those pictures are .. damn ugly

 

MMMmm

This is quite old news Zoom, its been talked about in the MX-5Club.com Forums 2 weeks after the latest NC Model came out in the UK earlier this year...

I think its ALL rumour..

Where is Mazda going to store it, there would be NO boot/trunk space....
What about the EXTRA 30 (55lbs) odd Kilo's in weight, what would happen to the perfect 50/50 weight distribution that the MX-5 now enjoys?

YES, as far as I know Mazda Japan did look at it initially and went No further for the reasons I mentioned....BUT, I could be wrong?...

I just think it would STUFF up a perfectly balanced roadster..
Go BUY the removable hardtop if the need is there...

I think its all talk by What car....

There is though a rumour that an independent car optioner in the UK was going to manufacture an after market bolt on....not made by Mazda...perhaps this is the scoop?

 

^^^ those pics are of the NB MX-5 and are of fixed Coupe models, they were available with 3 different variations (nose jobs) and only Japan Domestic, no longer made of course.

NONE were CC Convertible hardtops..

 

Yep. I happen to like the front end style of the yellow one the best. Here are the other two styles. The silver one is normal trim I suppose, the red car's nose looks a little RX8-ish.

 

Perhaps, but let's have fun and speculate anyway.

Mazda has been quite clever about some innovations in other cars. While a hardtop almost definitely would take up more space than a softtop, I could entirely see Mazda having a design that minimizes the space taken by a folded hardtop. A "flat fold", that takes up minimal space across the top of the trunk? A Z-folding/3 fold top that tucks neatly and succintly into the trunk?

A hardtop 'vert is targeted to a different market. Those who want the lightweight pure roadster will go for the softop. Those who are willing to sacrifice a bit of weight for the security and "cushiness" of a hardtop will be intrigued by the alternative. The hardtop may draw people in who previously dismissed the softop due to those reasons.

A removable hard top is meant to be put on for extended periods, such as through the winter. It is a compliemen t for a softtop. I reiterate the target markets.

 

I also think it's just a rumour that was taken too seriously by What Car, and repeating by some other smaller websites. The pictures of the red Tin Top MX5 illustrating the article is a photoshop made by a German guy. Can't find the original website anymore.
I don't know of any car manufacturer stupid enough to develop and market both a folded hardtop and softop on exactly the same model.
We'll see.

 

I always found this concept pretty cool looking http://www.mazda.co.jp/customize/roadstercoupe/