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Mazda is set to premiere the Freestyle Cab version of its new BT-50 pickup at the upcoming Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, which begins on July 1. It’s the second global debut taking place Down Under for the BT-50 – the dual-cab version premiered in Sydney last October.

As the moniker suggests, the pickup utilises the Freestyle door configuration first seen on the RX-8, thus offering an exceptionally wide pillar-less door opening and an increased sense of cabin space. On each side of the cabin, a front-hinged door and a rear access panel combine to provide a 1,408mm-wide opening that makes for easy entry to and exit from either the front or rear seats.

Mazda says that the rear-seat comfort has been improved in the Freestyle Cab – the cushions have been lengthened by 50 mm for better thigh support and more stable fitment of child seats, while the seatback height has been increased by 128 mm.

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The rear seat cushions can be removed, and with the rear access panels opening to an angle of nearly 90 degrees, loading and storing cargo into the cab’s rear seating is a breeze. Elsewhere, the cargo tub has increased in width, length and height, translating into an overall cargo volume of 1,453 litres, an increase of 266 litres over the equivalent current model.

No mention is made of the powertrains for the Freestyle Cab, but engine options should be the new 197 hp and 470 Nm MZ-CD 3.2 litre turbodiesel engine, with either six-speed auto or manual transmissions, and the MZ-CD 2.2 litre diesel unit, offering 148 hp and 375 Nm, the same mills the dual-cab will wear for Australia.

Mazda is in talks with Ford to stop joint production in the US by 2013, the Nikkei reports, paving the way for it to go the North American route alone as it goes about rebuilding its US business, which has stuttered of late.

It currently produces the Mazda6 at the AutoAlliance International plant in Michigan, its equal partnership venture with Ford, but with US production at well less than half the planned levels, Mazda is looking at letting go its stake in the JV to Ford. The Japanese automaker built just 45,000 vehicles in the US in the year ended March, though its production capacity at the AAI plant is 120,000 vehicles a year.

Ford is anticipated to maintain production at the plant by increasing the number of models it produces there, when the proposed change eventually takes place.

Mazda will be looking at supplying US demand through Japanese production at its Hofu plant and from its future assembly location in Mexico. It has plans to construct a JV plant with Sumitomo Corp there, and intends to eventually also supply Latin America with automobiles produced at the Mexican plant. The plans are part of a review of the carmaker’s global production system and rebuilding of its US operations.

Mazda has announced that a direct-injection 1.3 litre gasoline engine called the SkyActiv-G 1.3 will be the first market example to feature its next-generation SkyActiv technologies. It is set to unveil the mill at the Automotive Engineering Exposition on May 18-20 at the Pacifico Yokohama convention center near Tokyo, Japan.

The company plans to introduce the SkyActiv-G 1.3 domestically in the facelifted Demio (Mazda2) soon, making it the first ever 1.3 litre direct-injection gasoline engine to be equipped in a compact car built in Japan. It will offer 84 PS at 5,400 rpm and 112 Nm at 4,000 rpm for output.

The breakthrough block features a record high compression ratio (for a regular gasoline mass production automobile engine) of 14.0:1 and exhibits high efficiency, especially under high load at low rpm. In order to avoid knocking – an unavoidable issue with conventional high-compression engines – the unit features a number of new technologies, such as piston cavities that are specially designed to support ideal combustion, and multi-hole injectors that enable precise fuel injection control.

Other features include a cooled EGR system and Mazda’s first dual sequential valve timing system (dual S-VT with electronically-operated intake) – in combination with the high compression ratio, this achieves an unconventional Miller cycle (extremely delayed closure of intake valves) that improves efficiency. It also has 30% less mechanical friction, due to a narrower crankshaft, new roller followers and low-tension piston rings that also reduce oil consumption.

Partnered with i-stop, Mazda’s unique idling stop system, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the lump – with more than 130 patents applied for it – promises a fuel economy of 30 km per litre (under Japan’s 10-15 mode test cycle).

Mazda’s next generation of cars are pillared by two aspects – SkyActiv technologies and its new Kodo design language. The Hiroshima based carmaker has shown a compact crossover SUV at Geneva that combines the both.

After the Shinari of Paris 2010, Minagi is the second concept to show Mazda’s new Kodo design language. Kodo, which translates to “soul of motion”, is led by new design chief Ikuo Maeda, who replaced Laurens van den Acker, the man who introduced the Nagare design seen on the brand’s current range.

Mazda says that while the Shinari was a pure design concept to express the full potential of Kodo, the Minagi showcases characteristics likely to be seen in its next generation of cars.

To come up with Minagi, Mazda designers looked at different aspects of cheetahs as they hunt. They then set out to capture the moment when the cheetah contracts its muscles, gets ready to sprint and lunge at its prey. “I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture,” explains Masashi Nakayama, Chief Designer of the Minagi.

From the front, the chromed ‘signature wing’ that spears the headlamps is shared with the Shinari and is part of the new Mazda identity. Dynamic contours on the front fenders that directs the eyes to the wheels are also Mazda trademarks that can be found here. The flowing sculpted lines on the Minagi’s side are likened to a cheetah’s muscles by the designers.

Take away the obvious showcar flair and you could be looking at Mazda’s upcoming crossover that sits below the CX-7. Rumoured to get the “CX-5″ name, this Tiguan rival will come with Mazda’s SkyActiv tech, a collection of improved to engines, transmissions and chassis that will significantly improve efficiency.

Gallery and a video after the jump.
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