Mazda/Isuzu hook up

New and tested 4WDs

According to Mazda New Zealand; “Mazda Motor Corporation and Isuzu Motors Limited have reached a basic agreement on next-generation pick-up truck collaboration, allowing Isuzu to enhance its product competiveness and Mazda to strengthen its product line-up and maintain own-brand market coverage.

Translated from ‘corporate-speak’ that means that Isuzu will do the bulk of the design and building work with Mazda getting a version it can sell as its own.

What all this means here is that the current, and only recently upgraded BT-50 will be the last based on Ford’s top-selling Ranger.

That said, the next generation Mazda ute will still be built in Thailand, just at Isuzu Motors’ manufacturing facility rather than Ford’s.

It will be by no means the first or indeed only collaboration between Mazda and Isuzu either. For more than 10 years now, Isuzu have been producing trucks for the Japanese market for Mazda. 

To read the full story in the September 2016 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (August 22) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.

Publishing Information
Magazine Issue:
Page Number:
6
Contact Us
NZ4WD covers a range of topics of interest to the 4WD vehicle buyer & driver. We're dedicated to providing a wide range of information covering vehicle selection, accessories & upgrading, 4WD clubs & sport, adventure & track stories an

Related Articles
Toughest Ranger ever
Ford's mighty new Super-Duty Ranger is coming. With 4.5-tonne towing capacity, 4.5-tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), and whopping 8-tonne Gross Combination Mass (GCM) in a mid-size ute, the Super Duty...
Nissan premieres all-new Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid
When it goes on sale in China later this year, the all-new Frontier Pro will be Nissan’s first-ever plug-in Hybrid and Nissan’s first-ever electrified pickup truck and the design pays homage to...
LDV T60 MAX Plus
The lines for where pick up trucks see the most of their use in New Zealand are very blurred. A staple of the Kiwi lifestyle, utes are as common on city streets as they are on farm tracks, serving as...