Mazda MX-5 gets upgrade 26 | 11 | 2012

MAZDA HAS GIVEN its iconic MX-5 roadster a new look aimed, specifically, at improving pedestrian safety. The new model — offered with interest free finance with no deposit needed — enters Scottish showrooms on December 1, with prices ranging from £18,495-£23,595.

The latest MX-5 now features Mazda's new front end which, after detecting a collision with a pedestrian, pops-up to increase cushioning between the bonnet and hard engine components.

There's also a new model in the range. The Sport tech Nav, powered by Mazda's 2.0-litre engine, has a a 5.8-inch touch screen monitor, plus a 4GB SD card based map, and iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

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Mazda has also upped the spec of the MX-5 range. All models now benefit from a glossy dark grey dashboard panel and steering wheel inserts as standard.

Mazda has also tweaked the throttle to improve responsiveness. That apart, the car's mechanics remain unaltered.

The roadster range includes two engines. There's a choice of 124bhp 1.8-litre, which feeds the power to the rear wheels through a five-speed gearbox; or the 158bhp 2.0, with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or ‘PowerShift‘ six-speed sequential paddle-shift.

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Jim McGill