When the top is closed, the MX-5 Roadster Coupe is only 10 mm higher than the soft top model; while width, length, wheelbase and track remain identical.

Another goal of development was to make the hard top as compact and stylish as possible. Its tautly curved shape makes the passenger compartment seem compact. Only the need to stow the hard top behind the seats, and not in the boot, prevented a flatter, more wedged-shaped design here. 16 To prevent the roof from seeming too upright, relatively slim B-pillar designs were employed. Added to this is a contoured edge on both sides of the roof, which optically unifies its front and middle sections.



High-Mount Brake Light with a White instead of Red Lens

A new design accent is created by the MX-5 Roadster Coupe's high-mount brake light. It is placed further forward than that of the soft top model, is thinner and uses a white lens instead of a red one. The rear combination lights and rear bumper are absolutely identical with those of the soft top version.

The new Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe will be offered with seven exterior colours, including two all-new colours - Stormy Blue Mica and Highland Green Mica (depending on market). These new colours deliver exciting contrasts in different light conditions.


Two Buttons on the Centre Stack Operate the Hard Top

Changes to the interior include the addition of a pair of buttons to open and close the retractable hard top, each located on either side of the hazard-warning button in the upper section of the dashboard centre stack. There is also an indicator lamp that illuminates to warn the driver if, for instance, the roof does not completely lock into place upon closing.

There are also subtle changes made to the area behind and between the seats. The two storage recesses behind the seats are dropped from the Roadster Coupe - valuable inches that were put to good use stowing the retractable roof. Remaining small-storage compartments can be found in the large centre console box. The semi-bucket sport seats, with seatback pockets included, are carryover from the soft top model.

The new Roadster Coupe will be offered with three trim levels (depending on market). Besides black fabric upholstery, there are two leather trim packages - black and saddle-tan (light brown).


Power Retractable Hard Top - Folding into a Smaller Space

- The hard top opens/closes in only 12 seconds
- Central lock mechanism like the soft top
- Wind noise and sound levels further reduced

2006 Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe's power retractable hard top is a miracle of packaging ingenuity. It retracts into such a compact space that, with the top down, the 150-litre boot volume of the soft top remains untouched. And it couldn't be easier to use. Like the soft top MX-5, the driver must first release the centre lock located in the middle of the front roof section. After this is initiated, the driver holds down the open button and the hard top disappears in just 12 seconds (the quickest on the market today). This manoeuvre has to be done while the car is standing still.

The retractable hard top was developed by Mazda with Webasto Japan and consists of three moving sections and the rear deck cover, which is also a moving element.

A total of four electric roof motors - two on each side of the vehicle - facilitate the metamorphosis of the car from coupe to open-top roadster and back again. Before opening or closing the hard top, the windows (if in the up position) are automatically lowered by approximately 100 mm to make sure there is enough room for the roof to fold back unimpeded.

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