As always, a new Ranger will be accompanied by a new Mazda BT-50 (sometimes referred to as the Fighter). The two trucks are nearly identical beneath the different sheetmetal, tub and interior, which by the way Mazda’s designers have decided to take a completely different approach compared to Ford’s straight and macho lines.
The new Mazda BT-50 was apparently inspired by a picture of a lion, which gave the truck’s chief designer Ryo Yanagisawa the impression of a “magnificent predator, with his muscles all bunching up as though he was about to pounce on his prey”. I think the front looks OK but the rear is kind of off.
The interior looks quite car-like and I wouldn’t be surprised if you showed me the interior shot above and told me it came from a regular Mazda passenger sedan.
Mazda hasn’t given out much details on what’s going into the engine bay but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s pretty much the same 2.2 diesel, 3.2 diesel and 2.5 petrol engines that are going into the new 2011 Ranger.
The MX-5 Cup, targeted at racers, has been put on a diet and gotten a little juiced; it now weighs under 2,600 lbs and its engine puts out 195 horses. For more on the Cup, scroll on down for the specs.
The other MX-5 is an anniversary model called the Super20 in celebration of the car's 20th American anniversary. The hardtop Super20 gets its fenders expanded around the 16-inch Enkeis, a stripped-down interior with roll-bar and suede (those two go hand-in-hand), and a supercharged Cosworth mill. Other mods include an improved brake system (lines, rotors, pads, ducts) and performance-oriented suspension tuning (hollow sway bars, shock tower brace, Mazdaspeed coilovers).
Mazda North America design director says, "The versatility of Mazda vehicles is extraordinary. With just minor modifications to a stock Mazda, it can be ready for the track or a car show. Our SEMA cars demonstrate this ability; taking a vehicle from the dealership and making it a truly unique piece."