MAZDA is reaping the rewards of its investment in the all-new MX-5 roadster model with sales up by more than a third.
Even during the dark month of November, 385 of the new MX-5 models found homes in the UK in comparison to 295 during the same month in the previous year.
This trend has switched into overdrive so far this year with an increase of more than a third and an even higher percentage increase in orders for March.
The new model has been given a further boost by being voted Roadster of the Year by Top Gear and Test Drive motoring magazines.
Although the latest incarnation of the world's best selling roadster stays largely faithful to the original it is more masculine with flared wheel arches, a larger cabin and an increased engine size of two-litres with 160bhp plus a six-speed gearbox on offer.
Prices start at £15,600 for the 1.8-litre version with a five-speed transmission, 122mph top speed and acceleration to 60mph in just under nine and a half seconds.
Not exactly in the Porsche class perhaps, but the road-holding is outstanding and there is also the new two-litre version that lifts power to 158bhp, raises the top speed to 130mph and reduces the 0-60mph time to 7.9 seconds.
Opt for the £18,900 Sport version and you get the same performance but gain alloy wheels and leather upholstery.
Mazda says it is now reappraising its predictions for the car in the UK this year and would dearly love to secure an increased allocation from the factory in Japan.
However, fellow Japanese rival Toyota aims to give the MX-5 a run for its money with revisions to the MR2, which at £17,150 offers near-identical performance from its 1.8-litre 138bhp engine which is mounted amidships to drive the rear wheels.
The two-litre MX-5 is in insurance group 13 and retains 58 per cent of its original value over three years. The MR2 is in the same insurance group and achieves a similarly creditable retention value, making them remarkably evenly matched on all counts.