JEDDAH, 29 January 2007 — Mazda launched its new contender in the small truck market in Jeddah yesterday. The BT-50, named in line with Mazda’s global alphanumeric naming strategy, enters the market in the one-ton carrying capacity. The 1,225kg carrying capacity (on the 4WD versions) on the flat bed, mounted on a twin rail chassis supported by leaf springs, demonstrates Mazda’s pragmatic global view that this will probably be exceeded on a regular basis.
Shunji Odahara, regional manager, Mazda Motor Corp, Middle East and Africa, said at the launch that Mazda had announced it’s mid-term revival plan in 2000.
“This growth is driven by the introduction of new products,” he said. “ He referred to the “Zoom-Zoom” campaign that attached to cars and its initial — and now iconic — Mazda 6. “We believe that it is our job to put the joy of driving in all our automobiles,” he said, “and to let people throughout the world experience this joy through the ‘Zoom Zoom’ concept.”
The BT-50 was, he said, one of the key products in that mission.
The truck is built along classic pick-up truck lines; a cabin and a bed bolted down hard onto two girders and suspended by leaf springs in the rear. This tough and economical formula produces strength and durability but has to compromise on ride quality. Built as a work vehicle rather than street cruiser, it is aimed squarely at penetrating the Saudi market dominated by the ubiquitous Toyota pickup.
The 1,320 mm leaf springs support its rigid rear axle controlled by larger dampers than on Mazda’s previous small trucks. This not only improves rear damping but gives the rear end strength.
The wishbone and front coil suspension together with the deeply upholstered seats filled with high elasticity urethane foam should take the sting out of the ride and offer a new level of interior comfort in a work-vehicle.
The passenger car-style interior in the capacious four-seater cab hints strongly at the dual-usage Mazda expect the BT-50 to have — lower wind-noise designed in and heavy engine-noise insulation confirm the fact.
Safety has come to the fore in the new truck. Strengthened and deformation-resistant cabin structure, airbags and three-point seat belts with pretensioners together with collapsible steering wheel make for saloon car level safety.
The 2.6 liter six cylinder petrol engine is designed for low-rpm torque rather than top end power and has a life expectancy of at least 260,000 kilometers — again a nod at the work load the truck is designed to take on and the return on investment that buyers who choose this as their main or sole vehicle will expect from it.
Yousef Xenel Alireza emphasized the point. “We are sure that the new model...will get the consumer’s trust as they will find in this vehicle all they need in terms of hard work and lifestyle — including safety for their families and themselves.”
He also made reference to the business and construction boom in the Kingdom, saying that the need in the Kingdom for the BT-50 arose from that growth.