New Mazda BT-50 pick-up truck launched in Malaysia
We first saw signs of the Mazda BT-50 earlier this year when a taped up unit with trade plates was spotted in Sri Hartamas. Earlier this week, the BT-50 pick-up truck was finally launched and is now an option for those who want a softer, sportier and more Japanese-looking truck than the Ford Ranger TDCi.
Mazda has picked the BT-50 name over the Fighter name carried by the previous generation. Mechanically it is pretty much the same as the Ford Ranger TDCi - a 2.5 liter turbodiesel with direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger under the hood, double wishbone suspension at the front and a leaf spring setup at the rear. The leaf springs at the rear are 1,320mm long, making them the longest in the class, which enhances ride comfort.
The 2.5 liter engine is mechanically the same as the Ranger’s, which is nothing bad as it is truly a fantastic engine for a truck. The variable geometry turbo eliminates any turbo lag so power delivery is at maximum once you floor the pedal. It produces 143 PS at 3,500rpm and 330Nm of torque at 1,800rpm. The truck also gets a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed auto.
Early birds get a special introductory package - 50 months warranty (or 150,000km) and 50 months (or 80,000km) of free service. 50 months is equal to 4 years and 2 months, compared to the Ranger TDCi’s 3 years warranty. If you don’t want this, you can trade it for a RM3,000 rebate. Of course, this is for the first 100 early birds only. The normal warranty period is 3 years.
The following is the price list for Peninsular Malaysia, individual OTR with insurance. The prices are generally slightly cheaper than the Ranger TDCi. For the full price list click here.
- Mazda BT-50 2.5 Manual Solid - RM86,272.81
- Mazda BT-50 2.5 Manual Metallic - RM86,402.81
- Mazda BT-50 2.5 Auto Solid - RM90,961.79
- Mazda BT-50 2.5 Auto Metallic - RM91,091.79
More photos after the jump.
Click to enlarge
November 23, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
noting terribly exciting,apart form the badge and warenty..its jus a ford ranger….wd have been beter if thy hav atleast tried to distinguish it from the ranger…the old fighter had a sporty bodykit which was nice…bt this one very boring…
November 23, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
boring look….triton and hilux still best looking pick up
November 23, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
i like the Ranger more…. (diehard Ford’s fan, lol)
the best looking (and toughest) pickup truck in Malaysia?
MUST BE A FORD RANGER!!!!
November 23, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Actually the ford ranger sold here is exactly the same vehicles as the mazda. I think the latter has been brought here to spice up the truck competition
November 23, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Good pricing, but look at Ford version, the back seat is still relatively “vertical”. Not as confortable as Hilux. If I want to buy pick-up, I go for Hilux.
November 23, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
I really don’t understand why people still go for a Hilux since there are Triton, Ranger and this new Mazda…
November 23, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
ranger’s cousin
November 23, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
You can keep on wondering bcoz more than 50% of the truck buyers go for Hilux. Heheheh..sorry to disappoint you!
(2007 jan-Aug registration):-
………..Jan…Feb…Mar…Apr…May…Jun…Jul…..Aug……TOTAL
Hilux…..650…627…747…648…677…951..1075..1421___6,796
D-max…177…215…215…214…235…242…219….313___1,830
Triton….131…262…321…240…249…232…222….134___1,791
Source: MAA by cars.my
November 23, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
why hilux? …. reliability? toyota?
i’m convinced since jeremy drove 1 to north pole….
just joking…..
November 23, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
The reason people go for hilux is because of the reliability factor. Hilux is known for its reliability.The body is more rigid and the resale value is much more higher compare to the others.But the problems with hilux is the engine performance..It’s less powerful compares to others, especially the new nissan navara/frontier with 171hp..it’s the most powerful pick-up truck in country..Engine performance is one of the criteria people look for in buying pick-up truck.The other criteria is the toughness/reliability factors.In Sarawak, 70% of the pick-up truck on the road are hilux, use mainly in logging camp.(majority is the older model).New hilux is for urban driving..I myself drive the hilux sr turbo..(older model)..
November 23, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
people go for hilux bcoz of its T badge infront, the same reason why vios is selling like hotcakes in spite of it being an utterly plain and boring car.
hilux is oversized and underpowered, if i were going for a pickup i would definitely choose among the powerhouse group of triton or ranger/bt40, or even the plush actyon…
November 24, 2007 @ 1:49 am
i choose POWER…..of course i choose ranger. Hilux is beautiful btw but pity underpower
November 24, 2007 @ 2:05 am
if u know what is a tough and real P-I-C-K-U-P T-R-U-C-K, u will just get a Ford Ranger……
Ranger is only for those who really appreciate pickup trucks……
November 24, 2007 @ 5:03 am
nmh said,
November 24, 2007 @ 1:49 am
i choose POWER…..of course i choose ranger. Hilux is beautiful btw but pity underpower
———-
Yup, agreed Hilux is relatively underpower in relation to its size. But the latest version is for “urban instinct” rather than “raunchy-jungle-basic-instinct”.
