Mazda MX-5 hard-top priced from under $40K

Mazda’s new MX-5 RF – the ‘Retractable Fastback’ or hard-top sibling to the popular MX-5 Roadster – will be priced from $38,550 plus on-road costs when it goes on sale in February.

Announcing price and specification details of the RF today, Mazda Australia said the new model will be available in two model grades: RF and RF GT. The entry price represents a circa-$6500 premium on entry-level Roadster equivalents.

Some of that price difference is compensated by the fact the RF will be powered exclusively by a 118kW/200Nm 2.0-litre engine, with Mazda Australia sidelining the regular, entry-level 1.5-litre engine in RF guise locally to avoid range complexity.

Anchoring the new addition will be the regular RF, priced at $38,550 plus ORCs and fitted with a six-speed manual transmission. Standard features include the Retractable Fastback roof, 4.6-inch colour touch-screen, LED headlights with adaptive front lighting, cloth seat trim and a leather trimmed steering wheel and gear lever.

A six-speed automatic transmission adds a further $2000 to the entry model’s price tag.

Next in the food chain will be GT models, priced from $43,890 (manual) and $45,890 (automatic) respectively. They add a nine-speaker BOSE stereo with integrated headrest speakers, LED tail-lights and heated seats.

Topping the range will be an alternative GT model, priced from $44,890 (manual) and $46,490 (automatic), which adopts a black roof option and Nappa leather trim.

The RF was first unveiled at the New York motor show in March. Across all models, the retractable hard-top can be opened and closed at speeds of up to 10km/h at the touch of button.

A new exterior paint colour is also now available (Machine Grey Metallic), which substitutes the Roadster’s Meteor Grey Mica hue.

2017 Mazda MX-5 RF pricing (plus ORCs):
Manual — $38,550
Automatic — $40,550
GT manual — $43,890
GT automatic — $45,890