IT’S ton-up time for Britain’s favourite roadster, the car which brought affordable wind in the hair motoring to the masses.
Some 20 years since it first arrived in the UK, the Mazda MX-5 has passed another milestone with sales of the iconic model topping the 100,000 mark.
Never mind the dodgy weather, Brits just love to drop the top down – so it’s no real surprise that British motorists have accounted for a whopping 40 per cent of European sales since the cool-looking Mazda’s introduction in 1990.
Today, its core design has remained untouched for three generations, the chassis retaining its classic front engine, rear wheel-drive layout while its 50/50 weight distribution ensures that drivers feel connected to the car.
And while the MX-5 enjoyed success in the UK it was also well received across the globe. It entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000 as the best-selling two-seater sports car in history and has racked up more than 178 awards.
In the UK, MX-5 earned the title of ‘Best Sports Car’ in its class in the 2010 JD Power vehicle ownership satisfaction survey and has won the ‘Best Roadster’ title for the fifth time in a row at the 2010 Auto Express awards.
Mazda UK sales director Mark Cameron said: “The MX-5 is a car that people not only aspire to, but can afford to run and enjoy driving on a daily basis. It is a fun car that makes each journey an enjoyable experience – a car that encompasses Mazda’s soul.”