Tuesday 20th June 2006

Mazda adds folding roof to MX-5

Roadster-Coupe launches at British motor show

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Mazda MX-5 Roadster-Coupe

We hear that Mazda is to launch a folding top version of the iconic MX-5 roadster. Called the Roadster-Coupé, you'll see it first at the British motor show next month -- and we'll bring you pics as soon as we can.

According to reports, the folding roof sits behind the front seats, leaving the boot space unaffected, although we don't know how much it'll weigh.

Sales are expected to start towards the end of the year.

[dinkel]

Pics as soon as possible

[Newromancer]

Folding roof = heavier car, higher price, less performance, more things to break, etc.

For a life style convertible it’s fine, but for a roadster I don’t know. As long as it’s an option, I guess its okay.

However, there is an quite a trend going to folding hardtops, and I am quite sure that in a few years time a soft top wont even be an option.

I’m getting old, guess I better start look at vintage cars then?

[dinkel]

Those angled windscreens and wooz-walls-behind-the-head . . .

Real verts mess up ya hair! Indeed, look at some classics . . .

A nice 90 mph in this beastie is all your hair can take btw!

Tona Spider for me btw . . .

Edited by dinkel on Tuesday 20th June 11:21

[adycav]

Newromancer said:

Folding roof = heavier car, higher price, less performance, more things to break, etc.

I agree - my first thoughts when I read the headline.

Hopefully they'll still be some good old-fashioned 'budget' roadsters available in the future, but with the sad demise of the MR2, the heavier, more wallowy new MX5, and the seeming lack of replacement for the S2000, I'm not so sure.

[Raify]

Why not do an electric folding soft top? Is the Mk3 electric?

[Esprit]

Los Angeles said:

an automatic hood on a light-weight roadster

There's an oxymoron if ever I heard one..... I'm afraid those terms are mutually exclusive.... at least with current technology.

I think you're forgetting that the original (Mk1) MX5 hood was one of the best in the soft-top business..... easy to erect from inside the car and leak proof when everything was adjusted properly...... all of this "collabsible conservatory" nonsense that convertibles "must" have these days is completely counter to the spirit of them in my opinion..... maybe I'm just getting old.

I'll get me coat.

[annodomini2]

adycav said:

Newromancer said:

Folding roof = heavier car, higher price, less performance, more things to break, etc.

I agree - my first thoughts when I read the headline.

Hopefully they'll still be some good old-fashioned 'budget' roadsters available in the future, but with the sad demise of the MR2, the heavier, more wallowy new MX5, and the seeming lack of replacement for the S2000, I'm not so sure.

While it may be heavier the metal roof may add more structural ridigity (roof up), improving the handling.

[sosidge]

Folding hard-tops are what the market wants - Mazda would be crazy not to release this version.

It's almost impossible to build a lightweight mass-market roadster nowadays anyway with all the safety design and secondary systems that the law requires and the market expects.

If you want a lightweight 2wd MX-5 stick to a 90's model!

[ficklefriend]

Looks great to me,
I have an SLK with a simular roof,it's like getting two cars for the price of one.
A quiet comfy coupe for a nice sedate drive with the top on(no wind noise,no leaks),or pop the top down and it's transformed into a sporty rorty little roadster.
I think mazda are onto a winner with this one.
ff

[scotty_917]

with each series they're just getting further away from what the MX-5 originally stood for....great handling, good looking, cheap to run.

[bikemonster]

Scotty 917 nailed it!

The original MX5 resurrected the ragtop and did it with styling cues from Jaguar and (even more so) from Lotus and prolly several others besides.

The second MX5 was a natural evolution of the first, still kept most of the styling that made the first such a visual treat.

The current one pays homage to...the first two!

[Merefield]

What is it with "the market"!!?!?

Ignorance! That's what i say!

How hard is raising a lightweight soft top with one hand yourself over just two seats?

The Mk3 has made it as easy as pie, one catch and you dont even need a cover when its down.

Are we all so lazy?

Looks quite a nice implementation, though, and lovely new colour too.

I note the non-standard lowered suspension to make this (no-doubt) press photo look more flattering.

