146Inspired by the sports car icons of the 70s
and 80s, the Mazda MX-5 has become an
icon itself! Back in 1989 it seemed a bold
stroke by the Hiroshima based company to
take on the mantel of the MGB. They did it so
well that sales passed 1 million in 2016!
There have been four generations of MX-5
but they have not deviated from the simple
sports car formula of rear-wheel drive and
near perfect balance. A two-seater car built
purely for driving pleasure stands out in a
world dominated by ‘sensible’ SUVs. Mazda
is celebrating its 30th birthday with a bright
‘Racing Orange’ limited edition packed with
goodies.
The package is aimed at the enthusiast with
Recaro seats, Brembo brakes, Bilstein shock
absorbers and RAYS forged aluminium
wheels. To underline its exclusiveness
each car will feature little badges with its
production number. Only 3,000 specials are
to be built, just 550 of which will be on sale
in the UK.
Over the three decades the MX-5 has
evolved and become more refined. Last
year it got an added touch of glamour with
a retractable hard top version (RF) as an
alternative to the traditional canvas top. More
recently they increased the power output of
the 2.0-litre petrol engine on the top models.
Now the MX-5 has never been about outright
performance, rather about delivering a
package that makes the most of the power
available. This is apparent in the entry-level
1.5-litre car with 130PS which pleases in the
sweetness of its running.Upping the output of the 2.0-litre
engine from 160 to 184PS makes it more
competitive. It feels beefier and has more
torque when you are not in a hurry. But it can
be rorty too and revs like a trooper when you
hit the loud pedal.Mazda launched the more powerful MX-5
at Finn Lough in Country Fermanagh. The
test route exposed the car’s chassis to some
undulating ‘bog’ roads. The MX-5 handled
this challenge with aplomb, sticking to the
chosen line and soaking up the bumps
comfortably.
Driving pleasure is hard to find these days
but the MX-5 brings it back in buckets. This
is a car you just want to drive and drive. I
found myself making detours to explore side
roads that I have often wondered about. The
nimble response of the steering and justflicking through the six gears with that stubby
lever added to the fun of it all.The latest generation of MX-5 is slightly
shorter and lighter than those that went
before. The snug cockpit seems to fit you
like a glove and there is no wasted space.
Large people can fit in reasonably well.There
is room for a weekend case in the boot.
This is very much a getaway car - away from
mundane everyday motoring.A central colour screen atop the dashboard
adds a modern touch to the traditional
round dials and switches. There is satellite
navigation and a nine-speaker BOSE sound
system. Both Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto Android are compatible.The hood is easily lowered in seconds so you
get to enjoy the sounds and the smells of the
countryside. The special is also available in
the RF format with a retractable metal hood
which is electrically powered.The new Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary
Edition is priced from £28,095. It is the
crowning jewel of a range that starts at from
£18,995 for a 1.5-litre car in SE trim. With
efficient SKYACTV engines this little car can
be very affordable to buy and to run.This very special edition is a celebration of
Mazda’s skill and determination to keep the
spirit of open top sports car driving alive. IT
will be a collector’s car of the future!Getaway Car
Derek Black reviews Mazda’s ‘birthday present’ for MX-5 enthusiasts.
MAZDA MX-5
30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Ballyrobert Mazda, 1 Mallusk Road, Mallusk BT36 4XS 028 9570 4455 http://www.ballyrobert.co.uk