Mazda Sketches All-New BT-50 Compact Pickup Truck, Also Previews New Ford Ranger


What you see pictured here is a teaser rendering of the all-new Mazda BT-50 compact pickup truck that will make its world premiere on Friday October 15 at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The Japanese carmaker claims the exterior design of its next generation pickup truck will be amongst its strong points offering "a road presence that turns heads and makes it instantly recognizable as a Mazda".

No other details were given about the new BT-50, which is being developed in partnership with Ford. The 2011 Mazda BT-50 and its 2011 Ford Ranger sister model, which has not yet been revealed, will be built at a joint facility in Thailand.

The two companies recently announced plans to invest US$350 million in the AutoAlliance (AAT) plant in Thailand to support the production of both compact pickup trucks, which are scheduled to be launched globally in the middle of 2011.