Mazda MX-5 here from $31,990 BOCs
BY DANIEL GARDNER | 19th May 2015
To be priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, when it arrives in showrooms in August, the cult classic is just $2000 more expensive that the runaway success and one of its key rivals, the Toyota 86 coupe.
Since the model's introduction in the late 1980s, its price has insidiously crept skywards, allowing competitors such as the Toyota and its Subaru BRZ twin to sneak in and steal some of the attention.
With a significant price reduction, Mazda is vying to take back a chunk of the affordable sportscar market from the likes of the Toyota and Subaru, as well as other small sporty numbers such as the $24,190 Kia Koup.
It will also have the popular Hyundai Veloster in its sights which currently sells for $24,490, but an upcoming mid-life facelift this month may be accompanied by a price revision.
The all-new fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 will initially be available with a 1.5-litre SkyActiv four-cylinder engine, delivering 96kW and 150Nm of torque, but it will be joined by a 116kW/201Nm 2.0-litre version later this year.
Mazda has only specified the entry level cost, but moving up from the six-speed manual transmission to the automatic option is likely to attract a premium over the base cost.
Performance details are also yet to be released but with a bantamweight 1009kg mass, the little Mazda should get to 100km/h from standstill in about 7.0 seconds.
With the new car, Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders said the company is planning to attract a more youthful audience, drawn to the sportscar by its more attractive price, rear-drive handling and top-down motoring fun.
“For those that know, love or own an MX-5, the arrival of an all-new model is always cause for excitement,” he said.
“We believe that the sharp entry pricing for the new ND will inspire a new generation of younger MX-5 buyers to experience the freedom and enjoyment of open-top motoring.
“The All-New Mazda MX-5 is in many ways the rebirth of an icon.”Last year Mazda sold just 118 of the outgoing MX-5 model compared with the landslide Toyota 86, which scored 4257 registrations, 3405 for the Hyundai Veloster and 1112 for Subaru's BRZ.
