The 2017 MX-5 RF is the sexier, more curvaceous twin sister to one of our favorite rides on the road, Mazda's MX-5 Miata.
And while it's fun to look at, it's even more fun to drive.
But before you hit the road, here are five things you should know.
The more curvy, motorized hard top adds a bit of extra mass to the package.
Despite Mazda shaving weight in other places, the retractable fastback ends up being about 110 lbs.
heavier over all than the roadster.
For the trouble the RF folks required to ride at highway speeds and improve security when parked.
The midsection of the power roof retracts at the touch of a button in just over 13 seconds and closes just as quickly though
[MUSIC]
That's about 11 seconds slower than I can throw back the soft top manually.
The mechanism works at speeds up to six miles per hour and like the soft top doesn't intrude into the MX5's meeker trunk.
Masda's tweaked the RF suspension to deal with the extra weight and while they were at it address the Roadster's handling.
The ride is more composed when cornering on uneven payment and the steering feels more stable on the freeway.
But don't worry.
[UNKNOWN] handling has been preserved.
Model's equipped with a six-speed manual transmission gain a limited slip differential, upgraded [UNKNOWN] and a shock tower brace.
These are enthusiast upgrades that bump up performance compared to the automatic models.
Those buyers who just want a cute and comfortable sports Coop and choose a six speed automatic will not likely notice the slight performance [UNKNOWN] Part of Mazda's initiative to make more premium vehicles, the MX-5 RF drops the spartan sport trim level and is only available in mid-tier Club and top-tier Grand Touring trim levels.
Tech, however, remains as spartan as ever.
The sole upgrade over the [INAUDIBLE] being a color display in the instrument cluster.
And there you have it, five things you should know about the new Mazda MX-5 RF.
But there's so much more.
So be sure to check our full review for more video, pics, and details, over on the RoadShow.com
