Business development managers. I’ll call them today and find out, but I think you might have been told porkies.
Willie

Hi Guys. My Brother works for Mazda in Brisbane and rest assured that the last people that are told any specific details about up coming models are the dealers. Sites like this have a better grip on details, thank god.
I need a good tow vehicle so I also hope for a decent amount of grunt and I am in the market for a new ute next year. (cross fingers)
Car Fanatic

Okay the rumor is actually surrounding the 3.2 Duratorq ( same as what’s in the transit) possibly detuned from 150 kw and 470Nm but we shall have to wait for AIMS to find out for sure.
http://ozmazda.com ozmazda

That is some impressive figures compared to the 3ltr in the current BT50 which isnt bad compared to its competition…Engine
2,953 cc
Max Power
115 kW @ 3,200 rpm
Max Torque
380 Nm @ 1,800 rpm
Car Fanatic

Would be nice if the rumour turns out to be true and secondly it wasn’t detuned. Be one hell of a ute with 470nm
Fifi

Does it have a dpf?