Prefer the Mazda MX-5 sports car with a simple, quick hand-operated soft top? You’d better hurry, as sources at official distributor Bermaz have intimated that the current fabric-roofed model will be discontinued. Tasked to take over its place in the local lineup is the MX-5 RF with a powered folding metal roof.
The RF – which stands for Retractable Fastback – is a rather different proposition from the previous-generation NC MX-5 Roadster Coupe. Instead of a full folding hard top, the roof’s top panels and rear windscreen stow under the entire rear panel, with the rear buttresses remaining in place to make the car more of a targa than a proper convertible. All this can be done in just 12 seconds, at speeds of up to 10 km/h.
The extra complexity and weight the new roof will be offset by the fact that the RF will be offered with a good ol’ six-speed manual transmission for the first time in Malaysia – the current soft top MX-5 is only available with the SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic. Whichever gearbox you choose, it will be mated to a 158 hp/200 Nm 2.0 litre direct-injected SkyActiv-G four-cylinder engine.
Bermaz has already confirmed that the RF will be launched in Malaysia – together with the CX-9 seven-seater MPV – either at the end of the year or in early 2017. There’s no indicated pricing as yet, but sources say that the hard top is expected to be slightly more expensive than the soft top’s RM219,999 price tag.
GALLERY: Mazda MX-5 soft top in Malaysia
GALLERY: Mazda MX-5 RF
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This model looks menacing when topless.
love this car. wish price could be lower.
Hard to sell.. you need a specially designed interior that totally separates it from the rest of the mazda lineup.
wtf? the whole point of this car is simplicity and lightness. Bermaz already had a hard time selling the soft top what made them think this would be a good idea?
hardtop more practical for our country which can prevent those jealous ppl use knife to trim the softtop and make u cry without tears
This is what happen when the boss of bermaz has completely no idea as to what this car is all about. He previously mentioned, why do you want a manual sportscar. Nw they are bringing manual in, but add hardtop. More mass more complexity.
its nt meant to be a luxury cruiser. Its supposed to be a simple light and reliable fun 1 drive roadster.
Fun drive where? Traffic jam all the time here.. midnight?
Sepang racetrack?
You forget that not everybody lives in the city.
If you are rich enough to buy one of these, you should also not have to drive it during traffic jams. Just leave it parked in your rural bungalow, and enjoy your scenic, leisurely drive when you go there.
Or do it like me: Choose to drive only during off peak times, and not in the city.
Just forget about selling this ‘pondan’ here, Mazda. It’s not worth the price. Ugly.