The Star: June 01, 2017

The Star 35
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Thursday June 1 2017
OVER 1000
VEHICLES
FOR
SALE
MX-5 an example of
advanced engineering
• By Ross Kiddie
“SAVE UP your money,’’
was the advice from
Masaya Kodama, CX-5
project manager, Mazda
Motor Corporation, Japan.
I had asked Mr Kodama
if a new Mazda RX was
likely given the concept
drawings of a new sports
car have been on show.
Mr Kodama said rotary
engine development was
ongoing, and from those
comments I would say a
new RX is inevitable.
I’ve long considered
Mazda’s development of its
rotary engine to be one of
the company’s finest engineering
achievements.
Although I’ve never had
the good fortune to own a
rotary, my son has a RX7
turbo and occasionally I get
to experience the feel and
performance of that amazing
sport coupe.
As history has served to
prove, Mazda has advanced
engineering techniques
right through its passenger
vehicle line-up, and just
recently one of its other
sport models, the MX-5,
was launched in a new
variation – that with a folding
convertible roof – made
of metal.
Of course, the soft-top
MX-5, is still available
in four variants, and the
concept of a folding metal
roof isn’t new; targa tops,
as they have become commonly
known, have been
around for many decades.
However, the point I’m
making is that the mechanism
which transforms
this popular sports car is
another example of Mazda’s
engineering prowess. The
13sec electric operation
is just sheer genius, it can
also be open and closed
at speeds of up to 10km/h
and, for interest’s sake, boot
space remains the same for
all models.
The concept for which
we like MX-5 hasn’t been
compromised, it is still the
cheeky, two-seater which
thrills with its chassis balance
and associated handling
prowess.
Whereas the soft-top is
available in both 1.5-litre
and 2-litre variants, the
hard-top RF (retractable
fastback) is a 2-litre car
only, but there’s also a
choice of specification and
gearbox. The GSX sits at
$48,495, a Limited variant
adds $3000 and $4500
(auto), while the test car
was a special launch edition
model with automatic
MAZDA MX-5 RFS: Convertible hardtop.
transmission, it tops the
range at $54,995.
Before you jump to the
conclusion that the hardtop
needs the 2-litre engine
because of the metal structure’s
increase in weight,
bear in mind that that
adds just 47kg into the car
and performance is far
from compromised. The
acceleration times between
the two models are much
the same – 0-100km/h in
6.6sec and 7.2sec respectively.
• Price – Mazda MX-5
RFS, $54,995
• Dimensions –
Length, 3915mm;
width, 1735mm;
height, 1235mm
• Configuration –
Four-cylinder, rearwheel-drive,
1998cc,
118kW, 200Nm, sixspeed
manual
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 7.4sec
• Fuel usage –
7l/100km
Even though the 1998cc,
twin-camshaft unit is
built to Mazda’s SkyActive
efficiency and emissionfriendly
parameters, it is
still a high performing
engine with its 118kW and
200Nm ratings.
It works freely through
the six-speed automatic
thanks to low early gearing
and a broad top end gear to
promote highway economy.
Mazda claims a sevenlitre
per 100km (40mpg)
combined cycle fuel usage
average, which sat well
with the 8l/100km (35mpg)
figure showing on the test
car’s trip computer when I
took it back to the dealership.
I’ve often been a bit critical
of the MX-5 and the
sound that is generated
within the cockpit, history
has it that it has always
been a bit noisy. I guess
performance car buyers
like that and they may be
disappointed in the hardtop
as it is far quieter and
far more to my liking; there
is an angry engine sound
when it’s working hard, but
under normal conditions
the hard-top promotes a
quiet in-cabin environment
and I relate to that.
Not only is the engine
a delight in terms of flexibility
and honesty, the
MX-5’s greatest virtue is
that of its feel-good factor.
The suspension and chassis
engineering is a marvel.
Of course, drive is sent to
the rear wheels and that
promotes a pure handling
sensation, add in the fully
involving feel from the
steering wheel and the
compliance within the
spring and damper rates
and you have a true sports
car, one which delivers the
fun factor along with the
ability to conquer the most
challenging of corners.
Take into account, too,
that the tyres aren’t huge
(205/45 x 17in), there isn’t
a lot of load put on them,
and with a height of just
1235mm there is little
gravitational force working
against the convertible in a
quick corner, it handles flat
and controlled.
There’s some flexibility
built into the traction control
system, you can make
it a little tail-happy before
the electronic devices
counteract oversteer, but
that doesn’t interrupt the
fun. The MX-5 in this form
has lost none of its playful
character and that is why
it has been such a popular
car, it has been built with
character in mind and it
doesn’t disappoint.
For someone whose old
joints don’t work quite as
well as they once did, I
didn’t find entry and exit
into the test car onerous, in
fact I was finding excuses
to get in the vehicle and go
for a drive.
There’s a raft of amazing
product coming out of the
Mazda factories these days,
it’s no surprise then that
the MX-5 in this form is so
desirable. I’m so envious of
those who get to own one.
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