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The New Mazda MX5 – King Of The B-Road

second gear thrust to know that the
MX5 is the real thing.
With a modest engine you can’t
expect scorching performance (and
what’s the point anyway in the
UK?) but, by keeping the revs high,
you can experience the sensations
on any of our ruined roads. But
a peppy engine is not much use
low to the ground. Around the without the handling to go with
B-roads of Wiltshire the ride was it. This is where the Mazda really
exhilarating. scores. You feel connected with
Geoff Maxted of Drivewrite.co.uk takes the latest Mazda With just 129bhp, the 1.5L MX-5 the road, there’s grip that will keep
going long after your nerves have
MX5 for a spin (prices start from £18,500; model
as tested £23,105 including special failed, which means cornering
Do you remember your first time? look a tad lardy and so the Japanese paint), undercuts the 158bhp 2.0L ability is outstanding. It is possible
That’s right, the first time you company have returned to their by around £800 depending on to introduce a little oversteer,
stepped into a car with a fully ‘Kodo – Soul of Motion’ design options. However, it does without a especially when the roads are
loaded licence and experienced philosophy and produced a car that strut brace, limited-slip differential damp, but there’s sufficient advance
the joys of the open road? Well, no is smaller, lighter and better looking and – in 2.0 Sport trim – Bilstein warning to ease off and correct.
matter how sated with driving you than its predecessor. dampers and sports suspension The 1.5L MX5 convertible is a
may now be, it is still possible to Two four-cylinder engines are on fitted to the more aggressive and living thing and an absolute joy to
rediscover those halcyon days by offer with 1.5 litres (47mpg) and faster bigger brother. drive; plus the beauty of it is that
simply treating yourself to the new 2.0 litres (40mpg) and, surprisingly, On our county’s lovely back roads you can have all this fun without
Mazda MX5. it is the smaller motor that delivers it is, as our American cousins breaking the law. Your driving
This diminutive soft-top has been the most pleasure. It isn’t fast, with insist on saying, a sweet ride. The licence will remain chaste. If you
around in various iterations since the benchmark 62mph arriving in naturally aspirated engine (Mazda crave more power then the 2.0L is
1989 and Mazda have been true a modest 8.3 seconds but it feels eschew the turbocharger) delivers the way to go but in my opinion,
to the simple formula of a front- fast and that’s the important thing. linear, long-revving power right even without the performance
engined, rear-wheel drive sports car The driving position is laid back and to the red-line on the prominent kit on the more powerful version,
since then. It is fair to say that the relaxed and the sensation of speed tachometer. Low-powered or not, smaller is better. Old school driving
previous model was beginning to is as a result of the driver sitting you only need one corner and one as it should be.

swindonlink.com n November 2015 35