Mazda’s heroic sports choice is now cheaper in its base format.

BUY in to the world’s most fun affordable sports car, the Mazda MX-5, having dropped by almost $10,000 is a headline of revisions just announced for the evergreen two-seater.

Now entering its 11th year of manufacture, the fourth and current ND edition is plugging on while Hiroshima still mulls how best to replace it.

Recent reports suggesting conflicting outcomes of various considerations, ranging from staying petrol to introducing full or partial electrification.

In the meantime, Mazda here has determined to keep the car in the mix, with adoption of the latest of what have become annual revisions inbound from next month.

In addition to technical enhancements, the beloved model also achieves more accessible pricing in the roadster format that many enthusiasts would say presents the concept in its purest, most fulfilling form.

Intent to now kick in the range with a Roadster SP at $51,990 is a major pricing revision, effectively a $10k saving on where that car used to present in entry, as a GT.

You can still spend $61,990 for the traditional convertible, but going forward this buys the car with a more affluent Takami spec that smartens the look but makes no difference to the outright performance, though it does deliver sharper driving feel.

Also keeping on is the MX-5 RF, which has a folding hardtop, also at $61,990, is also richer-trimmed, but in Homura delivery.

The car continues with the long-serving naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, in 135kW/205Nm tune, mated to a six-speed manual in the roadsters and with a six-speed automatic in the RF.

The soft-top products also have a asymmetric limited slip differential but only the dearer of the two goes the whole hog of handling enhancements, in also having Dynamic Stability Control, a track mode, BBS forged wheels, Brembo brakes and Bilstein dampers.

The SP has 17-inch black metallics, a cloth interior upholstery and a black fabric convertible roof. Takami brings in the Recaro seats with leather and Alcantara trim that were also a feature of the GT.

All generations of MX-5 tend to bring a new hero hue. In this one it is Zinc Green Metallic, which Mazda says takes inspiration from the colour and texture of zinc chromate primer, an undercoat used to enhance the durability of industrial products. The colour formulation incorporates bluish metallic flakes.

The model now gets lane-keep assist as standard across the range, as well as an AEB system that now includes pedestrian and cyclist detection. And, the main infotainment screen now includes touchscreen functionality.