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2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Features Fake Quarter Glass and Redish Brown Leather

Even though it's about as practical as wearing flipflops in winter, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF has made every man fall in love with it at the 2016 New York Auto Show. However, the devil is always in the details, which is precisely what we looked at so you guys know what to expect from your $30,000 investment.
2017 Mazda MX-5 RF 18 photos
Photo: Newspress USA
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The first thing that struck us was the two-tone interior, which adds brownish red Nappa leather to the seats and doors, plus the same color plastic to the bottom of the dash. It's the first time red leather has been seen on a stock Miata since the 90s, and we probably have to thank the CX-9 for this treatment, as it pioneered new fine leather finishes for Mazda.

We've looked at every possible video of the RF's roof mechanism in action and have come to the conclusion that it's awesome. Mazda won't tell us what it weighs, only that it's not a whole lot more, so we predict somewhere between 110 and 150 lbs have been added. Something else they aren't telling us is that those rear quarter windows aren't windows at all, just pieces of trim painted to look like windows.

Mazda chose the Retractable Fastback design not because it was cool but because the ND is much smaller than its predecessor, so three large pieces of folding metal, like the NC had, wouldn't fit anywhere on it. What we're left with reminds us of everything from a 911 Targa to a C3 Corvette (vertical window).

The 2017 model year vehicle is expected to make its debut this summer. The engines will be carried over from the regular model, meaning a 2.0-liter producing 155 hp plus a 1.5-liter for the rest of the world. The Japanese automaker has remained quiet about the price increase, but we expect to pay $2,000 more, based on the NC model. It's a heavy premium, but not as bad as that placed on the 911 Targa.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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