We like the oh-so-easy-folding ragtop on the third-generation Mazda MX-5 so much that we’re left scratching our heads that the Japanese automaker would go to the trouble of engineering an optional folding-hardtop convertible for the 2007 model.

Yes, folding hardtops offer extra security from theft and better protection from the weather, and the trick motorized lids are all the rage right now in two- and four-seat cars. But is the added weight of a folding top and its motors and cables what you want in a lightweight roadster? How much complexity and cost does the roof add to Mazda’s value roadster?

Mazda will answer those questions soon, once the MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top makes its global debut July 18 at the 2006 British International Motor Show in London. The car goes on sale in August or September in the U.S.

Mazda notes that a removable hardtop has been an option on the MX-5 since its launch in 1990, with a cloth convertible top standard. The 2006 MX-5 was launched late last year amid an increasingly competitive segment that now includes affordable roadster entries from General Motors (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky). Historically, retractable hardtops have been offered on more expensive models, however several affordable four-seat cars with folding hardtops have recently arrived on the market.
OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM MAZDA
MAZDA TO EXHIBIT NEW MAZDA MX-5 MIATA WITH POWER RETRACTABLE HARD TOP AT THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

IRVINE, Calif. — Mazda Motor Corporation will make the global debut of the Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hard Top at the 2006 British International Motor Show in London, England. Since its launch in 1990, and with subsequent generations launched in 1999 and 2006, MX-5 Miata has always been available with an optional removable hardtop, but this is the first time the car will be available with a power-operated retractable hard top.

The British International Motor Show will be held in London from Tuesday, July 18, through Sunday, July 30, 2006.

Featuring a new, unique power retractable hard top roof, this is an all-new addition to the third-generation Mazda MX-5 which launched in late 2005 as a 2006 model. This new Mazda MX-5 provides a unified sense of driving exhilaration, ready to spread the fun of lightweight sports cars in diverse and distinct new ways, regardless of the weather.

“Jinba Ittai”—or ’rider and horse as one’ is the essence of Mazda MX-5, the expression reflecting the emotional connection between a horse and rider.

Along with the global debut of the MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top, the Mazda Sassou and Kabura concept vehicles will also be shown.

Mazda will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 11:45 a.m. (British Summer Time).

Mazda MX-5 with a power retractable hard top roof will be known by different names around the world:

North America: Mazda MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top

Europe: Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe

Japan: Mazda Roadster Power Retractable Hard Top

Mazda today announced the 2007 Mazda MX-5 Power Retractable Hard Top will sell for $24,350.

It has been released that Mazda is working on a Mazdaspeed version of its MX-5 for 2008. Sources say the engine will be the same 2.3 liter turbo four found in the new Mazdaspeed3, although it will be slightly detuned under the hood of the MX-5. The power loss can be chalked up to packaging issues as the MX-5 will require a smalled radiator and intercooler to make sure everything fits.

The latest Mazda MX-5 can truly be described as an all-weather, all-year sports car with its enhanced heating and air-conditioning systems. Now, to celebrate its continuing status as ‘Britain’s favourite sports car brand’ this winter, Mazda is introducing a pair of special edition ‘Niseko’ models, named after Japan’s most prestigious skiing resort.

As the latest edition of the world’s best selling roadster, the rear-wheel drive Mazda MX-5 Niseko boasts unrivalled handling and driving dynamics, and represents extremely competitive value for money. Available from £17,995 on-the-road, the Niseko offers up to £2,000 worth of additional or exclusive extras over and above the equivalent standard models.

On sale from 1 January 2008, both the ‘entry-level’ 1.8i Niseko soft-top (126ps, five-speed) and the £19,995 2.0i Niseko roadster coupe (160ps, six-speed) are available in an exclusive new bespoke colour ‘Icy Blue’ metallic, as well as Sunlight Silver metallic – for no additional charge.

