LET’S FACE IT, if it ain’t broke …
And that principle certainly applies to the seemingly eternal Mazda MX-5, now entering its 31st year of production.
But while it might not need fixing, like every model, a few subtle enhancements here and there will keep it fresh, so Mazda continues to hone its finely-crafted formula with considered styling enhancements to emphasise its unmistakable road presence.
Unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show alongside Mazda’s all-new, first mass-production electric vehicle, MX-30, the updated MX-5 is scheduled to go on sale in Australia in early 2020.
The new model embraces elements of Mazda’s next-generation design language, introducing the new Polymetal Grey Metallic exterior colour, which first debuted on the Next-Gen Mazda3 hatch earlier this year. Understated yet striking, Polymetal Grey fuses the hard appearance of metal with the characteristic glossy smoothness of plastic to more vividly highlight the body’s flowing form, bringing to life Mazda’s Kodo Design and car-as-art philosophy.
Inside the new MX-5 there are revisions to interior materials with RF GT models picking up Burgundy Nappa leather punctuated with a light grey stitch to create a more luxurious cabin atmosphere.
Across other parts of the range, both Tan and Black leather options have also been revised, adding perforations that give a sporty texture and boost to comfort. The GT range also gets stainless steel scuff plates to minimise damage during entry and egress.
All model grades will adopt a new-look key fob and Mazda badging.
The updated Mazda MX-5 is available in Roadster (Soft Top) and RF (Retractable Hard Top) body styles, equipped with a Skyactiv-G 1.5 or Skyactiv-G 2.0 petrol engine, paired with a choice of six-speed Skyactiv-MT manual or six-speed automatic transmission.