The Mazda BT-50 is a compact/mid-sized pickup truck produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 2006. It is a larger version of the predecessor B-Series pickup and is not sold in the Japanese and North American markets. The second-generation Ranger has been designed by Ford Australia, with a Mazda derivative sold as the BT-50. The third-generation D-MAX has been designed by Isuzu Motors, with a Mazda derivative sold as the BT-50.
The BT-50 was launched at the Bangkok Motor Show on 22 March 2006. It shares its Duratorq/MZR-CD 2.5- and 3.0-liter diesel inline-four engines with the Ranger. In late November 2006, the new five-speed automatic transmission with Borg Warnertransfer case has been added, as well as side airbags. The BT-50 received a minor redesign in the first quarter of 2008, with a revised interior and several optional items made standard. The model sold in Mexico and Central and South America includes these options:
A 2.6-liter straight-4 4x4 only, same engine and transmission used in the previous Mazda B2600
A 2.2-liter straight-4 4x2 only, entry-level model same as the old B2200
A 2.5-liter diesel straight-4 either 4x2 or 4x4
Production
European and Thai models of the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 are built in Thailand. South African Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 models are built in Pretoria, South Africa. Latin American Mazda BT-50s are built in Colombia, replaced by the Ford Ranger T6 built in Argentina since 2012. The Mazda BT-50 is not sold nor built in Japan.
A full model change of the Mazda BT-50 was revealed in October 2010 at the Australian International Motor Show. It is based on the Ford Ranger. While the BT-50 version was designed by a Mazda team based at Ford Australia's design center in Melbourne, both Ford and Mazda worked independently. Of the exterior panels, only the windscreen, roof, and rear screen are common between the Ranger and BT-50, although the underpinnings are largely the same. The Mazda BT-50 is produced in Thailand and South Africa.
Facelift
A revised BT-50 for the 2016 model year debuted in July 2015 and launched into the Australian market in September 2015. The UR series facelift is mainly cosmetic without any changes in engine specifications, however, several equipment changes and slight price differences over the pre-facelift model are present. Another facelift for the second generation BT-50 was launched for the Australian market in 2018. Changes includes revised looks and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support through an Alpine sound head unit.
Third generation (RG04; 2020)
The third generation BT-50 was unveiled in Australia on 17 June 2020. Unlike its predecessors, the BT-50 was developed from the third generation Isuzu D-Max. The pickup is a result of a tie-up between Mazda and Isuzu Motors which was announced on 11 July 2016, with Isuzu agreeing to supply pickup trucks to Mazda. The alliance between Isuzu and Mazda was also aided by the fact that both companies were Japanese. As the result, the RG BT-50 is built at Isuzu Motors plant in Samrong, Samut Prakan, Thailand. The vehicle features the Mazda's Kododesign language similar to its crossover line-up. While it is still sharing the base structure, body shell and the wing mirrors with the D-Max, Mazda made most of the body panels unique. It is powered by the Isuzu-sourced 3.0-litre 4JJ3-TCX inline-four turbodiesel engine, replacing the 3.2-litre MZ-CDinline-five Ford Duratorq turbodiesel engine. For the first time, the third generation BT-50 is available with adaptive cruise control which is aided by twin cameras in the windscreen rather than a radar sensor in the grille, as to make the installation of off-road accessories in the front of the vehicle possible. Autonomous emergency braking, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance and centre airbags are also available in select trims.
