2018 Mazda MX-5 RF Limited Edition first drive review
Sports cars are a fickle business.
When a new model arrives buyers looking for thrills and style waste little time rushing out and buying the latest new model. But typically within a year or two those sales peaks head downwards before hitting a plateau.
Hence why cars like this one exist. It’s the Mazda MX-5 RF Limited Edition which, as the name implies, is a small batch of specially equipped models that the Japanese brand hopes will inspire would-be customers to take the plunge on the iconic sports car.
The concept is very simple. Mazda will offer 110 examples of the car (15 of which have already been snapped up by eager customers) based on the folding hardtop RF (Retractable Fastback) GT model but loaded with some optional extras for added appeal.
Those extras include a ‘Kuroi Sports Pack’ bodykit which incorporates a larger front airdam, deeper side skirts and a new rear bumper. At each corner are new 17-inch black BBS alloy wheels, while up front there are four-piston red Brembo brake calipers. Underneath is a new purpose-built strut brace for added torsional rigidity and new Bilstein dampers.
Inside the cabin there are new Recaro sports seats and Australian customers will get a custom-made Seiko Mazda sports wrist watch.
All these added goodies add up to a drive-away price of $55,790 for the Limited Edition, a $7400 increase over the standard RF GT (which doesn’t include on-road costs).
Mechanically it has the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 118kW and 200Nm of torque, and is exclusively paired with a six-speed manual transmission (there are no automatics available for the Limited Edition as Mazda Australia is pitching it at enthusiast drivers).
In theory adding all these big brand name parts is a foolproof method of improving the MX-5. However, a big part of the charm of the current generation MX-5 is the way the suspension is set-up deliberately softer than most of its rivals. Instead of trying to make the little convertible sit as flat as possible in the corners, the MX-5 will roll and almost lean itself into corners. While it’s unusual, by modern standards, it makes for a fun sports car drive.
The RF was already slightly stiffer in its suspension than the soft-top Roadster and the addition of the new Bilstein shocks and strut brace make it even more so. But, based on our initial test drive this week, there’s still a degree of roll and lean which has become the trademark of the MX-5.
The trade-off is the ride feels busier, especially on country roads with repeated smaller bumps. On the plus side the changes have made the steering slightly sharper and more responsive, something that will make it more appealing to the enthusiasts Mazda is chasing.
The rest of the package is what we’ve come to expect from the MX-5. The 2.0-litre engine isn’t overwhelming, but there’s enough grunt to get the MX-5 moving along at speed if you get it wound up; remembering the RF only tips the scales at just over 1000kg. You do have to work the transmission pretty hard to keep it on the boil though, as the peak torque doesn’t arrive until the second half of the rev range.
For those worried that the Limited Edition package would spoil the character of the MX-5, the news is good. These are ultimately subtle changes that add up to a slightly sharper car for those looking for a fresh reason to buy that sports car they’ve always wanted.
2018 Mazda MX-5 RF Limited Edition price and specifications
Price: $55,790 drive-away
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 118kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4600rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.0L/100km