Mazda has celebrated its centennial with some special models of its most popular vehicles, including a limited edition MX-5 soft-top roadster.

The company was started 100 years ago at Horoshima, Japan as as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co and produced it first vehicle, the Mazda R360 coupe, in 1960. The R360 is a kei car, which are the smallest class of vehicles legal at highway speed in Japan.

The MX-5 was launched in 1989 as fun roadster made for everyone, rather than just being a sports car. The MX-5 then went on to be the best selling roadster in the world, with the USA taking a shine to the car that is badge Miata there. On April 22, 2016, Mazda broke its Guinness World Record by producing its one millionth MX-5.

Mazda New Zealand has launched a selection of its cars as Centennial models, all have a number of exclusive details and badging, including rich burgundy leather and Snowflake White Pearl paint. 

The MX-5 roadster (priced at $51,095) has a burgundy roof, inspired by the R360. There is also a hard-top version, technically known as the RF (retractable fastback), for $6000 more.

To make it every more exciting, the MX-5 soft-top roadster is only available as a six-speed manual transmission, so it’s time to warm up your left knee!

The manual also comes with a limited-slip differential to help keep with traction and prevent excessive power to wheels.

The 100th anniversary MX-5 rear-wheel-drive keeps the 2-litre, in-line four cylinder 16 valve petrol engine that produces 135kW of power and 205Nm of torque. 

It also keeps the usual MX-5 package of 17in alloys, reversing camera (you need it when the roof is on), plus blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert and parking sensors.

The 100th Anniversary MX-5 comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, heated leather seats, Bose sound system with speakers in the headrest.

Exclusive “100 Years 1920–2020” badges are situated by the door and middle of the wheels.

Inside, you’ll find sophisticated red leather seats and red carpet. The red floor mats contain the same logo while the seats’ headrests are embossed with the 100th Anniversary special logo. Mazda even thought to create a unique key fob with this special edition, embossing it with the 100th Anniversary special logo. 

AutoMuse had the centennial soft-top model to test, and the the MX-5 produces gokart-like elements on the road. A long stint on the motorway showed it as a nimble tourer, and with the roof on due to inclement weather, I was grateful for the blind spot monitoring system.

The manual took me a while to get used to, but I liked the short ratios in the transmission so you get to the optimum gear with ease. And if you are struggling to work out which gear you should be in, there is a digital read out in the dash that tells you what gear you should move from and be in, i.e 3-5.

I liked the light steering that’s responsive and I loved flinging it up tight corners on the drive to Parihoa.

Once I was at the farm, AutoMuse co-founder Matt Chapman took it for a spin. So what did he think?

“Mazda has sold 1.1 million MX-5s since 1989 and it’s said to be the biggest seller roadster on the planet. I still see why, having driven the latest edition.

As an owner of two MX-5s along my journey, one in 2002 and the other in 2008, being series 2 and series 3 models respectively, it’s a treat to now get to try series 4.

Mazda hasn’t messed with the formula and my passion for this car remains. It’s nimble and petite. It’s a serious two-seater intimate conversation oriented car. It’s fun in the sun and easy to use. I think it’s the simplicity that still attracts me with the MX-5 formula.

It’s got enough power to be playful via the six-speed manual. Yes, it could have more power but it would then lose the point. I love the front lights – the little slits – but the rear round lights I am less keen on, but that said they do keep up the fun theme. Our white example with red seats looked just perfect and I said to Liz as we parted ‘I’d like this in my garage!’.”