A fresh report out of Australia suggests the new Mazda BT-50 will be revealed in June 2020, quite some time earlier than initially expected.

According to CarExpert.com.au’s “dealer sources”, the Japanese automaker will whip the covers off its next-generation bakkie as early as next month.

While the outgoing BT-50 shared much with the Ford Ranger, the next-generation model will be based on Isuzu’s new D-Max (the latter is scheduled to start rolling off the Port Elizabeth assembly line only in the second half of 2021 although production in Thailand has already started).

A report from April 2020 suggested the new BT-50 would share the latest D-Max’s updated 3,0-litre turbodiesel engine, which boasts peak outputs of 140 kW and 450 N.m. Expect six-speed manual and automatic transmissions to carry over, too.

The new BT-50 is also set to gain the latest D-Max’s rear diff-lock, along with that model’s infotainment system (rather than Mazda’s own MZD-Connect arrangement). The latter will feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, while the steering column will finally gain adjustment for reach (in addition to rake).

Late in 2019, an Isuzu official said Mazda had no input into the development of the new D-Max, suggesting Mazda was responsible only for styling its version of the bakkie.

*Note: the bakkie pictured above is a rendering created by Kleber Silva...

 

 

 

Original article from Car