mazda bt 50 rendering
Bruce Newton15 Apr 2020
NEWS

New Mazda BT-50 here this year

Designer of current BT confirms Kodo will influence the look of the new Isuzu D-MAX-based ute

The designer responsible for the controversial first iteration of the current-generation Mazda BT-50 has confidently talked up the look of the next-generation utility that’s expected to arrive in Australia before the end of the year.

While based on the architecture and much of the driveline technology of the new ‘RG’ Isuzu D-MAX, the next BT-50’s exterior will use the latest generation of Mazda’s Kodo design language as its inspiration.

The new D-MAX broke cover in March and is scheduled for its Australian reveal around June.

While Mazda Australia is staying tight-lipped, carsales.com.au is expecting the new BT-50 will follow it to market within months. Only delays prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic could push its launch here into 2021.

It is a key launch for Mazda, which has suffered declining sales in recent years. Its other key new models coming in 2020 are SKYACTIV-X versions of the Mazda3 and CX-30. Due in the third quarter, they are expected to be range-toppers in terms of price and therefore niche-sellers.

Mazda has already promised the new BT-50’s exterior will be tougher. But elements of Mazda’s much lauded latest Kodo design language – already seen here with the new Mazda3 small car and CX-30 SUV – are guaranteed to influence the new BT-50’s look, says Mazda design division chief designer Ryo Yanagisawa

bt50 launch sa thomaswielecki 010 w80i

“For commercial vehicles of course we cannot apply the Kodo design language as is on to the commercial vehicles [such as BT-50],” Yanagisawa told carsales.com.au via a translator during a recent visit to Australia.

“There is this concept of breathing life into vehicle that is the Kodo design’s concept. This concept itself is deployable to any type of vehicle.”

Yanagisawa was chief designer of the BT-50 from 2005 to 2010. That vehicle was co-developed in Australia with the Ford Ranger and he was based in Melbourne to perform that task from 2007 to 2010.

The BT-50 launched in 2011 to mixed reviews of its ‘smiley face’ front-end graphics and design. Updates in 2015 and 2018 attempted to toughen the look more in line with boxy ute imagery pushed by the likes of Ford, Toyota and other successful ute brands.

Although BT-50 sales were lower than the big players in the Australian ute market, Yanagisawa remains a fan of his design.

“For me I don’t think BT-50 design was a failure. I think it is one of success,” he said.

“The positioning of Mazda plays a role versus Toyota and many brands out there. How Mazda should express Mazda’s characteristics, that’s something I focussed on with the BT-50.”

Yanagisawa is confident the new alliance with Isuzu has allowed Mazda to again develop a unique look for its ute.

“Breathing life into vehicles … can be applied to BT-50 or any other vehicles including commercial vehicles as long as Mazda creates those vehicles,” he said.

He used his co-development experience with the current BT-50 to illustrate that.

“The current BT-50 we worked with Ford back then and at that time the inner structure was common but the body surface was completely unique to Mazda,” Yanagisawa said.

“So we were able to express Mazda’s design we had back then to a very high degree.”

What's under the new Mazda BT-50 skin?

The new Isuzu D-MAX will feature a beefed-up 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that is expected to be shared with the BT-50.

The Mazda currently comes with a 147kW/470Nm Ford 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel – as well as a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in the single-cab 4x2.

Six-speed manual and automatics will be on offer alongside 4x2 and 4x4 systems. The latter will include a two-speed transfer case and a rear locking diff.

Other key numbers the Isuzu and Mazda are expected to share include a 3500kg braked towing capacity and 800mm water fording ability.

The D-MAX measures up at 5265mm long, 1870mm wide and 1790mm high. It has an approximate 1890kg kerb weight and a maximum 1024kg payload.

Both vehicles are also tipped to offer autonomous emergency braking and other driver-assist systems, as well as a new-generation infotainment including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2020 isuzu d max interior

As yet unconfirmed is the level of differentiation the BT-50 will bring compared to the 2020 D-MAX (pictured).

Mazda has introduced an elegant and simplified new dashboard and control design with the Mazda3 and CX-30, but switching to that from the new Isuzu’s 9.0-inch touch-screen may not be an affordable part of the business case.

Confirmed Isuzu interior items include leather seat trim for top-spec models, plus dual-zone climate control, keyless entry/start and a digital speedo.

Like the D-MAX, it is expected the BT-50 will continue to be available in single-cab, space-cab and dual-cab body styles.

Both vehicles are expected to offer a strong line of accessories adapted to the demanding Australian market.

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