Mazda Motor Corporation revealed the Mazda MX-5 RF – retractable fastback on the eve of press days at the New York Auto Show. The power roof can be opened or closed at speeds of up to 10 km/h. The roof is stowed efficiently – it’s claimed – because RF has the same amount of trunk space as the soft-top model.
The RF will have either the Skyactiv-G 1.5 or Skyactiv-G 2.0 gasoline engine, depending on the market. The North American model will have the 2.0-liter.
RF will be available in Machine Gray, a new “premium” color. Machine Gray is Mazda’s second premium color following Soul Red.
Machine Gray will appear several Mazda models, including the all-new Mazda CX-9 due to go on sale in North America this spring.
Is Paint Just Paint?
With a strong contrast between light and shadow and a high-density finish, Machine Grey allegedly gives the impression that the vehicle’s body has been sculpted from a solid steel ingot.
Traditionally, achieving such a finish was only possible with hand-painted concept cars using paint containing extremely thin aluminum flakes applied in multiple layers. Mazda claims it has made it possible to achieve the look on mass-production vehicles using a three-coat paint structure consisting of color, reflective and clear coats.
