ESC confirmed for next Mazda BT-50

MAZDA has become the latest manufacturer to step up to the plate and announce availability of electronic stability control (ESC) for its new light truck range in Australia.

However, the importer has not indicated if the life-saving feature will be standard across the range, optional or only available on selected models of its new-generation BT-50 range due in late 2011.

The ESC announcement brings Mazda into line with Ford, whose new Ranger will be built off the same Australian-developed T6 platform as the Mazda BT-50 and made at the same Thai factory.

Ford announced at the Australian International Motor Show in October that ESC would be available on the new Ranger, along with four-wheel traction control, yaw control and roll-over mitigation.

Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan all have ESC on selected models or an as option in their current HiLux, Triton and Navara ranges, but so far, no one-tonne light truck manufacturer has bitten the bullet and introduced the feature across the range.

That is expected to change in January when Volkswagen introduces its Argentina-made Amarok.

Mazda Australia public relations manager Steve Maciver said details of the roll-out of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) – which is what Mazda calls ESC – would be announced closer to the on-sale launch date in the last quarter of 2010.

ESC is already standard on all Mazda passenger cars but not on the current BT-50.

Mazda says in its announcement that local testing would ensure that the ‘DSC’ system for BT-50 was calibrated for Australia’s many different driving conditions.

“With the All-New BT-50 being capable of carrying a wide variety of loads and traversing road surfaces ranging from mud to bitumen, the DSC system has to be able to react in all circumstances,” it says.

Mazda Australia engineering and compliance manager Wayne Watson said calibrating the BT-50 was a challenge.

“If you consider how the all-new BT-50 is likely to be used, it becomes clear just how many situations have to be taken into account to ensure that the Dynamic Stability Control system meets the needs of each and every driver,” he said.

“Mazda engineers have spent months calibrating and fine tuning the Dynamic Stability Control system to ensure maximum safety and durability.” Mazda Australia marketing manager Alastair Doak said: “DSC systems are much more sophisticated now.

“So Mazda has worked hard to ensure that we offer a new standard of active safety for ute buyers. We’ve already shown that the all-new BT-50 will be more comfortable than ever before.

“So why shouldn’t there also be the expectation that the all-new BT-50 will also offer better safety than ever before?”