Folding hardtop MX-5 on the way

Mazda has begun production of the retractable hardtop version of its current MX-5, writes Brian Byrne. Sales of the car will start in Europe in early 2017. They're calling it the MX-5 RF (for Retractable Fastback).

The car has an individual design and the 3-part roof leaves the rear buttressed section in place when retracted.

Total production of the MX-5 reached 1m units on 22 April this year.  Among the more than 280 awards won by the model are 2016 World Car of the Year and 2016 World Car Design of the Year for the current fourth-generation MX-5.