| Do you remember that very long pick up truck? | | | | The Mazda BT-50 will be locally and officially |
| The Drifter was first introduced in 1961. But its | | | | launched on July 2007. |
| latest generation is now known as the Mazda | | | | About Mazda B-series |
| BT-50 which is soon to be launched in South | | | | The Mazda B-series is also known as the Mazda |
| Africa's competitive automotive market. | | | | Drifter. It is a 2-door pick-up truck that was first |
| Doreen Mashinini, the Mazda Marketing Manager, | | | | manufactured in 1961 by Mazda Motor |
| said that their company’s goal in developing | | | | Corporation, owner of Mazda OEM parts. The |
| the new Mazda pick up was to get the qualities | | | | mark 7 is the current model, which was initially |
| that gained the previous generations of the Mazda | | | | built in 1999 and can be manufactured with one of |
| B-Series pickup praise and distinctions from | | | | four body styles and one of two engines. |
| around the entire auto industry. He explained that | | | | Mazda has used form first B-Series pickup truck |
| they simultaneously need to adopt the true spirit | | | | the engine displacement to determine the name. |
| of Zoom-Zoom by creating a new magnitude of | | | | In effect, the B1500 had a 1.5 L engine, and the |
| driving standards and pleasure. | | | | new B4000 has a 4.0 L V6. Mazda used the |
| The manager added that the BT-50 comes with a | | | | ‘Proceed’ name in the Japanese market |
| complete improvement of the exterior as well as | | | | on the car’s compact pickup trucks. |
| the interior. The company claims that the pick up | | | | Moreover, another line of larger trucks is available |
| is redesigned in order to persuade the customers | | | | which is called the ‘Mazda Titan’. Other |
| who love adventures, and at the same time in | | | | names used for the pick up series include |
| order to offer practicality and other wonderful | | | | ‘Mazda Bravo’ in Australia, ‘Mazda |
| benefits. | | | | Bounty’ in New Zealand), ‘Mazda |
| The newly developed MZR-CD 3.0 direct-injection | | | | Magnum’ / ‘Thunder’ / |
| common-rail turbo diesel engine is matched to | | | | ‘Fighter’ in Thailand, and ‘Mazda |
| with the established 2.6-litre petrol and 2.5-litre | | | | Drifter’ in South Africa. |
| turbo diesel units. The 3.0-litre power plant yields a | | | | Mazda’s 33.4% of controlling interest is |
| claimed 115kW at 3200rpm and offers a | | | | controlled by the Ford Motor Company. And as a |
| maximum torque of 380Nm at 1800rpm. A new | | | | result, the sharing of the Mazda B-Series and Ford |
| five-speed manual transmission has been adopted | | | | Ranger are basically the same. Since 1970s, the |
| so that the greater power and torque generated | | | | Ford Courier name is also used and the line |
| by the MZR-CD unit will be supported. | | | | continues today in both Australia and New |
| Some of the features that will be available are | | | | Zealand. |
| the 4W-ABS and EBD systems. Some models will | | | | Nonetheless, the public should be reminded that |
| come with dual front airbags plus new side airbags | | | | the Mazda B-Series and Ford Ranger twins that |
| that would protect the head as well as the chest | | | | are marketed in North America are unrelated to |
| when a crash occurs. | | | | the ones sold elsewhere. These vehicles are built |
| Mashinini concluded that the Mazda BT-50 is set to | | | | by Mazda and the models in North America are |
| be the most powerful, comfortable sports activity | | | | developed by Ford. |
| vehicle Mazda has ever introduced in its entire | | | | These are engineered by Mazda, whereas the |
| existence in the industry. | | | | North American models are developed by Ford. |