With the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, the auto manufacturer is seeing things in a larger light with this latest iteration of their beloved MX-5 Miata roadster. This is a two-seat convertible which is known for its unmatched balance of drop-top excitement, sporty handling, and it is placed at quite the unbeatable value. Now, it even gets a retractable hardtop which is definitely a cue from another icon, the Porsche Targa.
The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Has Design Cues From the Porsche Targa
The RF in the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF stands for retractable fastback and it was recently unveiled at the 2016 New York Internation Auto Show. It uses the Porsche model’s hardtop which is made out of four parts: the rear roof will raise up and back to be “eat” the front and the middle roof. It also swallows up the rear window in the process as well. After everything is gobbled up, it will then ease back into place to retain the fastback shape.
It should be noted that there was never much of a wind buffeting feature found in the MX-5 series, but the inclusion of the Targa top will most likely make for a more secure and comfortable atmosphere whether you’re driving with the top up or down. Furthermore, there should also be less wind noise when the top is placed down, and less road noise when the roof is brought up.
It is expected that this 2017 model will be a more refined piece of premium automobile magnificence as compared to some convertibles that use a softer top. With the use of the fastback shape, it means that the styling flows over the windshield then down towards the rear in an unbroken line fashion. The only thing missing is an overhead segment when the top is off. For comparisons sake, previous iterations of the MX-5 that also used a hardtop would fully collapse into a space located between the seats and the trunk. Therefore, the back was flat from the headrests towards the tail.
The roof for the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF can be lowered and raised with speeds of up to 6-miles per hour. The car manufacturer did not disclose whether this new model would add to the lightweight 2,332-pounds of the soft top model. After all, having a light weight is key to bringing the fun factor in a more positive note to let the car distribute its weight by 50:50 to the axles.