Manufacturer Mazda Related | Production 2006–present Predecessor Mazda B-Series | |
 | ||
Class Compact pickup truck (2006–2011)
Mid-sized pickup truck (2011–present) | ||
The Mazda BT-50 (model code J97M) is a compact/mid-sized pickup truck produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 2006. It is a larger version of the predecessor B-Series pickup and is not sold in the Japanese and North American markets. Until 2011, Ford had also sold a version of the first-generation BT-50 as the Ford Ranger and as the SUV Ford Everest. From 2011 the second-generation Ranger has been designed by Ford Australia, with a Mazda derivative sold as the BT-50.
Contents
First generation (J97M; 2006–2011)
The BT-50 was launched at the Bangkok Motor Show on 22 March 2006. It shares its Duratorq/MZR-CD 2.5- and 3.0-liter diesel inline-four engines with the Ranger. In late November 2006, the new five-speed automatic transmission with Borg Warner transfer case has been added, as well as side airbags.
The BT-50 received a minor redesign in the first quarter of 2008, with a revised interior and several optional items made standard.
The model sold in Mexico and Central and South America includes these options:
Ford Ranger
Available in the UK since 2006, it was first introduced in Thailand as a 2007 model. Like its predecessor, it is mechanically unrelated to the North American pickup of the same name.
The facelifted Ford Ranger was introduced in 2009.
The drivetrain is available in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive configurations. Body styles included Single Cab, RAP (Rear Access Panel) Cab and Double Cab.
LED turning lights were incorporated on door mirrors.
Engine choices include 2.5- and 3.0-liter Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engines.
The 2009 facelift of the European vehicle was unveiled in at the Geneva Motor Show.
Ford Everest
Ford also offers an SUV version of the Ranger, known as the Ford Everest in Asia, Central America, and the Bahamas, and since late 2009 as a 2010 model, in South Africa, where it replaces the Australian-sourced Ford Territory. In India, it is called the Ford Endeavour.
The second-generation Everest has three rows of seating, and rear- or four-wheel drive. It offers Duratorq diesel engines and two different drivetrains: 4x2 for 2.5-liter 143 hp (107 kW) models, and 4x4 for 3.0-liter 156 hp (116 kW) models. In addition, the redesign featured the new five-speed automatic transmission with a Borg Warner transfer case, and the new Active-Shift-on-the-Fly (4x4 only) for the first time.
In the United States, Ford had planned to name an extended-length version of the Ford Expedition the Everest in 2006 as a replacement for the Ford Excursion, but changed at the last minute and decided to rename it the Expedition EL.
In mid-2009, the Everest received a facelift in Southeast Asia, in line with the Ranger's recent update. This facelifted 2009 edition of the Ford Everest continues to be available with either a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with 143 PS or a 3.0-liter turbodiesel with 156 PS.
Also, a model for east Africa has a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with only 107 PS (80 KW), torque 268/2000. In Singapore, the Everest is used by Singapore Guards as a Protected Light Utility Vehicle.
A third facelifted model of the Everest was unveiled at the Manila International Auto Show in April 2013. On 29 April 2014, the third facelift Ford Endeavour was launched in India. This Endeavour features a touch-sensitive SATNAV entertainment system with Navigation Bluetooth audio control and reverse parking camera. Its manual variant comes with a 2.5-liter Duratorq TDCi paired to a five-speed manual transmission.
Production
European and Thai models of the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 are built in Thailand. South African Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 models are built in Pretoria, South Africa. Latin American Mazda BT-50s are built in Colombia, replaced by the Ford Ranger T6 built in Argentina since 2012.
The Mazda BT-50 is not sold nor built in Japan.
Second generation (UP; 2011–2015)
A full model change of the Mazda BT-50 was revealed on October 2010 at the Australian International Motor Show. It is based on the Ford Ranger (T6).
While the BT-50 version was designed by a Mazda team based at Ford Australia's design center in Melbourne, both Ford and Mazda worked independently. Of the exterior panels, only the windscreen, roof, and rear screen are common between the Ranger and BT-50, although the underpinnings are largely the same. Mazda BT-50 is produced in Thailand and South Africa.
Facelift (UR; 2015–present)
A revised BT-50 for the 2016 model year debuted in July 2015 and launched into the Australian market in September 2015. The UR series facelift is mainly cosmetic without any changes in engine specifications, however, several equipment changes and slight price differences over the pre-facelift model are present.