Mazda updates iconic MX-5 Roadster and RF

MAZDA has overhauled its popular MX-5 for 2022, with the spirited two-seater gaining new Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) suspension technology, several new trim and paint options, as well as important safety upgrades. The range will also now feature 2.0-litre power exclusively – Mazda Australia has ditched the entry-level 1.5-litre derivative from its line-up.

While Mazda Australia has not announced pricing details yet, the firm said the 2.0-litre Roadster would become the new entry point to the MX-5 range. The derivative would additionally feature an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, driver-attention alert, lane-departure warning, LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, as well as rear smart city brake support.

The current 2.0-litre MX-5 Roadster (MY21) is priced from $41,400, plus on-road costs.

“This update maximises the MX-5’s innate potential in a wider range of driving scenarios than ever before, enhancing the sense of Jinba-ittai that it’s so well known for,” Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi said.

The ND3-series range will feature KPC suspension on all grades; the technology is said to utilise the suspension’s structure to “provide a more integrated and stable turning posture at high speed”, the company said. Importantly, the update has arrived without adding additional weight to the famously nimble roadster; the re-designed rear suspension is designed to “generate an anti-lift force that pulls the vehicle’s body down when the brakes are applied”.

The system works by applying a slight amount of braking pressure to the inside wheel when cornering under high G-force conditions to suppress body roll and stabilise the car’s posture. The system automatically determines the severity of a corner in real time based on speed-input data from the rear wheels, gradually increasing the level of response applied to “settle” the body.

Mazda says the clever new technology has no impact on day-to-day driving, but will “sharpen the MX-5’s tail-end senses” when the car is driven in a more spirited manner.

The MX-5 range will feature a new paint colour – Platinum Quartz Metallic, which takes the number of exterior hues available to seven. The range is available with four no-cost paint colours (Platinum Quartz Metallic, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, and Jet Black Mica) and three premium paint colours which attract a $495 charge (Polymetal Grey Metallic, Machine Grey Metallic, and Soul Red Crystal Metallic).

As for the inside, the flagship MX-5 RF GT is now available with Terracotta Nappa, Pure White or black leather trim. Black leather is also available on Roadster GT and Roadster GT RS variants, as well as on the RF GT RS. Entry-grade Roadster and RF variants feature black cloth upholstery.

All Mazda models come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, as well as five years’ premium roadside assistance.