28 January 2007
Jeddah: Haji Husein Alireza, the dealer of Mazda, Mercury and Aston Martin in the Kingdom, has unveiled a new pickup truck dubbed the BT-50.
The truck is now available in several versions with 2.2-liter and 2.6-liter gasoline engines, the former available in the standard rear-drive version, while the bigger, stronger unit powers the 4x4 off-roader.
We took the latter for a spin and found it to be smooth-riding (for a truck) with minimal body lean and road noise, as well as being a capable off-roader that adds some of that Zoom-flavor to the experience, with a fully driver-controlled part-time four-wheel-drive system.
We would've liked a diesel (or, even better, a turbo-diesel) option. The 2.6-liter engine is far from underpowered in the off-roader, but a 2.8-3.0-liter V6 option would be right on the money.
Interestingly, as Mazda's press conference progressed on Saturday, a customer came and paid cash for one of the trucks on display, which gives an idea of just how popular the new truck might be.
Jeddah: Haji Husein Alireza, the dealer of Mazda, Mercury and Aston Martin in the Kingdom, has unveiled a new pickup truck dubbed the BT-50.
The truck is now available in several versions with 2.2-liter and 2.6-liter gasoline engines, the former available in the standard rear-drive version, while the bigger, stronger unit powers the 4x4 off-roader.
We took the latter for a spin and found it to be smooth-riding (for a truck) with minimal body lean and road noise, as well as being a capable off-roader that adds some of that Zoom-flavor to the experience, with a fully driver-controlled part-time four-wheel-drive system.
We would've liked a diesel (or, even better, a turbo-diesel) option. The 2.6-liter engine is far from underpowered in the off-roader, but a 2.8-3.0-liter V6 option would be right on the money.
Interestingly, as Mazda's press conference progressed on Saturday, a customer came and paid cash for one of the trucks on display, which gives an idea of just how popular the new truck might be.
By Shady N Janzeir
© The Saudi Gazette 2007
