Next Mazda BT-50 to be tougher, may be Hilux-based

Mazda is saying that the next-gen BT-50 will be tougher, despite not yet having a clear direction of the future of its pick-up truck, Drive reports. The Mazda BT-50 received a minor facelift a couple of months ago. Now that it’s in its fifth year since it was first introduced, Mazda will need to sort out next-gen plans soon.

While a previous report speculated that the BT-50 might be based on the new Toyota Hilux, Yuji Nakamine, director of operations at Mazda remained tight-lipped, saying that it is in the process of “discussing its future pick-up strategy.” Currently, the BT-50 shares the same underpinnings as the T6 Ford Ranger, and both are produced at the same AutoAlliance plant in Rayong Thailand.

Notably, Nakamine also did not confirm as to whether it would continue to be based on the Ford Ranger. “We are not sure. At this moment, I cannot make a comment on this,” Nakamine said. That said, Mazda has affirmed that it will continue to have a pick-up truck under its range of products as confirmed by the director.

New Toyota Hilux (left) and T6 Ford Ranger facelift.

“We are not giving up on the pick-up truck, clearly. We have a very big market in Australia and this vehicle is very popular. So we are currently discussing the future pick-up strategy,” he said. Apart from Australia, the Mazda BT-50 is also said to be popular in New Zealand and some South-East Asian countries.

Nakamine has, however, confirmed that the brand will not have a truck-based SUV, as it will be focusing on its more popular urban SUVs. “Mazda will not do this type of model, as we will focus on the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, as well as other crossover models,” he stated.

In the meantime, Mazda Australia is trying very hard indeed to convince everyone that its current BT-50 truck is already a tough machine, as these videos show. What do you think of this?

Mazda BT-50 facelift

2016 Toyota Hilux

Ford Ranger facelift

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