Mazda's popular MX-5 roadster has come in for one final update before its successor arrives, with the order books opening for Australia this week.

Due for a showroom debut later this year, the updated 2013 MX-5 gets a number of exterior and interior tweaks, along with a handful of small enhancements to the driving experience.

For 2013, the updated roadster picks up a new front bumper, featuring a new take on Mazda's five-point grille and new foglight housings - both inspired by the MX-5 Spyder concept.

Inside, there's a new gloss-grey treatment to the dash's decoration panel, along with the steering wheel bezel and instrument meter rings.

There are also new wheel options, new exterior colours and new interior trim colour options.

Mechanically, the 2013 MX-5 gets adjustments to the manual mode of its throttle management program for more responsive acceleration.

There's also an update to the brake booster designed to deliver better balance in front-rear load distribution.

Engine specifications remain unchanged, with the 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine producing 118kW and 188Nm of torque.

The MX-5 also picks up a new pop-up active bonnet for 2013, improving passenger safety in the event of an accident.

Australia

The 2013 MX-5 will hit Australia in the coming months.

Pricing details are still to be confirmed, but buyers will no doubt be watching closely to see if the newly-launched and sharply-priced Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ will have an impact.

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• reply ” like !

  

  Ben says,
  9 months ago

  1 like

  This deserves to fail miserably due to ludicrous price Oz Mazda charges for these things.
  Toyota & Subaru have called them on it with their realistic and in line with other markets pricing of the 86/BRZ.
  
  A price of around $30K would be realistic, not the >$50K that will be asked (based on current pricing). This is supposed to be a back to basics car - why the massively inflated cost????
  
  And there's Mazda's servicing costs - a basic oil filter change for the MX5 was $560. Compare that to the fixed price $170 Toyota service.
  
  No, I don't work for Toyota - I'm just a very disgruntled (now former) MX5 owner.
  At least they've got rid of the stupid grinning front end.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Lindsay says,
    9 months ago

    "At least they've got rid of the stupid grinning front end."
    
    But they haven't!
• reply ” like !

  

  Steve says,
  9 months ago

  1 like

  How do they get so little power out of a 2L engine?
• reply ” like !

  Ward Paterson says,
  9 months ago

  1 like

  Needs more SE Turbo......
• reply ” like !

  

  Ben says,
  9 months ago

  "But they haven't!"
  I guess not. I had only looked at the blue one at the top of the article, didn't look too bad from that angle.
  
  "How do they get so little power out of a 2L engine?"
  Indeed, it's a gutless bugger too with terribly high gearing. In, through (but not out of) corners though - WOW!
• reply ” like !

  

  Dave cooper says,
  9 months ago

  where do you live. In the States the mx5 start at 23K $ and an oil change low as 15$ if you do it yourself. the top of the line model comes in at 32k with all options.