Mazda has confirmed that its updated MX-5 will go on sale this September, priced from £18,995 in soft top form and £22,595 in folding tin-top RF guise.
As we previously reported, there's a boost in power for the 2.0-litre petrol engine that comes alongside a raised rev limit and - finally -a steering wheel that can be adjusted for reach as well as rake.
As you might expect, the idea is to make what is already a great driver's car that little bit punchier. Rest assured we'll be getting behind the wheel of a new car later this month, so you won't have to wait for the PH verdict...
ORIGINAL STORY - 30.07.18
Remember the long list of engine upgrades that were announced for the Mazda MX-5 last month? Well, surprise surprise, they’re also headed to the MX-5’s tin-top wearing brother, the MX-5 RF. That means the electric folding roof variant (you know, the one with a sleek coupé silhouette) will be sold with a Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre producing 184hp and 151lb ft, gains of 26hp and 4lb ft respectively.
This is no simple ECU remap jobbie, either. Mazda's engineers have extracted the boost in performance via a sizeabe list of mechanical upgrades, including new pistons and conrods that are lighter by 27g and 41g respectively. The engine can now spin at up to 7,500rpm (it was 6,800rpm before) duly enhancing one of the car’s biggest USPs - particularly when compared to the turbocharged alternatives.
But there’s more. The 2.0-litre motor’s throttle body is now 28% wider and the exhaust valve diameter is larger as well, so the engine can inhale and exhale faster with deeper breaths. Throw in a new low inertia dual mass flywheel and the finished product will provide swifter responses to the movement of your right foot. Music to our ears.
On the subject of music, the car gets a new exhaust system to project a more sporting tone. Combine this with the other improvements and the 2.0-litre car can hit 62mph in 7.0sec, three tenths better than before. This also places the 1095kg MX-5 RF six-tenths ahead of the Toyota GT86.
Along with the upgraded 2.0-litre engine, Mazda’s smaller 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine also gets some improvements in the RF, all of which mirror those applied to the soft-top MX-5. The entry-level motor receives the larger throttle body and its own lighter pistons, but power and torque are almost unaffected, with the outputs now 132hp and 112lb ft (gains of 1hp and 1lb ft).
Elsewhere in the 2019 MX-5 RF, the steering wheel has been given reach adjustment for the first time to allow 30mm of horizontal movement, on top of the existing rake adjustability. This should substantially boost the car’s appeal for taller drivers who until now had to adopt an 'arms straight ahead' position to provide enough room for their legs.
Mazda has also tweaked the car’s rear suspension with more forgiving rubber bushes, while there’s a longer list of driver assist technology, including automatic emergency braking for both forward and reverse gears, a reversing camera, a driver attention monitor and traffic sign recognition.
We shouldn't have long to wait before this enhanced RF goes on sale because the soft-top is due out next month. PH is awaiting a response from Mazda UK to confirm exactly when the car will go on sale and for how much. We're expecting a small increase over the outgoing car’s £22,495 starting figure, but with all of those new goodies included, that sounds fair to us.
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