Mazda MX-5 RF, the Retractable Fastback Miata
Mazda just introduced the new MX-5 RF, which will be on display at the 2016 New York International Auto Show. At first glance this new incarnation of a long-time favorite of enthusiasts looks like a targa top, like you find on the Corvette. But Mazda says they created something completely different.
The Miata Targa del Sol TransTop
So what is it? Is it a targa top or is it a retractable hard top? Well, it’s both. It’s a targa top that is retractable into the trunk with the flip of a switch. The rear window also retracts, as well, to give you an open-air feeling. Sort of. It’s a targa top so the roof does not go all of the way down like it does on a true convertible. Looking at the MX-5 RF reminds me of the the targa-topped Honda del Sol, which was Honda’s failed attempt at replacing the wildly popular Honda CRX.
It reminds me of the del Sol, because it’s the same idea. As a matter of fact, there was a special edition of the del Sol called the “TransTop” that was only available in Europe and Japan. The TransTop, like the MX-5 RF, retracted the targa top into the trunk via an electric motor. The TransTop was only available in Europe and Japan. So the MX-5 RF Retractable Fastback isn’t necessarily “completely different” as Mazda claims. Will the fate of the MX-5 RF be the same as the del Sol?
It’s Cool, But . . .
No doubt this is a good-looking car with the top up or down and the power retraction mechanism is nicely done. Also, there has always been curiosity about the production of a non-convertible hard-top Miata/MX-5, and Mazda gives us this with the RF for the most part when the top closed. But those of us who have had experience with different tops know that nothing compares to having the top down. All the way down. And a targa top isn’t the same experience as a true convertible, even with the retractable rear window.
I remember test driving one of the del Sols back when they were in production and the reduction of wind turbulence in the cabin was great compared to your typical targa top. But the difference between this and a true convertible is like the difference between the small back deck of an apartment with a 9-foot privacy fence versus having a spacious back yard in a single-family home. You can look up and see the sky, but it’s really not “open” air. Targa tops simply do not provide the same experience as a true convertible.
Will There Be an MX-5 Hard Top Convertible?
The del Sol didn’t bode well for Honda and this idea is a gamble for Mazda on a platform that has a cult-like following. The new generation Mazda MX-5 keeps getting rave reviews and seems true to the MX-5 heritage, so Mazda can probably afford to gamble on the retractable fastback as an option. But according to Mazda’s press release, “[b]y the end of the third-generation MX-5’s model life, the retractable hard top model accounted for more than half of all MX-5s sold and was popular with those who wanted all-season comfort and utility”.
You just don’t get the open feel with a targa top removed as you do with the top down in a true convertible. My guess is Mazda will eventually see it’s way clear to adding a true retractable hard-top convertible back to the line, as they did with the third-gen MX-5, because that truly offers the comfort and quiet of a solid roof and the experience of a drop-top all in one. And based on Mazda’s own figures for the 3rd gen hardtop, the bottom line will probably make it an inevitability.
Mazda Miata MX-5 RF Image Gallery
Speedmeister.com
P.S. Thanks for reading my post and don’t forget to subscribe to get updates in your inbox. I promise we will never spam or sell your e-mail, ever! Also, add like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Google+!
All images courtesy and copyright Mazda USA
