Mazda bolts folding hardtop onto MX-5
Newswheel staff :: 21 June 2006 :: Filed under Cabriolet, Front engine sportscar, Mazda MX-5, Europe & UK, US
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London debut for Roadster Coupe
In an unusual move for an established drop-top, Mazda has retro-fitted a folding hardtop to the MX-5 roadster. To be known in the UK as the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe, the new variant will be publicly unveiled at the British International Motor Show in London next month. Whether this qualifies as good news for a compact, lightweight sports car that majors on responsive driving dynamics ain’t exactly obvious…
We’ll have to wait until the London show to grab a glimpse of the MX-5 Roadster Coupe with its roof fully erected
Mazda has yet to announce detailed specifications or prices, but the rumour mill reckons the folding roof will add around 35kg to the MX-5’s kerb weight. If true, the car’s finely-balanced rear-drive handling should survive reasonably unscathed. While you wait to find out one way or the other, may we present you with the following words of oriental wisdom that Mazda has worked into the Roadster Coupe’s press release:
"‘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."
With that in mind, let’s all take a moment to think about what we’ve learnt to today. Not.
Posted 08 September 2006, by tomsk
Unbelievable. The drift from the original concept gathers pace - the Mk3 is just not as good a car as the Mk1, and the rot set in with the Mk2. No doubt this abortion will find buyers defecting from cheesey Peugeots and the like but the purity of concept has gone.
What are we up for next - the MX-5 Plus2 with four seats? that seemed like a good idea at the time too at Lotus but quite laughable now, as we watch the once svelte MX-5 get podgy and ugly, just like the original Elan did .... before they killed it through lack of sales (MX5 sales are falling dramatically now BTW .. anyone wonder why?).
Back to basics, a few grand off the price and you'll have a winner again guys .. if you want to fix things, this isn't the way to do it.