The new Mazda MX-5 Miata has been out for about a year, it has been a pretty popular car and just won the “World Car of the Year” award. Now Mazda has introduced a new version of the Miata, called the MX-5 RF, the RF stands for “Retractable Fastback”.
The Miata MX-5 RF is kind of the equivalent of the hard-top convertible from last generation, which we reviewed here, but in this guise it’s more of a targa top that’s automated (kind of like the new Porsche 911 Targa). The C-Pillar area of the MX-5 lifts up and goes backwards, allowing the roof panel to fold back into the front of the trunk, giving the driver and passenger open skies to enjoy. According to Mazda, this mechanism doesn’t take away from trunk space. The roof mechanism takes 12 seconds to do its thing and that thing can be done at speeds of up to 10 km/h (6 mph).
In North America, the Mazda Miata MX-5 RF will be offered with the 2.0 liter SKYACTIV engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission.
