Wednesday 11th July 2012

Mazda MX-5 gets refresh

Driveline tweaks and a new nose for the popular roadster

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An all-new Mazda MX-5 is rapidly approaching, but Mazda hasn't quite finished with the current generation of everybody's favourite roadster - a refreshed version is coming to the UK later this year.

Changes for the latest MX-5 aren't massive, but it should be faster, fresher and safer than before.

Visual changes include a more aggressive front bumper (one that also improves aero performance), while dolphin Grey Mica has been added to the list of paint options.

This isn't just a refreshed bumper, though. Mazda has actually done some work under the bonnet, with a modified throttle response on manual models helping to increase the linearity of acceleration feel. The brakes, meanwhile, have been tweaked with the vacuum brake booster being revised to 'optimise brake return control'.

The safety bit comes in the form of a new 'active' bonnet, which automatically raises the trailing edge of the bonnet if a pedestrian impact is detected. This action provides immediate space under the bonnet to absorb impact energy and soften the blow.

Sure, it's not quite as sexy as the MX-5 GT road car concept that Mazda unveiled in June, but it's good to see Mazda is still putting the effort in even as the little roadster's current iteration nears the end of its life...

[BartSimpson]

How many in total have been made now?

[JonnyFive]

When are they planning the release of this?

[Pig Skill]

Would be good if the pictures showed what it looked like. The top one is grainy, the middle looks like its been taken by Bear Grylls as he jumps out of a helicopter and the last one looks to have been taken a daybreak

[Ozzie Osmond]

"An all-new Mazda MX-5 is rapidly approaching"

Thank goodness for that. This one has been done to death, evolving into a bloated impersonation of the pure and light original.

[Vocal Minority]

BartSimpson said:

How many in total have been made now?

8.7 bijillion


or form another source...the 900,000th was made in Feb 11. So probably around 910-920k by now.

Edited by Vocal Minority on Wednesday 11th July 12:59

[Riggers]

Pig Skill said:

Would be good if the pictures showed what it looked like. The top one is grainy, the middle looks like its been taken by Bear Grylls as he jumps out of a helicopter and the last one looks to have been taken a daybreak

Well, quite. But I suppose the answer is 'like every other Mk3 MX-5, only with a slightly pointier grille and... er... that's it...'

[ambuletz]

They should offer the yellow one over here in my opinion.

[Pig Skill]

ambuletz said:

They should offer the yellow one over here in my opinion.

That'll be a big hit with the mincers

[GC8]

Im probably in a minority here, but I still prefer the NB.

[zcacogp]

"Changes for the latest MX-5 aren't massive, but the latest MX-5 should be faster, fresher and safer than what has gone before."

Maybe slightly outside the remit of the grammar police, but that's a singularly clumsy, ugly sentence.


Oli.

[SimonSaid]

I guess I'm the only one who likes this then! Subtle tweaks have made it even nicer, what a well-proportioned and tasteful roadster body. Particularly brave to give it such big wheel arches, and flaired too. It really does need a bigger engine to justify the muscular shape, but then it wouldn't really be an MX5 I suppose.

So, I love it, but also totally agree with the commenter above who said it was bloated. As an MX5, too big. But as a car, without prejudice, it's gorgeous.

[Prof Prolapse]

The fact Mazda have decided that "Grey" is a fun colour sums it up to me.

[new_bloke]

GC8 said:

Im probably in a minority here, but I still prefer the NB.

I used to own an NB, and now have an NC roadster coupe. The NB was much purer to drive, with better feel to the steering and pedals that were beautifully positioned for a bit of heel and toe action. The interior was nasty (mine was a early model - 1999) and cheap feeling, and it was very noisy, roof up, and down. The NC on the other hand, feels like a much more 'grown-up' car (with both the positive and negative connotations that brings). The interior is *much* better and the noise levels are much more acceptable. On the down side, the steering has been robbed of a great deal of feel, and the engine (2.0 in my case) makes the most anodyne noise imaginable. On bad tyres, the handling was dreadful, but a full set of Toyo TR1 has sorted this out. The car feels overall better made than the NB did, which eventually succumbed to the tin-worm in the sills that is so common with that model.
The folding hard-top on the NC is great - bringing a great deal of practicality to the car, and it is rather more weather proof than my NB was.
Both great cars, but very different - each with plusses and minuses...

[GTEYE]

As a previous owner of an early Mk3, sadly it doesn't really do it for me any more.

Great and nimble handling, but the engines are some way off the pace now for emissions, and build quality whilst well made, but of slightly crummy materials.

Roll on the proper new MX-5...

[GC8]

Acknowledged.

[JulianCharity]

Really looking forward to the new one - skyactiv technology and around 1000kg should make a it a blast!

[Riggers]

zcacogp said:

"Changes for the latest MX-5 aren't massive, but the latest MX-5 should be faster, fresher and safer than what has gone before."

Maybe slightly outside the remit of the grammar police, but that's a singularly clumsy, ugly sentence.


Oli.

Syntax police, maybe? Agreed, and changed

[Matt UK]

GC8 said:

Im probably in a minority here, but I still prefer the NB.

I prefer the NB to the NC, but like the NA most

[Twincam16]

GTEYE said:

As a previous owner of an early Mk3, sadly it doesn't really do it for me any more.

Great and nimble handling, but the engines are some way off the pace now for emissions, and build quality whilst well made, but of slightly crummy materials.

Roll on the proper new MX-5...

...and with it, the new Alfa Spider.

[JonnyFive]

Twincam16 said:

...and with it, the new Alfa Spider.

That'll probably be better looking, and have a better engine to go with the Mazda chassis.. Will be a very good product.