Ever since its launch back in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster has been a synonym for fun and driving pleasure. Mazda went on to sell a million plus units worldwide and there has been no looking back. There have been 4 generations of this highly successful little roadster, and Mazda has just unveiled the 2017 edition at the ongoing 2016 New York International Auto Show, where the power retractable hardtop has made a comeback. The power-retractable hardtop was introduced in the third-generation MX-5, back in 2006, however, the fourth generation 2016 MX-5 Miata didn’t get the PHRT.
In case you’re wondering, the RF stands for Retractable Fastback, referring to the fastback styling of the car. Mazda says that the power roof can be opened or closed at speeds of up to 10 km/h (6 mph). The MX-5 RF’s retractable hardtop consists of a front roof, middle roof, rear roof and back window glass.
Press conference video here –
Compared to the standard car, the MX-5 RF is said to weigh about 50 kg (110 lbs) more and the suspension and Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system have been tuned for the increase in mass. The powertrains continue to be 118 kW (158 bhp) 2.0L and 96 kW (129 bhp) 1.5L (not available in the US) SKYACTIV gasoline engines paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.
A new color Machine Grey has been added to the color options. The Miata RF will be available for pre-order later this summer. The 2016 MX-5 in the US starts at $24,915 (Rs 16.5 lakh approx) and sadly though, this super fun-to-drive car is not available in India, for obvious reasons.
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
