Less than a week after the presentation of the 2013 model year MX-5 Roadster in Japan, Mazda has lifted the veils off the European model that will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September before going on sale later in the fall.
The European MX-5 in both soft-top and retractable hard-top guises sports more or less the same changes as its JDM sibling with the front of the roadster model adopting a more aggressive front bumper design that houses a reshaped front grille and fog-lamp surrounds.
The 2013 model has been equipped with a new “active bonnet” pedestrian protection system that automatically raises the car’s hood if a pedestrian impact is detected.
There’s also a new Dolphin Grey exterior finish that replaces the Metropolitan Grey hue, while inside, the panel décor and matching steering wheel spokes have been upgraded.
Finally, Mazda engineers have tweaked the MX-5’s throttle response on manual gearbox models to give the driver “more control when accelerating from a reduced speed”, and revised the vacuum brake-booster characteristics to optimize brake return control.
Pricing for the 2013 MX-5 will be announced closer to the launch date.
PHOTO GALLERY
