Is Mazda Considering a Folding Hardtop for Its MX-5 Lineup?

Retractable Hardtop Would Help Mazdas Budget-Priced Roadster Reach a Wider Audience

According to insiders, Mazda is preparing to add a new member to the MX-5 range. While most are expecting the gain to be the performance-tweaked Mazdaspeed variant, complete with suspension mods, turbo and bucktooth intercooler, the Japanese firm is expected to pull a surprise out of its bag of tricks in the near future. Instead of the Mazdaspeed variant, which is still a prospect down the road, it has been rumored to be creating a folding hard top version of the famous two-seater.

Though theres little chance that Mazda is in a position of losing its designated title of best-selling roadster of all time, recent entries from General Motors (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky), plus an overall growth in the two-seat roadster segment has had an impact on Mazdas segment share. Recent updates in performance and refinement have also led the MX-5 into competition with pricier roadsters, as it now poses a formidable threat against the base-level Audi TT and BMW Z4 roadsters, among others.

In order to solidify its strength in the market further, Mazdas may add a folding hard top model. What was once a limited offering from Mercedes-Benz in high-end luxury models, has become available to the consumer in vehicles of all sizes and price ranges. Volkswagen, Volvo, and even Pontiac will soon enter the retractable hardtop fray with their respective Eos, C70 and G6 Convertible, delivering the practical dual personality of a coupe and convertible, without breaking the bank.

The difference between the Mazda variant and those from other carmakers is that the sporty Japanese brand is said to be pursuing the project in-house. Advancements in technology and design have allowed such a task to be developed and constructed in the MX-5s production facility, and being that the addition of a folding hardtop wouldnt involve major body or structural work, given that the MX-5 was designed as a convertible from its very blueprints, it would be a very feasible way to enhance a car that is already considered by many to be the best value in the roadster segment.

Furthermore, no one on the inside of Mazda has leaked what type of folding roof would be used. A three-piece folding metal roof seems to be the most popular option according to those in the know; it would be operated electrically and the three-piece roof would be stowed in the trunk. How much space the roof would occupy is unknown, but it would most likely compromise the majority of the cars total cargo capacity when the roof is retracted.

Another possibility, considering the fact that the MX-5 features a manually operated cloth roof, is for the adaptation of a manual roof system composed of lightweight aluminum or composite panels. This route is more along the lines of the MX-5s pure, sports-car ethos, and would not have the same adverse effects on the cars weight distribution or weight.

Another issue Mazda must face is how to incorporate the system into the MX-5s rather tight confines. Most vehicles to feature a folding hardtop appear disproportionate, with stretched rear overhangs to enable ample storage of the folded roof without robbing the car of too much trunk space. Without a desire to recast moulds for fenders or trunk lids, design integrity being high on the list of priorities for Mazdas project managers, Mazda would need to get creative in designing its retractable roof mechanism.

Either way, the addition of a hard-top model for the MX-5 would create even greater appeal for the model. While many owners love the Miata for its unpolluted handling, and ability to embarrass sports cars with much fatter price tags, its not exactly the most practical vehicle for year-round use in soft-top guise. One might think of a new folding hardtop variant would be an active yet retractable shield against the elements, vandalism and break-ins.

In the final days of the previous generation model, Mazda introduced the Miata Coupe, a streamlined hardtop version of its MX-5 geared towards performance enthusiasts. The added metal structure improved rigidity, increasing the cars dynamics and poise. Produced as a limited-run, domestic market vehicle, pent up worldwide demand for the Miata Coupe has opened Mazdas eyes to the potential of alternative models within the line.

Should Mazda give the MX-5 retractable hardtop the green light, it would most likely arrive sometime during mid to late 2006 as a 2007 model-year product. Pricing would be approximately $3,000 to $4,000 higher than the current MX-5.