MEDICUS FEBRUARY 2016

MAZDA MX-5 1.5L ROADSTER GT

D R I V E

Nostalgia reigns with new MX-5

Dr Peter Randell

A quarter of a century and three weeks after taking delivery of the first of the three MX-5s I have owned, I picked up my test drive ND model. Lust-filled buyers had left me no option – I had the only available variant, a 1.5 litre automatic roadster GT. MX-5 DNA is obvious at first glance – the lower, wider, shorter body maintaining that characteristic long bonnet-short tail of all predecessors. The headlights are slinky almond eyes with high intensity bulbs slightly hooded, adding faint menace to the prognathic opening on the nose cone for air-cooling to the engine bay. The soft-top is the best I’ve met, taking seconds to flick-and-click up and down. Within is a new-found feeling of opulence, with soft leather steering wheel and gear selector knob, the leather also featuring in the well- shaped seats which are perforated and heated in the GT model.

which can link to the internet via MZD Connect, enabling Pandora, Stitcher, aha and Bluetooth. There are USB ports and a 3.5mm jack for audio. The GT has a punchy Bose sound system pushing out 203 watts through nine speakers. That dash is full of nostalgic reminders. Chrome-rimmed speedo and tacho dials sit prominently in front of a now rake-adjustable smart steering wheel. The arms have controls for the phone, audio system and cruise control. Driving the car brought on warm fuzzies within a minute. That wonderful connection between driver/car/road is better than ever. Under the bonnet is a 1.5L four-cylinder high compression normally aspirated DOHC engine, producing 96kW and 150Nm. However, over 100kgm has been stripped from the earlier MX-5 and therein lies most of the mojo of this 2015 model. Steering, suspension and brakes befit the most popular sports car the world has known. Acceleration of 0-100kph in 8.3 seconds means any Falcodore will blow you into the weeds in a traffic light derby.

Top shot: The Mazda MX-5 Club of WA assembles 57 of the million cars made so far.

Don’t worry, the first corner will even things out, and your smile will widen. That automatic gearbox needs a degree of anticipation, but is fairly economical, using ~7litres per 100kms, and less in the six-speed manual. Safety is good, with airbags front and sides. ABS, EBD, EBA, Emergency Stop Signal (flashing hazard lights in a panic stop), Hill Launch Assist, pretensioners and load limiters in the seatbelts together with Traction Control System all help survival when spatially-unaware drivers with more ambition than ability hit you. Twenty-five years has brought a quantum leap in features and creature comforts to the new Mazda MX-5, but most importantly, it has maintained and even enhanced that joyful

High on the central dash is a prominent seven-inch touch screen

driving experience that seduced so many of us in 1989.

Will this be the third time the Mazda MX-5 becomes

Car Of The Year?

Past and present: The new Mazda MX 5 alongside its older avatar.

RRP from $31,990 plus ORC; this vehicle $39,990. Vehicle supplied by Osborne Park Mazda.

60 M E D I C U S F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 6