As a whole, MX-5 continues to be the torchbearer for those who enjoy the journey as much as the destination. MX-5’s popularity is proof that, amid ever-increasing automation, there’s little that will ever be as satisfying as a perfect heel-toe downshift or a Sunday morning with empty backroads and miles ahead to enjoy. Following the success of the third-generation MX-5 PRHT (power retractable hardtop), Mazda went a very different direction with the design of its power-folding fourth-gen. Called the MX-5 RF—for retractable fastback—the latest version of Mazda’s longstanding sports car was seen as the tuxedo complement to the roadster’s track suit. Its top took all of 13 seconds to go from closed to open, or vice versa.
