Mazda’s emblematic lightweight sports car, the MX-5, has been updated for the 2019 model year, and this latest model has just arrived in Malaysia. Available only in RF folding targa top form, the roadster sports a fair few updates, but for a fairly substantial premium.
Let’s start with the engine, which is still a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated SkyActiv-G four-cylinder petrol mill. Equipped with redesigned pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, throttle body and intake valves, it now revs 700 rpm higher at 7,500 rpm, with an accompanying increase of outputs – 184 PS (up from 160 PS) at 7,000 rpm and 205 Nm (up from 200 Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm.
That’s not all, as it’s claimed that torque has been increased across the entire rev range, with top-end torque in particular boosted by as much as 15%. Mazda has also made improvements to the sound of the engine, removing material from the muffler’s internal structure and also tweaking it for less high-frequency noise. As before, you get an option between a six-speed automatic gearbox and a good old-fashioned manual.
Other minor tweaks include the addition of telescopic steering adjustment (previously omitted due to the extra weight) in addition to the existing tilt adjustment, along with cruise control and a 4.6-inch colour TFT LCD multi-info display. You also now get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard through the Mazda Connect infotainment system and its seven-inch touchscreen.
All these updates come at a literal price, with the new models now costing up to nearly RM37,000 more than before. The MX-5 RF retails at RM259,154 with the manual transmission and RM260,354 with the automatic, on-the-road without insurance. Included in the price is a five-year/100,000 km warranty and a five-year/100,000 km free service package.
Standard equipment includes adaptive LED headlights with a matrix high beam, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels in a new black finish instead of gunmetal grey, reverse sensors, keyless entry with walk-away lock, push-button start, auto lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto air-conditioning, leather upholstery and a nine-speaker Bose sound system (including headrest speakers).
Safety-wise, you get four airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, stability control, hill start assist and lane departure warning, but unfortunately we don’t get autonomous emergency braking that was also introduced globally with this model year update, nor the reverse camera.
GALLERY: Mazda MX-5 RF in Malaysia (manual)
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Welcome to New Malaysia where expensive car prices becomes even pricier.
60 years of corruption has resulted in our car prices being so expensive.
By your logic, 60 weeks of corruption increase it even higher. Shot your foot there noob.
Ugliest
and yet they won World Car of the Year award. Maybe time for your eyes check up.
Emm… MX5RF vs Toyota 86 ???
Toyota 86 looks good to me…
Get this or wait Toyota Supra..
One Supra will get you 2 MX-5. lol.
In 2015 , mazda unveiled the spyder concept at SEMA , i liked those grills with the fog/spotlight….
If i ever get my hands on an mx-5 , i’ll change the grills to that first
Last paragraph, Mazda Malaysia is the worst in safety in the premium category.
The new goodies are welcomed. But kinda prefer the design of the softop. The price tag is quite hard to swallow though. This is supposed to be a lightweight fun roadster for cheap. But that price just doesn’t justify it.
Still makin mistake in raising price but skip on the safety features
In other markets this is cheaper than the 6. Stop scamming us bermaz
Unbelievable pricing.. I know it’s a special car but not RM260k special…
I can buy a 10 year old Ferrari F430 for about RM290k. With a Ferrari, I am happening. Chics will line up for me. This car? Even pondans also won’t look at me.
This is what happens when you let AhTans to run a car business. It is dying rapidly by the day.
Too many Non-Executive Director
Top up rm28k can buy 7 seaters cx9….lol
Din’t Understand the rationale behind in comparing a roadster with a 7 seaters SUV?
Wow, what a price! Just compare that with a usd60k c8 mid engine corvette.
Over 6millioj Yen is a joke… Greed will put Bermaz at ground 0 pretty soon. Ur low volume but high pricing will crumble due to poor QC in CKD models. The skytint is prefixed at a rundown dirty area hence the tint finishing for cx5 is horrible……