Johannesburg, 6th October 2011 – The all-new Mazda BT-50 takes pride of place on the Mazda stand at the Johannesburg International Motor Show, making its debut at this year’s show ahead of its introduction in 2012.
The BT-50 signifies a new direction in the pick-up segment. It was developed as an “Active Lifestyle Vehicle,” and is intended to further extend the appeal of a utility, from traditional business users to a wide range of customers with the adventurous lifestyle.
The new generation of the soon-to-be-launched pickup offers greater space, increased performance, added features and a revolutionary styling direction. “The show gives us an opportunity to showcase our entire range alongside some exciting new developments for Mazda. The new BT-50 will come to market early in 2012 as well as a new Limited Edition version of the Mazda2. We look forward to introducing these developments to the public over the coming months,” says Mazda Marketing Manager, Doreen Mashinini.
Mazda will also exhibit its range of stylish, insightful and spirited cars at the Johannesburg International Motor Show. The essential elements of Mazda’s rich heritage are a passion for innovation and excellence in engineering, a flair for design and a pursuit of spirited driving dynamics. It is when all these elements come together that Mazda products most distinguish themselves.
Mazda aims to challenge the status quo, with a spirit driven by a desire to do things differently. It’s the spirit of the unconventional and one that Mazda is continuing to grow in South Africa. “The Mazda range offers something for everyone and we look forward to interacting with the public as they explore our products,” added Mashinini.
Mazda BT-50
The new Mazda BT-50 will make its South African debut at the Johannesburg International Motor Show ahead of its launch to market early in 2012.
“We are very excited to be unveiling the new BT-50 for the first time to the South African public at the Johannesburg International Motor Show. The revolutionary new design combined with increased interior space, longer wheelbase and impressive power make it the ideal vehicle for those who want all the features and comfort of a passenger car, with the versatility and off road abilities of pickup,” says Mashinini.
To ensure all these elements were met, the all-new Mazda BT-50 was developed under the theme, “Active Lifestyle Vehicle”. The result is a pick-up that offers unique value; it has expressive styling; a comfortable, high quality interior; a smooth ride with the feel of a passenger car; sporty and responsive driving dynamics that reflect Mazda’s DNA; and outstanding environmental and safety performance.
The interior of the All-New Mazda BT-50 has a more sporty and personal feel to complement the dynamic exterior design. The cockpit is designed to wrap around the driver and provide an environment that supports enthusiastic driving. It offers a sporty and responsive driving experience that goes beyond any conventional utility.
The All-New Mazda BT-50 offers more space for passengers and cargo than ever before. By virtue of its new design and a longer wheelbase the new model provides increased space across all interior seating positions.
Front occupants benefit from 16mm more head room and 30mm more shoulder room. Rear-seat passengers also feel the difference with 55mm more leg room while a wider cabin means more space between passengers.
The all-new design incorporates higher sides to the cargo tray which not only add to the striking looks of the All-New BT-50 but vastly increase the maximum cargo volume to 1 214litres, an increase of 178litres over the current double cab model.
When combined with an impressive maximum towing capacity of up to 3 350kg, it’s easy to see why the All-New BT-50 is the perfect partner for any job.
Mazda2 Sharp-Sharp Limited Edition
Mazda introduces a cheeky new edition to its line-up at this year’s Johannesburg International Motor Show. The Mazda2 Sharp-Sharp Limited Edition will only be available in a limited run and is sure to attract plenty of attention with its daring styling. It will go on sale early in 2012.
The Mazda2 Sharp-Sharp comes in two distinct styles; Retro and Mischief. The Retro features sporty body graphics together with custom silver body parts that offer a nostalgic trip through automotive styling cues of the 60’s and 70’s. Available in red with white Retro stripes that run over the front of the car and an additional strip down the side gives it a racy edge.
The second model in the Sharp-Sharp line-up, Mischief is characterised by its bold good looks that will have people doing a double take. Its electric green body graphics make a bold statement against the accompanying grey paint work. It comes fitted with unique colour coded alloy rims, colour coded mirrors and a specially designed rear spoiler.
Both versions feature tinted windows.
A striking extension of the Mazda2 design personality, the Sharp-Sharp Limited Edition models are sure to be snapped up by drivers wanting to own a unique and edgy hatch with only a limited number of South Africans able to purchase the two models.
