I adore (note the present tense) the original Miata. The pop-up headlights are one of my favourite features.
I really liked the second- and third-generation models, too, but I missed those hide-away headlights.
Here’s my review of the one I drove in 2012. That was a pretty enjoyable week.
Mazda’s designers missed an opportunity to lead a renaissance of pop-up headlights. Incorporating them into the new 2016 MX-5’s design would have resulted in a better-looking car.
To be fair, I like the going-away view quite a bit, even if it does ape the Jaguar F-Type in a pretty big way.
I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun to drive, but all I can think of, looking at the front of it, is how much I still miss the original Miata’s pop-up headlights. As it is, the best I can say about the front of the 2016 MX-5 is that it looks like a sleepy Pokemon character.
Chris Chases Cars 