Mazda Australia boss says an Australian-modified BT-50 off-road special was considered "many years ago", but the brand decided against it.
The Mazda BT-50 won't follow its Isuzu D-Max twin – or rival utes from Nissan and Volkswagen – in gaining an Australian-modified off-road special edition.
Mazda Australia said it considered partnering with an external company such as Walkinshaw or Premcar for a modified BT-50 – similar to the Isuzu D-Max Blade, Nissan Navara Warrior and VW Amarok W-Series – "many years ago" but decided against it.
Instead, managing director Vinesh Bhindi said the company will focus on the ute's 100-plus genuine accessories, some of which have been combined to create the second iteration of its range-topping BT-50 Thunder, announced earlier this month.
"That has been considered many years ago to say, 'Is that something we do?" Bhindi said, referring to discussions surrounding a collaboration between Mazda and an external business.
"We arrived at the conclusion that when you package it up with a collaboration, it's narrowing the options for the customer.
"Especially in that segment, we learned very quickly, and you can see it from the data, that customers want to personalise their car much more than what we offer."
The Thunder – which returns after a short hiatus, in a facelifted BT-50 range – builds on the GT grade with a genuine single hoop bull bar, a long-legged steel sports bar, gloss black door handles, a manual tonneau cover, and 'Thunder' decals.
It also adds Lightforce Beast LED driving lights, but the dealer-fitted modifications aren't as extensive as the first BT-50 Thunder sold between 2021 and 2024.
That model also added a different alloy wheel design, bolt-on fender flares, and an electric tonneau cover – instead of the new model's manual tonneau cover – compared with the GT grade it was based on.
"Our direction was to have a bigger, comprehensive list of genuine accessories that the customer can pick and choose to design what's best for them, rather than 'here's a version from a partner', and it's all cosmetics anyway," Bhindi added.
"It doesn't make sense to us. We've got 130 accessories when it comes to BT-50, so it's very comprehensive.
"We only offer what we believe are the main things, but there's a whole aftermarket business out there that helps people personalise. We think that's the right thing. Let's start from the customer."
The Walkinshaw Group currently modifies the BT-50's Isuzu D-Max twin at its Melbourne facility, with the off-road-focused Blade featuring several changes over the LS-U+ variant it is based on, including mechanical revisions.
Compared with a factory-built Isuzu D-Max, the Blade adds a wider wheel track, larger shock absorbers, increased ride height, Goodyear all-terrain tyres, 17-inch alloy wheels, underbody protection, recovery points, side steps, and a sports bar.
Design changes include a modified front-end with an integrated LED light bar, 'Blade' exterior decals, satin-black badging, 'Blade' symbols on the carpet floor mats, headrests, and door sills, individually-numbered build plates, and black plastic wheel arches.
The Isuzu D-Max Blade currently retails for $80,900 before on-road costs – or $78,990 drive-away under a special offer – while the BT-50 Thunder is listed at $78,400 plus on-roads, $4910 more than the GT, making it the dearest Mazda ute ever sold in Australia.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
