The latest, stunning incarnation of the iconic Mazda MX-5 will make its European bow at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 23-26).
Unveiled to the world at the New York Motor Show in March, the MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback) features an electrically-folding hardtop roof which opens at the touch of a button in 12 seconds.
The RF features Mazda’s striking KODO: Soul of Motion design, incorporating newly-penned elements of bodywork which give the car a different side and rear profile to the standard MX-5.
Visitors to Goodwood’s Moving Motor Show will be the first to see the MX-5 RF on static display on Mazda’s main stand. And the Moving Motor Show pavilion members of the public will have the opportunity to drive the MX-5 soft-top up the famous 1.16-mile hillclimb course and see the one millionth MX-5 on display.
Elsewhere, the Mazda MX-5 Speedster concept will feature in the ‘First Glance Class’ and the MX-5 Spyder concept car will be on display in the Raise the Roof music area.
With its 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive, the RF is being touted as one of the best-handling cars in the world. The MX-5 has a rich heritage as a true driver’s car – the newest MX-5 model was one of the stars of last year’s Festival of Speed and the millionth example was built on April 22 this year, 27 years after the first MX-5 rolled off the production line.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed has become the event of the year for petrolheads, with nearly 250,000 visitors converging on the Goodwood Estate during the weekend, and some 35,000 visitors for the Moving Motor Show alone.
Thursday’s Moving Motor Show gives visitors the chance to get a pre-event sneak preview of everything the Festival of Speed will have on offer, as well as the unique chance to drive some of the newest cars, some of which are not yet on sale, on the famous Goodwood hill.
Tickets for the Moving Motor Show and Festival of Speed are on sale now, with availability for some days already limited. For more information, visit: www.goodwood.com/tickets
The Festival of Speed will take place from 23-26 June 2016.
Tickets and hospitality packages for both events are on sale with Saturday and Weekend tickets already in limited numbers. More information is available via www.goodwood.com/tickets or via phone 01243 755055.
Tickets are priced as follows;
Entry adult (entry for young people 13-21 years):
- Thursday – Moving Motor Show £32 (£16)
- Friday £55 (£27.50)
- Sunday £65 (£32.50)
Saturday and weekend tickets now sold out.
Staged every summer since 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motor sport take part with some of the most legendary figures from the sport as well as international celebrities regularly attending. Highlights of the 2015 event, which took place on June 25-28, included the Moving Motor Show presented by the AA in association with The Telegraph, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 paddock presented by Sky Sports F1, Drivers’ Club presented by TAG Heuer, GAS Arena powered by TomTom Bandit, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, Aviation Exhibition and Bonhams Auction.
