An eight-strong line-up of 2009 MX-5's is now available at dealers, says Mazda, including the new PowerShift six-speed sequential auto driven by PH here.
Don't buy a car, buy a lifestyle..?
The MX-5 celebrates its 20th birthday this year (it was introduced in Japan and the US in 1989 although the European - and British - 20th anniversary is in February 2010), and to celebrate there's a range of upgrades to the iconic roadster's style and spec'.
Styling revisions for the 2009 MX-5 include a new Mazda family grille, new head- and tail-lights, restyled bumpers and more prominent sills.
The folding metal hard-top Coupe model has been further differentiated from its canvas-roofed sibling with chrome-effect trim around the grille, headlamps and door handles.
Inside the revisions are limited to re-jigging the cupholders and door pockets, new faces for the instruments and a brushed aluminium panel running the length of the dashboard.
Refinement is apparently improved with stiffer door modules, and extra sound-deadening, while the Bose stereo has been upgraded and now features seven speakers.
There's a choice of four powertrains, says Mazda – the 126ps 1.8i; the higher-revving 160ps 2.0i with five-speed gearbox; the 160ps 2.0i with a revised six-speed manual gearbox; and the new 160ps 2.0i ‘PowerShift’ six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full-auto mode.
Prices for the latest MX-5 line-up run from £16,345 to £21,695 on the road. It's interesting to note that - according to our back copy of the Autocar road test - the MX-5 cost £14,249 at its UK launch in 1990.
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