As the last major auto show of the season, the New York International Auto Show had a lot to say bout the state of the industry - from name plates, better fuel economy, to the growing importance of sales. The 2017 Mazda MX - 5 RF stuns in New York debut was nothing short of that.
Who woulda thunk! A Mazda looking this grand! Just WOW!
The Mazda starred in a guarded reveal as the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF made a jaw-dropping entry onto the stage. Unlike its predecessor, which was crowned with a pleasant enough but decidedly run-of-the-mill hideaway hardtop, the new RF – for Retractable Fastback – takes that concept to a new dimension. The flowing design and elegant buttresses of its multi-piece roof creates a bold styling statement that visually shifts the cabin rearward and adds a sense of dynamic tension to the profile of Mazda’s sporty 2-seater. When the center panel is finished stowing and the back glass slips behind the seats, the RF’s aft roof elements return to their resting position giving the car a sophisticated, targa-like character.
Chic hardtop. The goal of the new MX-5 RF was to create a chic hardtop version of the world’s most popular roadster that also provides the same level of open-air comfort and freedom of the roadster while remaining true to the automaker’s Kodo design principles.
Mazda points out that over half of the previous-generation MX-5 sales were Power Retractable Hardtop models and it fully expects owners of the new RF will likely spend more time with the top up than down. T
The MX-5 RF’s lightweight top can be power locked/unlocked and quickly cycled in either direction at vehicle speeds up to 6 mph using a single switch. It also comes with a large acrylic wind blocker to cut buffeting at speed. As a final flourish, customers can have the center elements of the RF’s top done in Piano Black or body color – which in this case also will include Mazda’s new Machine Gray paint with a finish that creates the illusion of a steel ingot.
Mechanically, the new MX-5 RF is a near clone of its soft-top sibling and offers all of the same basic features and options, including Mazda Connect and the i-ActivSense safety technologies. Both share the same 155-horsepower/2.0-liter SkyActiv-G engine paired with a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. The MX-5’s suspension and Electric Power Assist Steering systems also have been specifically tuned for Retractable Fastback duty to deliver a bit more comfort and ride refinement. Inside, the RF cabin comes covered in Nappa leather, but save for the extra actuator switch and a new dash display screen animation that comes to life when the top is being recycled, it’s pure MX-5 roadster. So too is the 4.6 cu.ft. trunk capacity.
While pricing for the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF has yet to be announced, this cheeky newcomer will open in the summer with deliveries to follow later.
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Home>Reviews & News>Latest News>2016 New York International Auto Show: Talk of the town
By Bob Nagy on March 23, 2016
By KBB.com Editors on March 17, 2016