2007 Mazda MX-5 GT PRHT

The timeless roadster gets a new hat

Mazda has added a power metal top to it's MX5. It increases the weight and cost of a classic affordable roadster that was about as perfect a

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

balance of price to performance and weight to power as could be. Tampering with perfection on this level seems to defy logic. Spock would be turning over in his grave.

Or would he?

The new power top adds a level of convenience, and though the cloth top is devilishly simple and quick, today's consumer often wants "push-button" ease of use wherever possible. So that's what Mazda's offered: a clever roof mechanism that disappears in seconds with a button press. As a win-win proposition for you gadget fanatics, there is no penalty to trunk space either.

Being made of metal, not cloth, means the roof is heavier, better insulated and aims the car squarely at those who don't plan to store their toys in the wintertime.

And why not?

A small, light roadster like the MX5 handles wintry conditions better than

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

you might think. It's nimble, reacting quickly and precisely to any steering input. The chassis communicates telepathically and you can actually feel a loss of front-wheel traction in your fingertips as a slight unsettling of the steering wheel. It's got great brakes, a low centre of gravity and a nearly spot-on 50/50 weight distribution. Long story short, throw on a set of snow tires and enjoy.

But in the snow? Am I crazy, I can hear you ask? Yes, of course I am: I'm a full time automotive journalist.

Mazda's third iteration of the classic roadster sees elegant lines and a modern take on a classic side profile with exaggerated, bulging wheel wells. The overall impression is that of a small body upon a much larger platform- a look which shouts stability and poise.

It's no empty threat.

Aluminum colored roll bars peek out from the rear glass window, visible in any lighting to serve as a reminder that even with the metal roof, the MX5 is geared for top down fun. From any angle it looks great, but the controversial front end styling isn't everybody's cup of tea with its cute, rounded face and slim lights.

Competitors like the Saturn Sky or Pontiac Solstice look like they're out for a

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

fight, while Mazda's roadster looks like its ready to go on a picnic. Visually, it's a tadpole swimming in a sea of sharks.

But looks aren't everything, and the performance story is all good news.

A 2.0 litre MZR powerplant mounted behind the front axle under the aluminum hood provides propulsion, and the engine itself is made out of aluminum too, so its very light. With 166 horsepower, motivation is adequate and the short gears allow speed to be piled on rather quickly. The GS level tester was fitted with the performance package which is a must for tackling wintertime roads. It includes a limited slip differential and Dynamic Stability Control system. It's always on high alert - numbing the throttle and braking as needed at even the slightest hint of a skid. Good thing too, because in the wintertime, a small skid can become exponentially larger in no time flat.