Palawan’s biodiversity is unlike any other in the Philippines; it is home to many wildlife species endemic only to this place. Palawan is one of the largest islands in the region and is 5th largest in PH. Aside from its world-famous beaches and aquatic life, it is home to many exotic land based wildlife thanks to its abundant jungle mountains. Mazda Philippines raises awareness of a critically endangered species only found in the islands of Palawan with the introduction of the BT-50 4×4 Pangolin pickup truck.
The Philippine pangolin or Palawan pangolin is known locally as “balintong” which finds the forests and surrounding grasslands as its primary home. This species is highly priced and unfortunately, listed as one of the most trafficked animal for its meat and scales that serve as an armor for its tender body. It is listed by ICUN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as “critically endangered”.
The BT-50 4×4 Pangolin pickup truck is fitted with 17-inch ROTA alloy wheels, proudly locally manufactured world class alloy wheels. Perhaps it is a nod to the heavily armored but sure-footed Pangolin, these the alloy wheels makes sure it can handle all the punishment from the pickup truck’s all-terrain 4×4 capabilities. This new wheel design complements the rugged nature of the BT-50 and meets all the global safety and manufacturing standards, including that of the Japan Light Wheel Automotive Wheel Testing Council (JWTC). This special edition pickup comes with a matching fender flare extensions, which adds to a wider and more powerful stance for the BT-50 4×4 Pangolin.
With an 800mm water wading depth, the highly capable pickup is also fitted with a functional and lightweight aluminum roof rack in black matte finish, giving that added cargo capacity which can load up to 1,086 kilograms thanks to its reinforced cargo bed. Powering this pickup is a 3.2-liter 5-cylinder common-rail turbo diesel engine, it has the highest diesel engine displacement available in the pickup market today. It is rated at 200PS of power and 470Nm of torque. Inside, these pickups are equipped with a 7-inch Touch Screen JVC Infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring capability, and steering wheel-mounted controls and comes with black leather seats.
“The BT-50 Pangolin is Mazda Philippines’ way to acknowledge our important role in preserving the delicate balance of our environment as we go about our daily lives,” shares Mazda Philippines president and CEO Steven Tan.
“The Philippine Pangolin is an endemic and critically endangered species that deserves our attention and concern. Like the BT-50, it is a reserved, yet highly proficient, hard worker. That is why together with Katala Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit Philippine NGO that is active in protecting and conserving threatened endemic wildlife, we at Mazda Philippines will make use of the enduring nature of the BT-50 to promote awareness and inspire conservation of one the Philippines’ and the world’s most critically endangered mammals.”
To add further credence to its newfound advocacy, Mazda Philippines will lend a Mazda BT-50 4×4 Pangolin to the Katala Foundation for one year. With Mazda’s support, the NGO will make use of the pickup truck to promote its wildlife protection advocacies, and perform its preservation and monitoring duties during this time.
“What an appropriate choice Mazda made to give the much needed attention that the Palawan Pangolin deserves,” says Katala Foundation’s Program Director, Indira Lacerna-Widmann. “We hope that with this vehicle, we will have the right direction to achieve the conservation status of this species. It’s an honor for us. The passion that we work for this species—and for other species we are working on—is carried also in the passion for this vehicle.”
The new BT-50 Pangolin is available in six colors: Cool White, Titanium Flash, True Red, Jet Black, Aluminum Metallic, and Deep Crystal Blue and it is being offered at a special introductory price is P1,400,000, a reduction of P150,000 from the regular BT50 4×4 SRP of P1,550,000.
Bermaz Auto Philippines, Inc. (Mazda Philippines) has 19 dealerships nationwide and the BT50 4×4 Pangolin also comes with Mazda 5-Year Free Service Plan that includes 10 Periodic Maintenance Service schedules over 5 years, or 100,000 kilometers, whichever occurs first.
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