Latest MX-5 jives playfully through corners
and generally fun-to-drive nature. For some the ability to peel off the roof and cruise in style along beach boulevards will be sufficient reason to own an MX-5, and the manually-operated soft top is an easy one-handed operation that takes less than five seconds to fold up or down.
For driving enthusiasts with a taste for cornering g-forces it’s all about this roadster’s light weight, 50/50 weight distribution and low centre of gravity. As per long-held purist tradition the power’s laid down by rear-wheel drive, and it’s assisted by a limited-slip differential to deliver more traction.
The MX-5 jives playfully through corners without resorting to super-stiff suspension. With double wishbones up front and a multilink rear suspension, the roadster delivered a reasonably comfortable ride on the scarred and bumpy sections of Mazda’s test track. For an open-topped car it feels solid, and cruises over imperfect roads without any noticeable body judder.
For a budget sportscar the interior trimmings are reasonably high grade. There’s no reach-adjustment to the steering (it’s heightadjustable only) which I felt was out of sync with the “Jinba Ittai” philosophy, but I was nevertheless able to find a comfortable driving position for my 1.8-metre frame. There’s also plenty of room in the two-seater cabin.
At near-sea level where the media launch took place, the MX-5 proved thrustful enough to kick the tail out when I gave it full-throttle attacks. Push too far and your enthusiasm’s reined in by the stability-control system, but it can be switched off if you’re feeling frisky and know a thing or two about counter-steering.
Like almost every modern sportscar the steering’s electrically power assisted (rather than hydraulically) but there’s sufficient feel and feedback to guide the car through tight turns with accuracy. The gold star in the MX-5’s driving repertoire goes to the transmission, however, and that six-speed shifter moves through its gate with beautiful precision.
There’s a playful exhaust chortle from the four-cylinder engine; just loud enough to be heard without making a drone that could become annoying on a long trip.
Prices are still to be confirmed but when it arrives here in November the MX-5 is hoped to come in under the R400 000 mark, which is around a quarter of a million less than the next-most-expensive two-seater roadster on sale.