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You're looking at the 2017 Mazda MX5 Miata RF.
RF, retractable fast back.
We didn't see this car coming.
It's a riff on the old power retractable hardtop.
But it includes some nice double bubble head rest fairings and it gives it a much racier appearance overall.
So like before, it's a retractable hard top.
But what's different is it's more of a targa top.
It's got a small rear window that powers down.
The roof piece folds into the trunk.
The whole trunk lid lifts up and it does so without actually sacrificing any cargo space.
That's a remarkable accomplishment but it's not done without a penalty.
It's probably going to be more expensive and it's certainly heavier.
We're looking at about 110 pounds worth of additional weight and it's in the wrong place, which is all up top.
That's bad for dynamics.
As a result of the additional weight, they've had to tweak the suspension settings a tiny little bit, but they promise the handling should be just as faithful As the regular soft top version which is one of the true joys in all of motoring.
One of the other things that remains to be seen is how good visibility is, it can feel a little bit claustrophobic inside the standard car with the roof up.
This car, with it's flying buttresses, it's going to limit your over the shoulder visibility a little bit.
This car actually reminds me a little bit Of the old Pontiac Solstice Coup, that was a short lived car.
What it does, is it give the whole design a little bit more directional thrust, a little more of a quality which something Mazda has sought with its new generation of product already.
So the new RS absolutely gorgeous looking, but the proof is gonna be in the driving.
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