“Mazda MX-5 customers have traditionally given a warm welcome to each new ‘special edition’ model introduced during our roadster’s 18 year history,” commented Mark Cameron, Mazda UK marketing director. “Now, for the first time with the Niseko, we are offering a ‘special’ model in both soft-top and roadster coupe forms and with co-ordinated brown leather seats and interior trim. Personally, I think the new ‘Icy Blue’ colour is going to appeal particularly to women buyers, although since launch the third generation Mazda MX-5 has achieved a 50/50, male/female sales mix as predicted.

“Traditionally, MX-5 buyers spend more on accessories and do more to individualise their cars, than other Mazda owners. Although the majority of those buyers use their MX-5s all-year-round, the peak ordering period is from February through to May, so the introduction of Niseko in January will boost sales at the back end of winter and give us a head-start for a spring sales boom,” added Cameron.

Special exterior features of the Mazda MX-5 Niseko include: unique design 17-inch alloy wheels, unique body-colour finish for the style bar trim, front fog lamps, Chrome Pack (door handles and headlamp bezels, and surrounds for the side-repeaters, front grille and fog lamps) and special edition ‘Niseko’ badging on each front wing, plus a unique dark brown premium cloth for the fabric roof (soft-top only).

Inside, both Niseko models feature unique dark brown heated leather seats with co-ordinated door trim and icy blue stitching, plus dark brown leather steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake. They are also equipped with a dark-silver dash panel, stainless-steel scuff plates and Niseko-branded luxury interior mats, with a suspension strut tower bracing bar beneath the bonnet.

As well as adding the special Niseko features, the generous standard equipment of the donor vehicles ensures that buyers can enjoy: driver’s seat height adjustment, electric windows, central locking, MP3-compatible radio/single CD player with six-speaker audio system, climate control air-conditioning, stainless-steel scuff plates, twin chrome exhaust tail pipes and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser.

Niseko owners will also enjoy a degree of exclusivity as production of this latest Mazda MX-5 model will be restricted. Just 240 examples of the Mazda MX-5 1.8i Niseko soft-top and 560 units of the MX-5 2.0i Niseko roadster coupe will be made available in the UK.

Despite all of the additional specification, both Mazda MX-5 Niseko special editions remain in the same insurance groups as their standard counterparts – 11E (1.8i) and 13E (2.0i).

No matter how much American men feel emasculated by the Mazda MX-5, the fact remains that it is a pretty tight car. The 2007 model of the MX-5 was named one of the 10 Best by Car and Driver, Roadster of the Year by Top Gear, and Most Fun to Drive by Consumer Reports. A car that many attribute as single-handedly making the affordable roadster popular again, the MX-5 is lauded worldwide.

But what if you don't like convertibles?

As it turns out, Japanese publication Best Car is reporting that Mazda may be working on a coupe version of their roadster using the current generation's NC platform. This news comes to us by way of Autoblog.com. Mazda experimented with the idea back in 2003 when they distributed a limited edition MX-5 Coupe only in Japan. Not to be confused with the retractable hard-top version of the car, the straight coupe model was very popular at the end of the MX-5 NB platform product cycle.

Betting that Mazda believes anticipation for such a vehicle would out-weigh a "strike while the hammer is hot" philosophy, Best Car released an artist's rendering of a prospective MX-5 coupe which they say could be launched in 2010. 2010 represents the twilight period for the current NC generation. As Auto-Otaku points out, this 200hp coupe would be immensely appreciated. A sporty, rear-wheel-drive vehicle that is both lightweight and reasonably priced would surely maintain our attention.

The Best-Handling Miata You'll Never Buy

By Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing
Date posted: 03-07-2008


You're looking at the rarest Miata ever sold, the 2007 Mazda MX-5 with the MS-R option. The number of MX-5s delivered with the MS-R option is small enough to count on one hand — even by someone on medical leave from a sawmill.

This also happens to be the best-handling MX-5 Miata ever offered by Mazda North America. And that's saying a lot.

So why is the 2007 Mazda MX-5 MS-R so scarce? First, it is expensive. The MS-R option costs a whopping $7,600 because it's essentially a kit of specialty parts installed before delivery by Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development, Mazda North America's factory outlet for high-performance accessories. What's more, the MS-R package can only be paired with the MX-5 SV, a base model with a five-speed manual transmission, roll-up windows and no air-conditioning.