Our country with Common Rail 2.5 L, for other market Hilux also available in 2.7L and 3.0L in Thai market. Only NAP tax structure is likely is a deterent to import higher cc.
http://www.google.com.my/search?hl=en&q=toyota+Thailand&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
Or they have top of the range pick-up truck in US market, Tundra with 4.0L, 4.7L & 5.7L.
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_engines.aspx?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Tundra&trimid=-1
November 24, 2007 @ 6:08 am
As a former RANGER owner,i’d say ” GO RANGER”….it gets me to places where no double cabs of its class from other makes cant…(sorry Hiluxes,Dmaxes,Fighters,Frontieres…)
As for this new bloke,well…cheaper is one thing…but can it perform as well as the RANGER….??? But then, its up us to choose,where you want to fit into,whether it’s performance,styling,maintenance or the POWER…..anyway, I’m not into the ” Urban Instinct” image kind of thing for trucks/double cabs….If that is the case,then…I should say….buy a Sedan…!!! (why not try a FORD FOCUS..?) No hard feelingsss…
November 24, 2007 @ 8:20 am
@mitlanevo.
lol
Ranger? In the country where the pickup is king, a Ford Ranger doesn’t even show up on radar. The smallest “Real” pickup you can buy is the F150.
Park a F150 standard cab, next to to a Ranger, and the Ranger is dwarfed. Yer regular redneck would have thought the Ranger was a toy.
There the Ranger is sold as what it is, a Mazda B series pickup for people who dont need the stump pulling torque and off road abilities.
I dont know why Ford group wants to sell 2 basically identical vehicles and canibalize each others’ sales.
November 24, 2007 @ 8:29 am
Mazda is towards “sporty” market while Ford trucks is targetted for the work horses. I guess it is how they position their products. Ford-Mazda isn’t the only one that releases similar models in the same market. Same goes to Toyota-Daihatsu & Hyundai-Kia.
Toyota Hilux seems to be a more popular choice. Although its underpowered compared to other pickups, people prefer it for its more “family car” looks and some actually use it for a real family car for some strange reasons. The power of the T-badge!
November 24, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Hey, somebody mentioned about new frontier of 171 hp, please elaborate more O.o
Yeah, why not triton? But hilux!
November 24, 2007 @ 9:33 am
As some of you know, Ranger is a clone from BT-50 and Ranger launched much earlier in Malaysia I would say both model still remain a typical pick up truck design and functionality, at least you will feel that BT-50 is more stylish.
Zoom Zoom…
November 24, 2007 @ 11:27 am
to 4G63T DSM:
ya, i get your point, but this is our Bolehland, not USA or Australia……
average people like me simply cant afford the road tax if driving any F150 (or perhaps a Hummer) in our country……
but anyway, cant really compare “mini” pickup trucks here with those “giant” pickup trucks in “countries where the pickup is king”…….
just like the Audi Q7, when park beside those american SUVs, the Q7 is like the size of a Kembara…….
November 24, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
I think it looks good. The photos shown here doesn’t have all the add-ons, so it looks kinda bland… But I believe it will look cool if it’s all dressed up…
November 24, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Hilux is the lousiest.
Power? Don’t have. (Ranger & Frontier Own)
Comfortability? Don’t have. (Triton Own)
Fuel saving? Don’t have. (D-Max Own)
Anyhow, Hilux won the title for easiest-to-steal Pick Up Truck in Malaysia.
By the way, I owned a Hilux 2006. It was stolen while in June. So happy.
Bloody regret to had bought this Hilux.
November 24, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
i read somewhere that one can can mitigate the lack of power in the Hilux by instaling an intercooler (plus a bonet scoop), is this true? and if yes how much gain is possible? Can anyone pls elaborate?
November 24, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
one more thing, is it possible to plonk in the VGT from the ranger/bt50 into the hilux?
November 24, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Hilux & Camry is under “hot-list” by burglar!
November 25, 2007 @ 7:33 am
wah…u not sad ka ur car been stole???btw…pity u…yala…hilux is a hot stuff nowaday…
November 25, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
This year’s sale of hilux is already more than 10,000. Triton and D-max r both hovering around only 2,500 each.
of course if you look statistically more hilux shud be stolen, breakdown, accident (god forbid), etc etc.
Despite what IsaacVky said of it as “Hilux is the lousiest”, it still appeal to the masses.
I guess more pple choose to be “in the wrong” rather than going for other truck.
November 26, 2007 @ 9:17 am
The dashboard almost the Ranger style…and still a very traditional design.
Personally I still like the more aggresive design Hilux and Triton…
November 27, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
y not storm???hahahahahahaha…….ill go for ranger then hilux….=P
February 7, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
I still like the F-150 (US model). If you drive the manual transmission, you’ll really feel the power there. Another thing, well-spaced footwell and wide pad pedals, so you can hardly “slip” (unless, of course, you are wearing clogs or platforms) upon choosing the right “pedal action”. Finally, F-150 is one bloody model you can bloody pull a mobile home (aka Caravan) which requires the torque of 2 pick-ups. To get one, the easiest way is by buying from the Philippines.