THE multi-awardwinning Mazda MX-5 is celebrating its 20th anniversary in a new guise, distributors Ford SA has announced. “The freshened version of the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe is now available in South Africa. With the latest facelift, Mazda set out to cement the MX-5’s reputation as the most enjoyable lightweight two-seat sports car in the world,” Ford announced. “Since launching the first-generation MX-5 in 1989, Mazda has stuck to the concept that driving enjoyment is the key value offered by the MX-5. Through two full redesigns and numerous improvements, Mazda has continued to heighten and improve the MX-5’s function and purpose as a sports car.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Mazda MX-5, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling two-seat sports car ever (850000 units so far). The MX-5 has won 178 major automotive awards in these two decades. The current third generation is no exception and carried home 58 awards – including Japan Car of the Year 2005-2006 and Top Gear magazine’s Roadster of the Year 2005.

The third generation Mazda MX-5 embodies refinements for an even purer experience of “Jinba Ittai” – the unique feeling of oneness between driver and car that distinguished the MX-5 since inception.

The front grille has been enlarged and changed from an oval shape to the five-point shape that forms part of the well-known Mazda family face. Combined with tautly styled headlight units and flowing fog-lamp bezels, the new grille creates a refined and athletic expression.

The MX-5 Coupe features an ingenious powered roof system. The power retractable hard top is a world first in that it retracts into the back of the cabin, thereby precluding any impact on the boot space. The roof consists of three sections: a front roof section, a middle roof section, and a window section. When the roof is opened, an electrically powered mechanism folds the roof and moves it rearward to stow it in a space behind the seats. A rear deck cover over the storage space is automatically lifted out of the way to allow the roof to be stowed or unfolded and is then automatically returned to its original position.

Roof-opening and roof-closing operations are initiated using buttons that flank the hazard-warning button. A warning lamp situated beside these buttons indicate that the roof is in operation. The operations are quietly effected by two roof motors and two rear-deck motors, which are all monitored by a dedicated electronic control unit. The user must manually release the centre lock before opening the roof and apply the centre lock to retain the roof after closing it.

Meanwhile, the powertrain has been enhanced with the speed at which the engine delivers maximum power (118kW) raised from 6700rpm to 7000rpm and the rev limit has been raised from 7000 to 7500rpm.

Torque remains at 188Nm at 5000rpm.

The company also says improvements to the six-speed manual transmission enable smoother shifts up to the engine’s heightened rev limit of 7 500rpm. New equipment has been added to the package. The Bose sound system now features a six-channel equaliser (with the spare channels for the woofers and the door-mounted mid-to-high-frequency speakers) to achieve clearer, more dynamic sound reproduction. An AUX jack has been added, allowing third-party audio devices to be connected to the car’s audio system. There is also a 12V power socket.

Its recommended retail price is R337500.