[FestivAli]

Yeah might scare the traditionalists but they've done it well - nice and compact, non of the long arse overhang some CC's have (Sl, 307 Megane) and it offers better security if you park it on the street - no dero's with knives to ruin your day and steal stuff.

Thumbs up from me Mazda.

[jmatras]

Well, considering how the retractable hardtops eat up trunk space, I hope that Mazda at least saves room for a toothbrush holder.

You don't see many of the removable hardtops in Miatas in the States. In fact, the only cars I've seen them on are racing Miatas. It's required for SCCA racing, at least it was when I raced one in in SS/C. But then, a cage was also required, so while the top added weight, the cage did even moreso.

I suppose if anyone can make a lightweight folding hardtop, it would be Mazda, who have done remarkable jobs in skinnying down Mazda sports models over the years. Who says that a hardtop has to be steel? Anyone for a carbon fiber lid?

I will be interesting, however, if they sell them side-by-side, which does better on the market. Alas, I'm afraid I know which.

[hendry]

The great irony of this peice is that ALL Mx-5s have had folding roofs for ever - how does anyone think the fabric ends up in the boot? This metal roof doesn't fold. It splits into three separate sections. Wires and rods keep them together.

Pedant mode off.

This will add some weight, but how many MX5 drivers bought them for the lightweight and agility? Sales of this car are led by fashion primarily. Anyone who wants lightweight buys an Elise.

Now shoot me if THAT ever gets a "folding roof"!

[benjc]

Is this really a bad thing?

This car will sell concurrently with the current rag top (which is only 50kg - 75kg heavier and has more HP than the old mk2.5 dependant on options).

Those wanting am MX5 for the driving experience drive the rag top, those who want to pose drive the tin top.

What's the problem? Mazda need to sell cars to the masses to produce the cooler stuff for petrolheads like us!

Good on them.

[simonw]

There reporting it adds 30kg to the weight over the normal car.

As far as I'm aware Mazda are still continuing with the standard softop, this in an addition to the range to appeal to those ppl who the full softop just isn't suitable.
Mazda produced a pretty little hardtop coupe version for the Japanese market of the old car. This I'm guessing is the replacement.
www.mazda.co.jp/customize/roadstercoupe/

which can be turned into this little beauty
www.ab-carsshow.com/monocraft_mm1/index.html

Its worth noting that as well as the hardtop coupe, Mazda have also announced a lighter version for circuit racing

www.mazda.com/mnl/200604/pro_mar_3.html

sw

[renegade07]

i think for them to add weight to it, they also need to add more power, or try and lose weight in other areas, for example, lighterweight alloys, lightweight seats etc...as we all know adding weight compromises hanling and performance.

[thegreatsoprendo]

jmatras said:

Well, considering how the retractable hardtops eat up trunk space, I hope that Mazda at least saves room for a toothbrush holder.

The article said:

According to reports, the folding roof sits behind the front seats, leaving the boot space unaffected

I'm no fan of retractable hardtops and would still opt for the soft top version if I was to buy a new MX-5, but this does look like a pretty well engineered top to me.

Edited by thegreatsoprendo on Tuesday 20th June 14:19

[stenniso]

Los Angeles said:

Raify said:

Why not do an electric folding soft top? Is the Mk3 electric?

You can leave the hard top outside if you have no garage, or overnight at the hotel on your travels and it's secure. Mazda sold aton of removeable hardtops on the first version .... two person lift off, then you had to store them in your garage.

When I had my MkI MX5 broken into, they smashed the passenger side window, so a hard top wouldn't have helped. I was pretty relieved, as a new window (plus new glovebox) would be a lot cheaper than a new soft top.

I also heard stories that the hard top was so popular that there was a spate of thefts of hard tops from cars. Again a side window would be smashed to gain access to the release catches, the hard top lifted off, and the car left with the roof down.

I've said many time, the best way to deter thieves is to have the police catch them, and courts lock them up.

Personally I never left anything in the car worth stealing, and would leave the roof down in the company carpark, or when parked in busy streets, and would garage it overnight with the roof left down. Elsewhere I would rely on the soft top for protection.

I think this new hard roof is a good idea as an option, but wouldn't like it to be the only choice, partly because of weight, but mainly because of cost. It looks like it may be quite neat looking, although pictures so far are all with it half way down.