Underlying Asia-Pacific’s role in global product development, Mazda chose the Australian International Motor Show to stage the global reveal of the four-door, Freestyle version of the all-new BT50 ute.
The Melbourne unveiling of the four-door model followed the world debut of the BT50 in two-door form at last years’ show in Sydney.
Like the similar Ford Ranger, the Mazda BT50 has grown – Ford is sending the Ranger to North America where it will sell as a ‘compact’ pickup. In the case of the Mazda BT50, height has increased by 84mm to 1,706mm, width has increased by 135mm to 1,850mm, length is up by 204mm to 5,373mm and the wheelbase has grown by 220mm.
Like Toyota’s FJ Cruiser SUV, the Mazda BT50 Freestyle features rearward-opening rear doors which provide a pillar-less 1,408mm opening to the passenger compartment. Critically, the all-new Mazda BT50 is up on size in all dimensions inside (head-room by 10mm, shoulder room by 30mm, rear leg-room by 33mm and the front seats have fore/aft slide of 260mm).
The larger cabin has enabled Mazda’s interior designers to deliver a bigger, more useable rear seat (an extra 128mm of seatback height and 50mm in the seat base compared to the current BT50). This means extra comfort for passengers and more stable fitment of baby seats for families.
And Mazda has clever enabled the rear seat to be completely removed for extra cargo capacity.
Speaking of cargo capacity, the all-new Mazda BT50 steps-up in that department too with an overall volume (Freestyle) of 1,453-litres (266 litres up on the equivalent current model).
Under the bonnet, the all-new Mazda BT50 will be highlighted by Mazda’s new 3.2-litre, five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine delivering 147kW/470Nm (28 per-cent and 24 per-cent up respectively over the current model). Despite the extra performance, Mazda says the all-new BT50 will be more fuel-efficient than the current 3.0-litre diesel.
Drive will be via a new six-speed transmission.
Significantly, the new 3.2-litre turbo-diesel will provide the all-new Mazda BT50 with a towing capacity up to 3,350kgs – 350kgs up on the current model.
Mazda says extensive work in suspension development and noise suppression will ensure the all-new BT50 delivers high standards of refinement.
Mazda will launch the full BT50 lineup later this year.
