Back in December we brought you news of the updates to the Japanese MX-5 – The Mazda Roadster – and as expected they’ve now filtered through for UK Cars, with the first cars appearing in showrooms in April.
The MX-5 has, quite rightly, dominated the little, open sports car market for ever. It does so much so very right, and so little wrong, it is an example of how to dominate a niche.
Upadated Mazda MX-5 due in UK showrooms in April
No getting big and flash. No factoring out the fun with bigger and bigger models. No trying to make it all things to all men. Just a gradual refinement of a beautifully conceived car.
With over 800,000 Mazda MX-5s sold worldwide, Mazda want to keep the MX-5 fresh and appealing, and this update hits all the right notes. It gets a new nose and some other body tweaks, a flappy-paddle option (which I would avoid), and the usual tweaks and upgrades all round. But nothing too dramatic. Just a clever update.
Two choices of car – the tin-top and the rag-top – offer two quite different cars. The tin-top has the quickest folding roof there is (apparently) at just 12 seconds, and with a price range starting around £16.5k, and going up in to the £20k region, the Mazda MX-5 still offers a lot of fun for not a lot of money.
Upgraded Mazda MX-5 Specifications 2009
Mazda MX-5 1.8i
Petrol 1.8-litre, 126ps
Safety & Security
All-disc braking system with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
Driver & passenger front airbags
Front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load-limiters
Thatcham Category 1 anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser
Exterior
16-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 R16 tyres
Manually-operated premium black cloth soft-top with heated glass window
Body-coloured bumpers
Body-coloured door handles
Tinted windscreen and tinted glass
Electric and heated door mirrors
Body-coloured mirror housings
Twin chrome exhaust tailpipes
Comfort & Convenience
Remote central locking with dead locks
Folding jack-knife key
Electric windows, with one-touch auto down (driver’s side only)
Remote release fuel filler flap
Remote boot release
Interior
Charcoal Black cloth trim
Height adjustable leather steering wheel with audio controls
Leather gear knob and handbrake lever
Height adjustable driver’s seat
Front centre console with armrest, storage and cup holders
Stainless steel scuff plates
Radio/single CD audio system with 6 speakers
Auxiliary (AUX) input jack for connecting MP3 players
Outside temperature gauge
Lockable glovebox
Twin sun visors
Driver’s foot rest
Mazda MX-5 2.0i
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 1.8i model
1999cc engine with 160ps and 188Nm of torque
DSC (Dynamic Stability Control)
TCS (Traction Control System)
LSD (Limited Slip Differential)
Side airbags
Mazda MX-5 2.0i Sport
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 2.0i model
Bilstein shock absorbers
Front suspension strut brace
6-speed manual transmission
Front fog lights
17-inch alloy wheels
Heated leather seats
Style bars trimmed in brushed aluminium
Climate control air conditioning
Premium BOSE® audio system, with 6-CD changer and seven speakers
Cruise control
Bluetooth®
Mazda MX-5 2.0i PowerShift
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 2.0i Sport model*
PowerShift six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full auto mode
* Bilstein dampers deleted from specification
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8i
Petrol 1.8-litre, 126ps
Safety & Security
All-disc braking system with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
Driver & passenger front airbags
Front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load-limiters
Thatcham Category 1 anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser
Exterior
16-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 R16 tyres
Powered retractable (body-coloured) hard top with heated glass window
Body-coloured bumpers
Chrome front grille surround
Chrome headlamps bezels
Chrome door handles
Clear high level rear brake light lens
Tinted windscreen and tinted glass
Electric and heated door mirrors
Body-coloured mirror housings
Twin chrome exhaust tailpipes
Comfort & Convenience
Remote central locking with dead locks
Folding jack-knife key
Electric windows, with one-touch auto down (driver’s side only)
Climate control air conditioning
Remote release fuel filler flap
Remote boot release
Interior
Charcoal Black cloth trim
Height adjustable leather steering wheel with audio controls
Leather gear knob and handbrake lever
Height adjustable driver’s seat
Front centre console with armrest, storage and cup holders
Stainless steel scuff plates
Radio/single CD audio system with 6 speakers
Auxiliary (AUX) input jack for connecting MP3 players
Outside temperature gauge
Lockable glovebox
Twin sun visors
Driver’s left foot rest
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0i
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 1.8i model
1999cc engine with 160ps and 188Nm of torque
DSC (Dynamic Stability Control)
TCS (Traction Control System)
LSD (Limited Slip Differential)
Side airbags
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0i Sport
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 2.0i Leather model
Bilstein shock absorbers
Front suspension strut brace
6-speed manual transmission
Front fog lights
17-inch alloy wheels
Style bars trimmed in brushed aluminium
Premium BOSE® audio system, with 6-CD changer and seven speakers
Cruise control
Bluetooth®
Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0i PowerShift
Petrol 2.0-litre, 160ps
Additional equipment above 2.0i Sport model*
PowerShift six-speed sequential paddle-shift transmission with full auto mode
* Bilstein dampers deleted from specification
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