The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF—fancy new looks, same great driving

When the Mazda MX-5 Miata hit the streets in 1989, it showed the world that an affordable, reliable, and extremely fun sports car wasn't an oxymoron. Consequently it sold like hotcakes, to the point where Mazda is unapologetic about the fact that the MX-5 saved the company. The MX-5 is in its fourth generation, known as the ND to Miataphiles, and the latest variant-the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF-is finally here.

RF stands for "retractable fastback," which means this is an MX-5 with a hardtop that folds away. It's not the first MX-5 with a folding hardtop; that was an option with the previous-generation car. But this is the first one to look quite different from the regular soft-top car. While the roof above your head can be stowed in seconds, the car retains its fastback shape thanks to the buttresses that slope down behind the doors.

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