The Limited Edition models will be available from Mazda dealers nationwide in the new year with pricing to be announced at a later date.
Mazda Product Information:
• Mazda2
• Mazda3
• Mazda3 MPS
• Mazda5
• Mazda6
• Mazda MX-5
• Mazda CX-7
• Mazda BT-50
Mazda2
(On display Mazda2 Hatch 1.5 Individual; 1.3 Active and Mazda2 Sedan 1.5 Individual)
Boasting a dynamic, attention-grabbing design, the Mazda2 is a popular choice with trendy urban buyers, looking for a sassy car that offers the perfect blend of practicality and sporty appeal.
The zippy city car offers ‘Zoom-Zoom’ driving enjoyment on a big scale. This refined body structure adds to the excellent fuel economy, and most importantly it does this without any sacrifice to safety. The suspension has been optimally tuned and the steering and braking systems are of the highest standard. The result is agile but stable handling, a high degree of manoeuvrability and reassuring control.
South African buyers are able to choose between two body styles: hatch or sedan with two engine variants also on offer. The 1.3-litre engine boasts a maximum output of 62kW @ 6000rpm and a torque peak of 121Nm at 3 500rpm, while the 1.5-litre Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) engine offers 76kW of power at 6 000rpm and a maximum torque of 136Nm at 4 000rpm.
Mazda3
(On display Mazda3 Hatch 1.6 Dynamic and Mazda3 Sedan 2.0 Individual)
Exhilarating driving performance, emotional styling and leading edge craftsmanship have made the Mazda3 an established player within the popular C-segment. The range comprises both hatch and sedan body styles with a choice of lively engines on offer.
The modern elegance of the Mazda3 is as evident outside as it inside. The stylish interior is offered in a cloth or leather interior schemes. A host of comfort and convenience features are on offer with certain models equipped with premium features such as leather seats, keyless stop/start, cruise control as well as a Bose premium sound system with an in-dash 6-disc CD Player and MP3 compatibility.
The Mazda3 boasts a five-star Euro NCAP rating making it one of the safest cars in its segment. The overall vehicle safety rating combines scores achieved in four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist.
Mazda3 MPS
One of the most powerful front-wheel drive hot hatches in the market, the Mazda3 MPS has developed a loyal following. The Mazda3 MPS blends the five-door functionality with bolder, more aggressive styling and exhilarating performance to meet the needs of driving enthusiasts with active lifestyles.
The Mazda3 MPS uses Mazda’s 2.3-litre DISI Turbo power plant delivering 190kW at 5 500rpm and 380Nm of torque at 3 000rpm.
The Mazda3 MPS is loaded with all the goodies a driving enthusiast wants, but without anything that would add undue weight. Standard features and equipment include; auto dimming interior mirror; Smart Start and Smart keyless entry; cruise control; dual-zone climate control; electroluminescent gauges; aluminium pedals; Mazda3 MPS specific black/red partial leather seats with matching door and interior trim, MPS scuff plates and a black/red decoration panel.
Mazda5
(On display Mazda5 2.0 Individual)
The Mazda5 features an emotional design that blends elegance with a dynamic spirit. It is the first Mazda model to fully adopt Mazda’s Nagare- “flow” in Japanese design language, which finds inspiration in the beauty of nature.
The Mazda5 has a unique packaging concept, offering three rows of comfortable seating. The wider front row seats improve comfort. Floor height rises up a step in the second row and the third row to ensure a clearer view for occupants in the back. Occupants of the two rows can take advantage of ample legroom to stretch their legs and enjoy a more comfortable driving experience.
The walk-through passageway in the cabin centre allows for movement between the second and third-row seats, even if a child/baby seat is attached to both the right and left seats of the second row.
The ‘6+1’ packaging concept with the versatile ‘+1’ functions includes a walk-through passageway, the hidden Karakuri seventh seat, Karakuri utility box and the diversity of seating arrangements.
The new Mazda5 also features large electric sliding doors on both sides. The doors operate effortlessly even on narrow streets and in confined parking spaces, providing easy access to the second and third-row seats and allowing for easier loading and unloading of luggage.
