Next Mazda BT-50 pickup promises Kodo design, Isuzu base

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Mazda will try to retain its stylistic identity but graft it onto D-Max mechanicals

Sounds like Mazda wants a piece of the plush-feeling, premium-looking pickup segment with the next iteration of its BT-50 model. It will follow in the footsteps of the the Mercedes X-Class, VW Amaroq and Renault Alaskan in trying to portray a more upmarket image in the segment.

Mazda will set about doing this based on the Isuzu D-Max pickup whose sheetmetal it will shape according to its own stylistic needs – the current BT-50 shares its underpinnings with the Ford Ranger (pictured). According to Australia’s Wheels, the new pickup will use Kodo design which it will try to give a more rugged twist to in order to reflect buyer preferences in the segment.

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An easy task it certainly isn’t, and the source quotes Ikuo Maeda, Mazda’s managing executive director and head of design to back this up. He said “It is a challenge. We have to focus on creating a beautiful form but adding tougher elements to make it manly.”

Now this is as far as the information currently goes, but I went ahead and tried to imagine what Mazda styling cues would look like grafted onto an Isuzu D-Max. That resulted in the quick rendering you see here, and I can certainly start to see the appeal of Kodo-imbued pickup, although by the time the new BT-50 debuts, the styling will have evolved further. But as of right now this is your best bet to get a rough idea of what the next BT-50 may look like.

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Check out more renderings