Mazda MX-5 Miata Roadster Coupe – full details

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Mazda MX-5 Miata Roadster Coupe – full details

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In pursuit of a smooth, compact retraction arrangement that would neither compromise the MX-5’s distinctive roadster styling nor involve a major weight increase, many concepts using a variety of component shapes, materials, and activation mechanisms were tried. A new combination of light, highly formable and stiff plastics for the roof sections was a big part of the solution.

Roof-opening and roof-closing operations are initiated using buttons that flank the hazard-warning button and with reference to an indicator lamp that’s located beside the buttons. The operations are quietly effected by two roof motors and two rear-deck motors, which are all controlled by a dedicated electronic control unit.

The user must manually apply a centre lock (this is identical to that of the soft-top model) to retain the roof after closing it. And the user must release the centre lock before opening the roof. These requirements help to enhance safety. The indicator lamp allows the user to check whether the roof is presently locked or unlocked.

If the user releases the ‘open’ or ‘close’ button part-way through a roof movement, the indicator lamp comes on and warning beeps are emitted for 10 seconds as a safety warning.

Whereas electrically retractable hard tops on cars made by other companies use boot space for roof storage, Mazda’s unique Power Retractable Hard Top leaves the boot space untouched by retracting entirely within the cabin. Consequently, luggage capacity is not compromised and roof-opening and roof-closing operations can be performed quickly and easily. The speed and ease with which the roof can be opened and closed, regardless of luggage, minimize interruptions in driving enjoyment.

The in-boot roof-retraction arrangement of competitor models leaves a greatly reduced amount of space for luggage (up to 93% of the boot’s luggage capacity is sacrificed in the worst case when the roof is stowed) and can force the user to remove luggage from the boot before the roof can be opened. With most models, the user must also get out of the car and manually position a partition board in the boot before starting to open the roof. And since the roof and partition board obstruct the boot opening, they impede the loading and unloading of luggage.

The advantages of the Power Retractable Hard Top mean that a person in the MX-5 Roadster Coupe can open and close the roof quickly and easily, without needing to step out of the car, and without losing luggage capacity. The boot has the same deep, capacious design as that of the soft-top model. It has a capacity of 150 litres (VDA) and can hold bulky items such as a case of a dozen 1.5 litre beverage bottles.

As well as ensuring that the Power Retractable Hard Top has no impact on the boot space, Mazda made it as user-friendly as possible in terms of ease of operation, safety of operation, and look and feel.

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