It also might be pricey because this track-optimized package could be purchased only by someone with demonstrated intent to compete in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Showroom Stock "B" (SSB) road racing class or C-stock autocross. (Track days didn't count; you had to race it.)

Yet the biggest reason why the 2007 Mazda MX-5 MS-R will remain rare is because the MS-R option is dead for 2008. Well, sort of.

Warning: History Content Ahead
Showroom Stock is an SCCA road-racing category originally intended for standard unmodified cars available to the general public. When the first-generation MX-5 Miata raced in this category, no modifications were permitted except the fitment of a safety roll cage and stickier DOT-approved tires. Cars even had to run factory wheel alignment settings.

The 1995 Dodge Neon ACR (American Club Racing) represented the "jump the shark" moment for showroom stock racing, as it came into being with race-specific suspension tuning, reinforced front hubs, bespoke four-wheel disc brakes, a special 5th-gear ratio, special final-drive ratio and a deactivated speed limiter, plus camber and wheel alignment specifications incompatible with street use.

The Neon ACR was a factory-tuned racecar let loose in a category intended for unmodified street cars. After the Neon ACR began to dominate showroom stock, a host of cars were introduced with so-called "trunk kits" — special packages of aftermarket racing hardware intended to equalize the performance.

Such trunk kits had fallen out of favor when the 2007 Pontiac Solstice was introduced to SCCA competition, so GM Performance Division created a track-optimized combination of parts that only a racer would love (or buy) and gave it an option code called Z0K. It worked. The Pontiac Solstice Z0K cleaned up and took the 2006 SCCA national championship, while the brand-new second-generation Mazda MX-5 got creamed. So Mazda decided to do something about it.

1g Miata Concept Is Born
After the 2006 championships were history, Mazda approached the SCCA about creating a similar package to even things up, and the MS-R concept was born. Mazdaspeed's skunkworks in Irvine, California, was given the task of tuning the suspension and making the MS-R competitive.

Mechanically, the 2007 MX-5 Miata MS-R package is a collection of track-optimized chassis parts known internally as the "1g" Miata. One lateral g of cornering grip isn't necessarily what it takes to win races, but it sure sounds cool.

The 1g Miata's most visible difference from the street version comes courtesy of shorter, stiffer springs that reduce the ride height by 1.2 inches. Shorter, revised bump stops for the dampers give the lowered suspension room to breathe. Koni dampers with more aggressive damping designed for track use help keep everything in control.

Much thicker stabilizer bars provide a massive increase in roll stiffness, about 500 percent in front and 700 percent out back. (Yes, you read that right.)

In order to handle that extra roll stiffness, extensive chassis bracing had to be added to the underside of the car to keep the unibody from twisting. Viewed from underneath, the MS-R reminds us of a box-girder bridge.

Bits and Pieces
Tires, of course, have consistently proved to be the easiest path to increased performance, so the MS-R rolls on 17-by-7.5-inch forged rims wrapped in 215/45R17 Yokohama Advan Neova tires.

Though these tires are only a fraction wider and shorter in profile than the SV MX-5's standard rubber, the Yokohamas are much sticker. In comparison, the Pontiac Solstice sports wider 245 rubber, but it also weighs 380 pounds more than the MX-5 MS-R's 2,480 pounds.

A host of other performance options available in more elaborately trimmed MX-5 models are thrown into the MS-R package, including a limited-slip differential, rear trunk-lid spoiler and front shock tower brace.

Despite the extensive chassis rework, the MX-5's engine and five-speed transmission remain untouched. They had to. SCCA suspension rules may have been liberalized over the years, but engine regulations have held firm. No modifications can be made in this area, so the MX-5 MS-R carries your basic 166-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4.

1G, or not 1G
On the track, the MS-R package proves its worth straight away. Did we hit 1g? Yes, 1.0g exactly — but only a counterclockwise run on the skid pad. On our clockwise run, we managed 0.97g, which adds up for a two-way average of 0.98g. Compare that to the 0.85g we recorded in a 2007 MX-5 and you can see the difference the MS-R package makes.

