ALMOST 20 years ago Mazda engineers were ordered to develop a car that open top driving enthusiasts would appreciate.Within the next two years the MX5 was heading to the showrooms and a star was born.

The Roadster was an instant hit, particularly in America where there was a waiting list in some areas, and by the year 2000 the third generation model had entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful open top 2-seater vehicle in history. Since that date the publishers have kept adjusting the sales figure upwards with each new edition of the book. At the end of June 2006 the number stood at 774,372 and now it is in the region of 800,000.

The success of the car has surprised even the most optimistic forecasters and almost every year there are awards and prizes around the globe. At last count the number had topped 150.

The success of the MX-5 is that it is a true classic Roadster that is fun to drive. It has a long bonnet, short rear-end, rear-wheel drive and 50/50 weight distribution. The design gives the impression that the car is crouching on the road, the low-slung visual effect that sports car drivers love.

The latest development with the MX-5 is the arrival of the Roadster Coupe which breaks away from the traditional cloth roof. This version remains but the clever electrically operated retractable hard top roof, pioneered in small cars by European manufacturers, has been adopted by Mazda who have succeeded in setting another record in this department. Their roof takes just 12 seconds to operate up or down beating all rivals.

The MX-5 has a safety release switch on the roof and at the press of a dash-mounted button electric motors silently create a Roadster or a secure Coupe. The roof is made of glass fibre/ plastic composite materials and is just 18kg heavier than the soft top.

The Coupe is actually a more comfortable car to drive than the soft top. The interior noise level at high speeds on motorways is naturally lower and there is less wind turbulence with the tight fitting roof in place which is good news for those who want to avail of the iPod connection located in the glove compartment. Also the suspensions have been retuned to compensate for the extra weight but the handling is as nimble as ever.

Maxda engineers have not strayed too far from the original MX-5 design. The front end and the doors are the same but now the Coupe rides 10mm higher than the soft top and the rear deck is 40mm higher to accommodate the foldaway hard top roof.

There is a choice of two petrol engines, a 1.8 litre with 126 PS output or a 2-litre with 160 PS output and the bigger engine comes with the option of a sixth gear. The test car with the 1.8 litre engine had adequate power for local driving conditions and on winding hilly roads it responded enthusiastically when asked through a slick 5-speed gearbox.

Expect some bouncing around on rough roads but otherwise manners are impeccable.

Smaller drivers have complained of finding the driving position too low with the steering wheel needing adjustment to get the rim out of the line of vision but there is good leg room and adequate shoulder room. The boot is very compact at 150 litres, sufficient for weekend luggage, but thankfully it does not shrink when the roof is down. Controls are well placed but the two cup holders in the centre console seems pretty pointless as this is where one tends to rest their elbow when not changing gear. The cup holders in the doors are more useful.

Safety matters are well looked after with specially strengthened steel in all the important body areas and in the windcreen pillars and behind the head restraints in case of a rollover. There are four airbags with the innovative side airbags fitted with two chambers that protect both the head and thorax. Disc brakes all round and Xenon headlights are part of the safety features.

A great fun car to drive, the MX5 is a hit with young and old alike although some of them are the type who think a car like this should not have a radio in it at all . . .never mind an iPod.

VITAL STATISTICS MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8L 125 PS petrol 3,995 mm 1,720 mm 1,255 2,330 mm 0-100km - 9.6 secs 200 km 5-speed manual 9.9L-5.8/100 km /33,875 174g/km