Mazda in Australia has released a second teaser image ahead of the reveal of its new BT-50, giving us a glimpse of the new Isuzu-based bakkie’s headlamp and grille design.
Posted on the various social media pages of the Japanese firm’s Australian division, this latest teaser depicts the bakkie’s headlamp unit, complete with the sort of circular LED element used by many of Mazda’s passenger vehicles.
Below the headlamp, we see a chunky piece of chrome-effect trim, a treatment extended to the pickup’s grille, which features horizontal slats.
Earlier in June 2020, Mazda published a shadowy teaser image of the new BT-50, while also confirming a reveal date for the fresh-faced bakkie. The newcomer will be unwrapped in the early hours of 17 June (confirming earlier rumours it would break cover this month).
While the outgoing BT-50 shares much with the Ford Ranger, the next-generation model will be based on Isuzu’s new D-Max (the latter is scheduled to start rolling off the Port Elizabeth assembly line only in the second half of 2021 although production in Thailand has already started).
A report from April 2020 suggested the new BT-50 would share the latest D-Max’s updated 3,0-litre turbodiesel engine, which boasts peak outputs of 140 kW and 450 N.m. Expect six-speed manual and automatic transmissions to carry over, too.
The new BT-50 is also set to gain the latest D-Max’s rear diff-lock, along with that model’s infotainment system (rather than Mazda’s own MZD-Connect arrangement). The latter will feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, while the steering column will finally gain adjustment for reach (in addition to rake).
Late in 2019, an Isuzu official said Mazda had no input into the development of the new D-Max, suggesting Mazda was responsible only for styling its version of the bakkie.