But the best part is the way the newly equipped MX-5 feels, as the MS-R proves absolutely controllable as you dance it back and forth across the limit of cornering adhesion on the racetrack.

The MS-R is more of a handful through the slalom, but that's not to say it is slow. The fortified Miata's 72.0-mph run absolutely destroys the stock MX-5's 66.5-mph result. So what's the problem, you might ask?

With so much more roll stiffness than damping, the MS-R releases stored roll energy explosively in the tight transitions of our slalom. The car is fast around the cones if you can keep up with it, but even a skilled test pilot has to stay on his toes. The slalom is a much more frantic maneuver than the sweepers of the typical racetrack, so we doubt this is a problem in competition.

The MS-R isn't fast in a straight line, but that's not surprising since there are no engine modifications. Our MS-R ran to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and finished the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 90.3 mph, only a tenth or two faster than the stock MX-5.

Stopping distances improve from 117 to 110 feet, an unexpected result that can only be attributed to the stickier summer-performance Yokohama Advans. We're not complaining.

Another unexpected result we're not griping about is the general tolerability of the day-to-day street ride. We'd have expected a track-focused package such as this to ride like a mattress with a coin slot, but the MS-R is actually quite a bit more livable than a lot of brand-name aftermarket setups out there.

The Saga Continues
After working out the MS-R package over the winter, Mazda presented the details of the MS-R package to the SCCA and it was approved for competition in late winter of 2007.

Two cars were soon built and delivered and two races were soon won. Then, in mid-July, the SCCA changed its mind and the MS-R was declared ineligible, effective immediately. Mazda and the two racer customers were perplexed, to say the least. Then the Pontiac Solstice Z0K — of which, only slightly more than a dozen examples had been built — swept the SSB championship again in 2007, largely uncontested.

The reason for the 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata MS-R's existence instantly evaporated. As a result, it no longer appears on the order sheet for 2008.

So why are we telling you all of this, especially as it appears the MS-R is truly dead? Well, you can still buy the parts from Mazdaspeed and retrofit any 2007 SV — if you plan to autocross, that is, as the car is still eligible for this.

And in another twist, for 2008 the SCCA has decided to re-allow the bulk of the MS-R parts back into showroom stock competition. The extensive bracing isn't invited back, but with a full roll cage in the car, it's not vital. Instead of calling it an option, the MS-R parts will be allowed back in as an approved modification known as a "Performance Package." Pricing and full details are expected before March 1, 2008.

Not for Racers Only, Please
We really like the 2007 Mazda MX-5 with the MS-R package — the tight, aggressive way it hunkers close to the pavement and the alert, responsive way it handles. We think with a small tweak here or there, the MS-R could be a big hit on the street. Maybe tone it down to 0.95g or something.

And if Mazda should get serious about a full production version that is factory-installed, we're sure the $7,600 option cost would tumble to less than $1,500.

Let the people at Mazdaspeed know that this is the kind of MX-5 you're looking for. Write your congressman. Call your cable company. You know the drill.

The updated 2010 Mazda MX-5 is reportedly set to get new styling to bring it closer in line with the recently unveiled Mazda6, and a leaked image appears to prove that design direction. Although Mazda has yet to confirm when the new MX-5 will debut, it is widely believed that the new roadster will make its first appearance at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

As seen by the leaked image posted on KM77.com, the revised MX-5 will receive similar headlight — and likely taillight — treatments to the all-new Mazda6 sedan. The MX-5’s lower grille has been tweaked and now features five points instead of the current car’s oval opening.

Along with the 2010 refresh, expect the MX-5 to see a slight bump in power.

No word if the MX-5’s 2010 lineup will include a Mazdaspeed version, but development has been reportedly off and on over the last several month. Mazda engineers reportedly had trouble adjusting the roadster’s chassis to handle the extra power of the Mazda3’s turbocharged powerplant, and have since suspended the car’s development.