Mazda BT-50 In Depth

Press Release

Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Craftmanship
Page 4: Driving Performance
Page 5: Utility
Page 6: Safety

Message from the programme manager

In developing a new Mazda pickup, our goal was to faithfully inherit the qualities that earned high praise and a significant number of awards for previous generations of the Mazda B Series pickup, while also evolving it to become a true Zoom-Zoom Pickup that brings customers a new dimension of driving pleasure.

Mazda's new Zoom-Zoom Pickup delivers an exciting blend of sophisticated design, and refinement, responsive handling and dynamic performance, all packaged to feature outstanding versatility, comfort and convenience. Sophisticated contours and sporty, athletic styling reflect a level of quality and beauty that clearly distinguish the model as a new generation. The relaxing, roomy expanse of the cabin treats occupants to a level of comfort and quietness that rivals even passenger cars. Responsive handling combined with satisfying engine performance reminds users what the pleasure of driving is all about, while still achieving high fuel efficiency. Further polish applied to all aspects related to its role as a working pickup truck makes loading and lugging cargo easier and more convenient, while also improving the already superb off-road driveability of the 4WD system. I am confident that the finished product is one that customers will find delivers pleasure and blends well into their respective lifestyles.

Reflecting our confidence in this new model that fully embodies Mazda's Zoom-Zoom brand DNA of stylish, insightful and spirited dynamic performance, we renamed it the Mazda BT-50 � a new lifestyle-enhancing concept built for all to enjoy.

The BT-50 has been designed to ensure that its owners will find that this new Mazda is easy to own, a delight to drive and intelligently designed, as well being able to count on the BT-50's vehicle construction and safety features to protect their families.

Overview

The spirit at Mazda is one that celebrates life. It's one that understands that life should be lived to the full, that driving should be pure, exhilarating fun. It's the spirit that's best summed up in our phrase "Zoom-Zoom" - that magical feeling you first experienced as a child when the sheer joy of motion made your heart beat faster. First reflected in the Mazda6, the arrival of the new BT-50 is another generation Mazda to fully reflect the style and spirit of the Zoom-Zoom philosophy. Its design is distinctive, performance exhilarating and driving a joy. The latest Mazda one-ton pickup undoubtedly sets another benchmark for its competitors.

Zoom-Zoom performance and luxurious refinement

The Mazda BT-50 combines the powerful ride of high-performance engines with responsive, passenger-car-like steering and handling characteristics to deliver distinctive Zoom-Zoom driving pleasure that appeals to both those who use a pickup truck much like a passenger car, as well as those who require tough, reliable commercial truck performance.

The luxurious refinement of the cabin interior is almost enough to make you forget that the Mazda BT-50 is a pickup truck, with new interior appointments offering true user-oriented convenience and utility; and all this is wrapped in a sophisticated, modern package that features sporty and athletic styling.

The new Mazda BT-50 series was developed to possess five key values. Its stylish and athletic design aims to express the individual; its craftsmanship aims to deliver functional beauty, build quality and customer delight; driving performance features the powerful yet fuel-efficient engine combined with superb handling; it adopts unique features with utility for a variety of practical purposes, and it also aims to provide safety levels that are top in its class.

Match one of the three available body types - Regular (single) Cab, Freestyle Cab and Double Cab - to the lineup of petrol and diesel powertrains available in each respective market the Mazda BT-50 can be tailored to perfectly suit the driver's needs, whether for use in town, an outing in the country, or for business.

The Regular Cab body can comfortably seat two or three occupants, and provides the longest cargo box with the largest load capacity. Featuring the large door opening and easy access of Mazda's unique Freestyle Door System, the Freestyle Cab body accommodates two in the front and two in the back, with the back alternately offering plenty of room for carrying precious belongings. The Double Cab body provides roomy comfort for five occupants, with two in the front and three in the back, making it just right for family use, sharing good times with friends, or for moving small work teams between locations.

Newly developed MZR-CD 2.5 and MZR-CD 3.0 direct-injection common-rail turbo diesel engines join the MZI 4.0 V6 petrol engine, MZ-DE 2.5 Turbo diesel engine, MZ-DE 2.5 diesel engine (for Thailand only), MZI 2.6 fuel-injected petrol engine and the MZI 2.2 petrol engine to form a diverse lineup that delivers a fine combination of power, fuel economy, quietness and reliability.

Models powered by the newly developed MZR-CD engines are fitted with a new 5-speed manual transmission that raises torque transmission capacity to support the greater power and torque produced.

Two types of 4WD system are available � manual shift or electric shift � with each offering easy shift operation between 2WD and 4WD modes and go-anywhere performance.

While carrying over the double wishbone front design and rear leaf springs proven tough and reliable on previous Mazda pickup trucks, the system is refined to offer a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Larger shock absorbers on the front and rear with a 32mm shaft diameter greatly improve ride comfort as well as the feel of system rigidity. Extending the rear suspension's leaf springs to 1,320mm not only makes them the longest in the class, but more importantly provides ride comfort with a mild, a reassuring feeling.

A major feature of the Mazda BT-50 is its intelligent approach to making cabin access as effortless as possible.

Freestyle Cab models adopt Mazda's unique Freestyle Door System to maximize the ease of ingress/egress to and from the rear of the cabin, as well as the loading and unloading of cargo. The front doors and rear access panels open from the centre in a design that uses no centre pillar to create an unobstructed opening of a broad 1,500mm in width.

Large side steps on the 4WD versions of Double Cab or Freestyle Cab models feature a ribbed finish on the top surface that prevents slipping for a solid foothold.

The keyless entry system on high-grade packages makes it easy to lock or unlock the doors, even when both of your hands are encumbered with boxes or bags.

Safety has also been seriously considered by Mazda in developing the new BT-50. 4W-ABS and EBD systems, which help keep the vehicle under control at all times, regardless of the road or load conditions, are available and, in addition to dual front airbags, some models are available with new side airbags for head and chest protection (marking a first for this class outside of Europe).

On models equipped with airbags, each front seatbelt adopts a pretensioner and load limiter.

Also, Height adjusters newly added to the shoulder anchors on Double Cab models help set the seatbelt in optimal position for a wider variety of body types and builds while some models are also equipped with ISOFIX child-seat anchors that make securing a child seat a quick and sure action.