The new 2019 Mazda MX-5 has more power!

Mazda has announced a few tweaks to its MX-5, and the headline news is this: the range-topping engine gets more power.

Though, this is no Overnight Parts From Japan special a-la Fast and Furious, but a wee tweak to keep things spicy. The SkyActiv-G petrol 2.0-litre four-pot has had its rev limit raised to 7,500rpm – up from 6,800rpm – while power rises from 158bhp to 182bhp.

Torque too, sees a whisper of an increase: 5lb ft more, to 151lb ft. Mazda assures us this revised unit has also been “acoustically tuned”. Good.

The 1.5-litre has been updated too, though no specs have been given on it. No matter, you want the 2.0-litre anyway. We’re told both however, benefit from reduced throttle lag.

There’s a bit more tech thrown into the mix too. There’s pedestrian and vehicle collision detection systems – both forward and reverse – a driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition and a rearview camera.

Also a darker paint finish on both 16in and 17in alloy wheels, and a brown canopy colour for the soft-top.

No word on prices (the current soft-top 1.5-litre SE starts at £18,795, the 2.0-litre SE-L Nav £21,595, and both RF equivalents a fraction more), but we do know it’ll be available from August onwards.