Mazda6
(On display Mazda6 2.5l Individual Automatic)
Having pioneered the Zoom-Zoom ethos for the brand the Mazda6 is characterized by its dynamic, sporty styling with high levels of refinement and quality. It provides an exclusive experience with a quality feel and superior driving attributes, in an insightful package that delivers roominess and comfort with refined sophisticated styling.
On the inside, the Mazda6 is roomy and inviting. It has high levels of quality with interior forms that are appealing to look at and use. Its cockpit allows the driver to feel one-with-the-car and it has a floating-look instrument panel that gives it a sense of roominess.
Mazda MX-5
(On display MX-5 2.0l)
Since the first generation launched internationally in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 has revolutionised the affordable two-seat roadster market. The MX-5 is available as a Roadster Coupe. The retractable hard top can be fully lowered or raised in 12 seconds flat, without losing an inch of trunk space.
The rear-wheel drive MX-5 sports a front-midship design and offers a lightweight 2.0-litre power plant.
The MX-5 was designed around the concept of ‘Jinba-Ittai’, which embraces the concept of rider and horse as one or in this case, car and driver as one. This concept of synergy was the driving force behind the design of the third-generation MX-5.
Mazda CX-7
(On display CX-7 2.5l)
The Mazda CX-7 crossover sport-utility vehicle represents the adventurous spirit of Mazda. Powerful, stylish and fun to drive, it’s Mazda at its finest. The Mazda CX-7 represents a clean break from the traditional SUV’s currently offered. It is engineered with Mazda’s signature “Soul of a Sports car” and skilfully blends sports car verve with SUV practicality.
The real merit of the ‘sport crossover SUV’ comes from fusing the original values of the SUV with those of a sports car. The SUV values Mazda sought were powerful and tough looks, lots of practicality and ease of driving due to the extensive visibility afforded by the high seat position. Sports car attributes include athletic looks conveying a sense of speed, as well as driving fun.
With the CX-7, Mazda ventures beyond normal utility expectations, the 60/40 split rear seat opens up a large flat cargo area, ideal for loading outdoor gear such as mountain bikes, surfboards, camping gear – no matter what the requirements the Mazda CX-7 can adapt to any lifestyle.
All New Mazda BT-50
(On display All New Mazda BT-50 Accessorized)
The all-new Mazda BT-50 delivers an exciting blend of distinctive design, responsive handling and dynamic performance, packaged together to feature outstanding versatility, comfort and convenience.
Packaged as an Active Lifestyle Vehicle the all-new Mazda BT-50 caters for the adventurous at heart. The exterior styling reiterates this feeling with a bold, go-anywhere appeal. Conversely the luxurious refinement of the cabin interior is almost enough to make you forget that the Mazda BT-50 is a pickup truck. The new interior appointments offer true user-oriented convenience and utility in a modern package that features sporty and athletic styling.
The vehicle on display at this year’s show has been specially accessorized with a bulbar and roll-bar further alluding to the BT-50’s go-anywhere appeal. The Mazda Wildlife area, at the show, showcases a range of off-road accessories that celebrates the 21st anniversary of the Mazda Wildlife Fund. Driven by the spirit of commitment the Mazda Wildlife Fund aims to protect and preserve South Africa’s rich and irreplaceable wildlife heritage.
The Mazda Wildlife Fund currently supports 29 non-government and non-profit organization projects with 30 vehicles, covering every aspect of conservation, research and environmental education. The Fund has been recognized for its contributions by a number of organizations over the years including the Association of Marketers; Birdlife SA; WWF and the American Chamber of Commerce to name just a few.
Mazda Motion
Mazda offers one of the most comprehensive warranty plans in South Africa, giving customers additional peace of mind.
All Mazda passenger and light commercial vehicles come standard with a 4-year/ 120 000km fully comprehensive manufacturers warranty, 3-year/unlimited Roadside Assistance, paint, perforation and the 5-year corrosion warranties are also included.
Mazda offers a 4-year / 60 000km Service Plan on the Mazda2 and Mazda MX-5. A 5-year / 90 000km Service Plan is offered on the Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6 and BT-50; and a 5-year/ 100 000km Service Plan comes standard on the Mazda CX-7.
Customers also have the option to enhance their service experience beyond the offered terms through obtaining Extended Service Plans, Maintenance Plans, Roadside Assistance and Extended Warranty on competitive terms.
