Retrofittable premium infotainment system revealed for Mazda BT-50
New Alpine-developed 11-inch head unit and premium sound system detailed for Mazda dual-cab utesA new dealer-fit premium infotainment package has been announced for the upper half of the Mazda BT-50 ute range, and it can not only be ordered for new dual-cab utes but also retro-fitted to existing vehicles.
Dubbed the BT-50 Premium Infotainment Upgrade accessory package, the bundle comprises a new 11-inch WXGA touch-screen head unit ($3447 fitted) and an uprated speaker set ($1485 fitted) to replace the factory-fitted 9.0-inch Isuzu interface and eight-speaker sound system.
The head unit was developed by Alpine Electronics and has the Tidal Hi-Resolution audio streaming app built-in, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and HEMA off-road navigation compatibility.
The new sound system, meantime, swaps out the front door speakers for 300W Hi-Res-grade 6x9 drivers, complemented by two extra Hi-Fi Audio Certified tweeters housed within two specially designed panels at the base of the A-pillars, as well as an inbuilt Class D amp and BT-50-specific crossover unit.
Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak said the upgraded infotainment system was “ideal for drivers who enjoy high-quality car audio” and “an ideal companion for longer trips on the open road”.
The announcement comes mere weeks after the 2024 Mazda BT-50 missed out on the equivalent Isuzu D-MAX’s new-generation tech highlights, including an all-new infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.
While it’s dealer-fitted, the new system is still covered by the Japanese brand’s five-year factory warranty as a Mazda Genuine Accessory, similar to a bullbar, tow bar or roller cover.
Compatible BT-50 variants comprise the XTR cab/chassis, XTR pick-up, XTR LE, GT pick-up, SP and Thunder.
It will be interesting to see how many other ways Mazda and Isuzu diverge on the development and roll-out of the BT-50 and its D-MAX twin, and the genuine accessories offered for each ute.
The first major change was the release of several Old Man Emu suspension kits as genuine accessories for the BT-50, which were followed more recently by the D-MAX’s aforementioned tech upgrade as part of its first major facelift.
Related: Upgraded 2024 Mazda BT-50 arrives
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Related: 2023 Mazda BT-50 gets high-lift suspension upgrades
Related: Mazda BT-50 LE 2023 Review
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