A refreshed fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 will go on sale this September, with prices ranging between £18,995 and £29,195.
Mazda has applied a light touch when making any changes to 2016’s World Car of the Year, with the most significant modifications occurring under the bonnet.
Here, you’ll find a more powerful, higher-revving version of Mazda’s two-litre SKYACTIV-G engine.
Now with a 181bhp power output, the soft-top convertible MX-5 can dash to 62mph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds, which is 0.8 of a second quicker than before.
Meanwhile, in the hardtop RF model, the 0-62mph sprint has been snipped by half a second. This sharper acceleration is the result of lighter pistons and connecting rod, as well as key changes to the camshafts and exhaust valves, fuel injectors, throttle valve and air intake.
Although power output has climbed, CO2 emissions have dropped slightly, compared to the 157bhp engine it replaces.
The design remains the same
Other mechanical changes include modified telescopic steering and improved seat sliding operation to enhance driver comfort and make the driver feel more at-one with the car.
The 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine has been slightly improved too, with friction reduced to help boost power output to 130bhp with 152Nm of torque.
Visually, the MX-5 remains entirely unchanged, and that’s intentional. This is the winner of the World Car Design of the Year prize for 2016 and three years may have passed since it was revealed but it still looks totally fresh.
However, one telltale giveaway sign that you’re looking at the refresh is the 16 and 17-inch alloy wheel designs.
New equipment
Specification has been padded out for certain trims, with more standard safety equipment for Sport Nav+ cars and above.
These models now come with front smart city brake support, lane departure warning system, rear smart city brake support, traffic sign recognition and driver attention alert. Blind spot monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive LED headlights and a reversing camera are standard on GT Sport Nav+ and optional as a safety pack on Sport Nav+.
Masashi Nakayama, chief designer for the MX-5, said that Mazda intends to “keep refining the car, seeking out new ways to make it even more thrilling and satisfying to drive”, so expect it to remain the world’s best-selling two-seater car for quite some time yet.
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