Mazda B-Series (International)

Infobox Automobile
name=Mazda B-Series (North American)


manufacturer=Mazda
production=1960-present
class=Pickup truck
succcessor=Mazda BT-50 :"See Mazda B-Series (North America) for that market's version"

The Mazda B-series is a 2-door pick-up truck, first manufactured in 1961 by Mazda Motor Corporation. The current model, which was first manufactured in 1999, is the mark 7. The mark 7 can be manufactured with 1 of four body styles and 1 of two engines.

From the first B-Series pickup truck, Mazda has used the engine displacement to determine the name. Thus, the B1500 had a 1.5 L engine, and the new B4000 has a 4.0 L V6. In Japan, Mazda used the Proceed name on its compact pickup trucks, and another line of larger trucks is available called the Mazda Titan. Other names used for this line include Mazda Bravo (Australia), Mazda Bounty (New Zealand), Mazda Magnum / Thunder / Fighter (Thailand), and Mazda Drifter (South Africa).

Mazda's partnership with Ford has resulted in the sharing of this vehicle—the Mazda B-Series and Ford Ranger are essentially the same. In Australia and New Zealand, since the 1970s, the Ford Courier name is also used and the line continues today.

However, it should be borne in mind that the Mazda B-Series and Ford Ranger twins found inside North America are unrelated to the ones sold elsewhere. These are engineered by Mazda, whereas the North American models are developed by Ford. See Mazda B-Series for more information on the variations on the B-Series line.

1961

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 1
B1500
production=1961-1964


body_style=2-door truck
layout=FR layout
engine=1.5 L I4
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan

The Mazda B-Series truck was introduced in Japan in August 1961 as the B1500/Proceed. It had a 1484 cc OHV water-cooled engine with wet sleeve cylinders which produced about Convert|59|hp|kW|0|abbr=on. It presaged many of the compact pickups of today.

1966

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 2
B1500
production=1965-1971
body_style=2-door truck
layout=FR layout
engine=1.5 L I4
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan

The 1966 B1500/Proceed continued with the same 1484 cc OHV I4, with minor changes in the cylinder head/valves and the use of a downdraft carburetor instead of a sidedraft unit as used on the 1961 to 1965 models. The UA engine now produced Convert|73|hp|kW|0|abbr=on. The chassis, now called the BUD61, had a major facelift and changed to four headlights. It looked very similar in appearance to the B1600 that succeeded it in 1971.

1972

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 3
B1600, B1800
production=1972–1979
body_style=2-door truck
layout=FR layout
engine=1.6 L I4
1.8 L "1800" I4
related=Mazda REPU
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan

The updated B-Series was launched in 1972 as the B1600. The engine was enlarged to 1.8 L for 1977's B1800.

Engines:
* 1972-1976 - 1.6 L (1586 cc) I4
* 1977-1979 - 1.8 L (1796 cc) "1800" I4

1978

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 4
B2000, B2200, Karere


production=1978–1985
engine=2.0 L "F/MA" I4
2.0 L "FE" I4
2.2 L I4
body_style=2-door truck
related=Ford Courier
layout=FR layout
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan

The 1978 B2000 used a 2.0 L F/MA engine. The 2.2 L B2200 joined this truck in 1982.

Engines:
* 1978-1984 - 2.0 L (1970 cc) "F/MA" I4
* 1985 - 2.0 L (1998 cc) "FE" I4
* 1982-1985 - 2.2 L (2209 cc) "F2 I4

1985

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 5
B2000, B2200, B2600
production=1986–1993
body_style=2-door truck
layout=Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
engine=2.0 L "FE" I4
2.2 L "F2" I4
2.6 L "G54B" I4
2.6 L "G6" I4
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan
transmission=5-speed manual
4-speed automatic
wheelbase= Auto in|108.7|0
Auto in|117.5|0
Auto in|109.3|0
Auto in|118.1|0
length= Auto in|182.7|0
Auto in|198.8|0
width= Auto in|65.7|0
Auto in|67.1|0
height= Auto in|61.8|0
Auto in|61.6|0
Auto in|66.1|0
Auto in|65.9|0
related= Mazda Proceed Marvie

A new Proceed/B-Series was introduced in 1985 and was produced until 1991. A 4-speed automatic transmission was the primary choice, with a 5-speed manual transmission through 1989. Part-time four wheel drive was another option. The 2.6 L Mitsubishi-powered B2600 was introduced in 1986. 1987 saw the Mazda I4 enlarged to 2.2 L in the B2200, with the smaller engine phased out after that year. The Mitsubishi engine was gone for 1988, replaced by a new family of Mazda powerplants. A SUV/RV version of this generation was made as the Proceed Marvie

Engine options:
* B2000
** 1985-1986 - 2.0 L (1998 cc) "FE" I4
* B2200
** 1987-1991 - 2.2 L (2209 cc) "F2" I4, Convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on
* B2600
** 1986-1988 - 2.6 L (2555 cc) "G54B" I4, Convert|102|hp|kW|0|abbr=on
** 1988-1991 - 2.6 L (2606 cc) "G6" I4, Convert|121|hp|kW|0|abbr=on

1992

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 6
B2200, B2600
production=1993–1999
layout=Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan
body_style=2-door truck
4-door truck
2-door extended cab
engine=2.2 L I4
2.6L I4
related=Mazda Proceed Marvie

The 1992 Proceed/B-Series was updated again and continued to the end of the decade in most countries, including Japan. The Proceed Marvie continued through this generation.

Engine options:
* B2200
** 1992–1999 - 2.2 L (2184 cc) "F2" I4, Convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on
* B2600
** 1992–1999 - 2.6 L (2606 cc) "G6" I4, Convert|121|hp|kW|0|abbr=on

1998

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Mark 7
B2200, B2600, Bravo


production=1999-present
layout=Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
assembly=Hiroshima, Japan
body_style=2-door truck
4-door truck
2-door extended cab
4-door 'Freestyle' with rear suicide doors
engine=2.2 L I4
2.6L I4
related=Ford Ranger
Ford Courier

For the 1998 model year, Mazda renewed its own B-Series for international markets. This model was also sold as the Ford Ranger in Europe and Asia, and the Ford Courier in Australia and New Zealand. Production began that year at the AutoAlliance Thailand and Ford Motor Company Philippines factories. CKD versions are also assembled in South Africa and Ecuador.

The truck is sold in more than 130 countries under a variety of names. Along with the Fighter and Ranger badges in Southeast Asia, it was sold as the Mazda Bounty and Ford Courier in New Zealand, Mazda Bravo in Australia, and Mazda Drifter in South Africa.

In some countries, the Mazda Fighter , Mazda Bravo name is used for this line.

Latin America:

The B2600/B2200 sold in Venezuela and other Latin American countries nearby were assembled in Colombia by "Compañia Colombiana Automotriz S.A (C.C.A.)".

They had a 2.6 L straight-4 4x4 model and a entry level model with a 2.2 L straight-4 4x2.

In 2004 they had a total make-over, the exterior/parts between Ford ranger and Mazda B-series cease to have in common.

2002

In 2002, a 'Freestyle' model became available on this platform, with rear "suicide doors". Revisions to the rest of the range came in 2002 and 2004. These models are totally unrelated to the Mazda B-series and Ford Ranger models in North America.

2003

An SUV version, the Ford Everest, shares more than 30% of its components with the Fighter/Ranger.

2006

The new version BT-50 is unveiled at the Bangkok Motor Show.