(October 5, 2016) RVINE, Calif. — Coming standard with exotic looks and an engaging driving experience, presale orders for the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF began last week with great fanfare for loyal Mazda customers and this week to the general public with the Launch Edition model.

This week Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announced full pricing for the 2017 MX-5 RF this past weekend at "Miatas at Mazda Raceway," the largest MX-5 owners event in North America. Starting price for the 2017 model will be $32,390 including an $835 destination charge.

In addition to the Launch Edition, the hardtop sibling of the 2016 World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year will come in tech-laden MX-5 RF Grand Touring and harder-edge MX-5 RF Club trim levels and will be available with a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic in either trim level.

While most features of the MX-5 RF are carryover from soft top models, there are a few additions for 2017 that will separate the Retractable Fastback from its cloth-covered sibling, including a 4.6-inch full-color TFT gauge and the availability of Machine Gray Metallic paint in substitution of Meteor Gray Mica that is available on the soft top. For 2017, all MX-5 Club models will come standard with Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, regardless of their roof option. Previously, these features were available only on MX-5 Grand Touring models.

All MX-5 RF models come with a seven-inch MAZDA CONNECT touchscreen infotainment system that integrates audio, SiriusXM and HD Radio, phone and diagnostic functions that can also be used via Commander control knob or voice commands as well as a nine-speaker BOSE audio system with integrated headrest-mounted speakers, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob and LED headlights and tail lights.

MX-5 Club models come with premium cloth seats with red stitching, a Bilstein suspension, front and rear black functional aerodynamic body extensions and a limited-slip differential in models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission.