Skip to main content

Mazda’s folding-hardtop MX-5 RF begins accepting pre-orders at $33,850

2017-mazda-mx-5-miata-rf
2017 Mazda MX-5 RF
Mazda’s hotly anticipated folding-hardtop MX-5 Miata finally gets a price tag. Pre-orders for the 2017 MX-5 RF Launch Edition will be accepted starting at 12 p.m. PT today.

Only 1,000 examples of the Launch Edition RF are pegged for production, each starting at $33,850 for the 6-speed manual and $34,925 for the 6-speed automatic. Which transmission you prefer is your only option for these first PRHT models when you put down a $500 refundable deposit. Deliveries for the Launch Edition RF’s will begin in February of 2017.

Unique to these first 1,000 models is a Machine Gray Metallic paint job, Auburn Nappa leather interior trim with a hand-painted black roof panel, and bespoke doorsill plates. These features won’t be available on other hardtop Miatas, so if you desperately need that black roof, you only have one chance.

Read More: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

“After a tremendously positive response to our global reveal of the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, we knew we had to do something unique for the MX-5 RF Launch Edition,” said Robert Davis, senior VP, U.S. operations, MNAO. “Exclusive access to the presale is a way we can offer something special to our most loyal customers who can’t wait to get behind the wheel of one of the most anticipated vehicles in Mazda history.”

The folding hardtop version of the new MX-5 is expected to ride a bit softer than its convertible counterpart as a “grand touring” option in the MX-5 portfolio. Don’t expect the sports car to turn mushy, but with the added weight of a hardtop and softer springs, it may be slightly slower around a track or curvy mountain road than the ragtop iteration.

If you are thinking of grabbing a Launch Edition RF, you’d better hope for an invitation, as other special edition MX-5’s tend to sell out fast. If, however, those invited do not book all 1,000 examples, then ordering will be opened to the public on October 3. As a bonus, Mazda will throw in a custom-designed, serialized 42mm Tourneau watch with your purchase.

All prices exclude an $835 destination and handling fee.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
Are EVs safe? From battery fires to autopilot, here are the facts
Lucid Air electric car

While many people will be primarily concerned with EV range before buying their first electric vehicle, others are a little nervous about having a giant lithium-ion battery strapped to their car's undercarriage. Those things can catch fire -- just ask Chevy Bolt owners. But how much of a real danger is that? And should it prevent you from buying an EV?
What safety features do EV batteries have?
The major safety issue with lithium-ion batteries is their temperature. If they get too hot, they're prone to igniting. If they get too cold, they freeze and permanently stop working. Charge and discharge rates need to be carefully regulated too, or you'll get electrical fires. Over time, small imperfections in a battery's structure can lead to short circuits and reduced lifetime.

EVs have what are called battery management systems (BMS) to keep tabs on all of these variables. The BMS will generate warnings when needed and intervene directly by cutting off power if things get out of hand. EV battery packs also have thermal management systems. Typically, this is a closed loop of liquid coolant flowing alongside the battery cells, but air cooling and welding battery cells directly to the car chassis are also means of mitigating extreme heat.
How well do EVs handle a crash?
Since there's no engine at the front of an EV, the hood typically houses a frunk -- meaning a front trunk. This acts as a large crumple zone in the case of a head-on accident. One crash in Germany avoided casualties thanks to this inherent characteristic of electric vehicles. Crash tests bear this out. Popular EVs like the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Nissan Leaf have all received overall five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Read more
The locations of over 2 million Toyota cars were exposed for 10 years
2018 toyota yaris gazoo news specs performance teaser logo

Ever get the sense that you're being tracked? Well, if you're a Toyota driver, you may have been. Toyota has disclosed in a statement that the locations of 2,150,000 of its customers were at risk of breach between November 6, 20i3, and April 17, 2023.

Information that was at risk specifically included the vehicle GPS and navigation terminal ID number, the chassis number, and the location of the vehicle with time data. This information is related to Toyota's cloud-based Connected service, which is used to remind owners to get maintenance done, stream entertainment in the car, and help find owners during emergency situations. Users who used services like Toyota Connected, G-Link, and G-Book were potentially affected.

Read more
Big driverless buses are now serving passengers in Scotland
An autonomous Stagecoach bus.

A fleet of full-size autonomous buses is now serving passengers along a 15-mile route in Scotland in what is the first service of its kind in the U.K.

Five of the buses are running between Edinburgh to a destination that takes it across Scotland’s famous Forth Road Bridge.

Read more