When you have produced nearly 900,000 vehicles of a particular model and sold 100,000 in the UK, I think it is safe to say you have a success on your hands and a global product that the world is aware of writes Bob Hickman.

It is difficult to believe now that the Mark 1 version of the MX5 is already 21 years old. Since its launch in 1989 the MX5 has continued to sell and sell in abundance.

In fact since 2000 the MX5 has been in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most successful open two-seater vehicle ever.

The concept of the original MX5 has been retained through its various versions and derivatives.

The simple idea was you place the engine at the front and drive the rear wheels; you have a 50/50 weight distribution, a classic two-seater design with a large, long bonnet and a short rear end.

You then place a wheel effectively at each corner and this gives you a perfectly balanced vehicle, which is both exhilarating and stimulating to drive and also a pleasure to own and to look at.

There was never a need for out and out sheer power or huge engines to derive maximum satisfaction from both the driving dynamics and the ownership of the MX5.

Never has a vehicle proved the point more so that it was unnecessary to have a powerful engine, the joy of MX5 driving was to find a small quiet B road and then push the agile handling chassis along well within the speed limits.

Here was a vehicle that was happier in this terrain than trundling along motorways or high-speed gallops, not to say that it wasn’t comfortable and able to do that, but this was never the forte of the MX5.

The third generation of MX5 has the designers deciding to introduce a powered, retractable hardtop to the range.

The three-panel hardtop of the Roadster Coupe is extremely lightweight and made of high quality plastic composite.

It folds back in such a compact space behind the seats that it is gratifying to note that the 150 litres of boot space remains untouched and it is still possible to get a golf bag into the boot.

One design feature that meant engineers always held an advantage over other manufacturers is the MX5 was always designed to be a soft top.

Other manufacturers with a coupe had the problem of how to retain rigidity when you remove the roof; MX5 designers had no such problems, in fact the addition of a hardtop has, if anything, aided and improved the already agile handling dynamics in stiffening up the vehicle in a way that was previously not possible.

The retractable hard top MX-5 offers exhilarating driving

The designers have worked carefully to ensure that the MX5 retains its smooth, pleasurable looks and the rear end design gives the Roadster coupe its own unique personality.

From the front bumper to the back edge of the doors both the soft top and coupe are identical, but to provide stowage space for the hard top certain changes had to be made to the rear bumper and the boot area.

Therefore the front edge of the coupe’s rear section of the lid is just a little bit higher than the soft top.

The designers have also managed to achieve a simple method of the hood folding; there isn’t a plethora of electrics and hydraulic motors, which could go wrong.

To lower the roof is simplicity in itself — first the driver manually opens the central locking mechanism in the middle of the windscreen then he holds down a button in the centre console and the automatic top is stowed behind the seats.

To close is again simplicity, just press the close button and the roof reverts to its normal situation. The driver then clicks the locking mechanism back in to place.

Power for the new Roadster coupe is a choice of two aluminium, four-cylinder engines, a 1.8 litre producing 126 bhp or a 2-litre petrol producing 160 bhp.

These power plants allow a top speed of 123mph and 136 mph respectively. The 0-60 traffic light grand prix can be achieved in 9.9 seconds and 7.9 seconds.

What is probably more interesting is the fuel consumption, the 1.8 should return about 40 mpg while the bigger 2.0 should return a figure of about 38mpg both on the combined cycle.

The 1. 8 litre comes as standard with a five-speed gearbox and it is not until you move towards the Roadster 2-litre Sport that a six-speed manual transmission becomes standard equipment.

The level of standard equipment is quite high, for example, 16-inch, five–spoke alloy wheels, climate controlled air conditioning, both driver and passenger get front and side air bags, ABS with EBD is also a feature, together with remote control central locking with deadlocks.

A Thatcham Category 1 anti-theft alarm and immobiliser together with electric front windows and electric/ heated door mirrors are included. The leather-covered steering wheel is height adjustable and includes audio controls.

A radio with a single CD audio system with six speakers completes the standard package.

As you would expect options are available to up the specification to include leather seating and different styles of alloy wheels.

One major feature is a Bose audio system with a six-CD changer is available on the top specification 2-litre Sport.

My 2-litre Sport tech model was driven with relish, the Roadster Coupe proved to be yet again a gem in the Mazda stable.

Previous derivatives have always been a pleasure to both drive and own, and this new vehicle fits ably in to the portfolio.

It handled superbly, there was little if any discernable wind noise, and certainly the panel fit of the roof section was as tight as the proverbial drum.

The seating position was superb, with the roof in its down position it was pleasurable to note that the only little bit of wind in the hair aspect came actually over the top of the windscreen.

There was no annoying swirl round the back of the neck that is so prevalent in a lot of convertible vehicles.

The similarity of driving between the MX5 and my own 1973 Midget was amazing, both have agile reassuring handling, the main difference was in the amount of power that the MX5 had over the diminutive 1,275 cc in my Midget.

I firmly believe the early pop up headlamp version MX5 will soon assume classic status and I’ve started to look for one.

There can be no doubt that the Mazda MX5 Roadster Coupe will continue to win friends and will be a huge success. Prices range from £17,245 to £22,730.

A three-year or 60,000 mile warranty is provided together with a three-year European Roadside Assistance Package.