If you haven't heard anything about the MX-5->ke1185 in the past few months it's only because Mazda->ke53 is quietly preparing to unleash the new generation soon. Still, in order to keep our attention focused on the model, Mazda announced today the MX-5 Sport Graphite. This release comes as no big surprise, as the MX-5 remains the world’s best-selling two-seat sports car->ke506 with almost 1,000,000 units sold around the globe.

The model was initially unveiled in 1989 and it is currently in its third generation. All the three generations were built with the "Jinba ittai" credo in mind, which can be translated as "rider and horse should be one body."

What makes the MX-5 so cool is the fact that it managed to keep its origins during all the three generations, and each one was an evolution of the previous one.

Click past the jump to read more about the Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite.

2013 Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 126
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The new MX-5 Sport Graphite was inspired by the urban design and is offered in four exterior colors: Aquatic Blue Mica, Zeal Red Mica or Aluminum Silver Metallic. Each color is combined with a contrasting "Meteor Gray" retractable hard top roof and glossy, dark-grey fashion bars. Each model is further distinguished by a series of "Sport Graphite" badges.

Standard features:

-17-inch dark gunmetal alloy wheels

-Stainless-steel scuff plates

-body-colored door handles

Interior

For the interior, the new Sport Graphite offers heated black leather seats with unique grey stitching, a leather steering wheel with glossy, dark-grey spokes and dashboard panel. It also gets alloy pedals and unique floor mats with grey piping for an additional cost.

Standard features:

-5.8-inch TomTom navigation system with integrated Bluetooth hands-free kit

-CD radio with Auxiliary jack and six speakers

-Electric windows

-Electric adjustable mirrors with heating function

Drivetrain

The new MX-5 Sport Graphite come with a choice of two engine options. The base model features a 1.8-liter engine with 126 horsepower and the optional setup is a 2.0-liter engine with 160 horsepower. The 1.8-liter engine nets the Sport Graphite Limited Edition a 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 9.9 seconds and the 2.0-liter drops the time to 7.9 seconds.

Prices

The new MX-5 Sport Graphite Limited Edition is priced from £20,995 (about $32,000 at the current exchange rates) and it will not make its way to the U.S. market, from our understanding. All customers will also get a signed limited-copy graphite pencil drawing of the car.

Competition

Mini Roadster

While not as successful as the MX-5, the Mini Roadster is a cool twist on the Cooper city car. In its base format, the Mini Roadster's 1.6-liter four-banger puts down a respectable 122 horsepower and hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.2 seconds. Jumping to the S variant nets a 184-horsepower four-cylinder engine that sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 7 seconds. The SD model tosses in a peppy turbo-diesel engine that produces 143 horsepower and launches to 100 km/h (62 mph in just 8.1 seconds. Lastly, the John Cooper Works model bumps the Roadster to 211 horsepower and nets it a sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.5 seconds.

In the UK, these models start at £18,055, £20,940, £21,660 and £24,790, respectively.

BMW Z4

A much more expensive alternative is the BMW Z4. In the UK market, the Z4 is offered in a slew of configurations: an sDrive18i with a 156-horsepower, an sDrive20i with a 184-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine 2.0-liter engine; an sDrive28i with a 245-horsepower, 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter engine; an sDrive35i with a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder that pumps out 306 horsepower; and an sDrive35is with a 340-horsepower version of the TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter engine.

These models sprint to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, 6.9 seconds, 5.7 seconds, 5.2 seconds and 4.8 seconds, respectively.

The Z4 starts at £27,610 for the manual transmission-equipped sDrive18i model and peaks at £45,795 for the sDrive35is.

Conclusion

The Mazda MX-5 remains one of the coolest alternatives for those customers looking for a cheap sports roadster for these hot summer days. And with the new Sport Graphite Limited Edition it got even more interesting. Too bad the new special edition is only offered on the British market.