Dropping the roof in Mazda's 2017 MX-5 Miata RF

Mazda's halo car just got a slick new party trick. The 2017 MX-5 Miata RF takes the iconic two-seater – now in its fourth-generation – and replaces the soft top with a retractable hard top. Opening or closing in just 13 seconds, the roof can be operated at speeds up to 6 mph.

"RF" stands for "Retractable Fastback", which explains the new strakes that run back from the headrests. They give the Miata a very different profile, as well as improving isolation from wind and road noise. Under the hood is the same 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine with 155 HP, paired with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Altogether, it's Mazda's new flagship, and expectations for the Miata RF are high. Mazda predicts it'll soon come to account for 60-percent of all MX-5 sales, in fact, woo-ing buyers who want the flexibility of a convertible but the reassurance of a coupe. Arguably most impressive of all: despite the retracting hard-top's engineering dance, trunk space is basically unchanged from the regular MX-5.