THE fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 arrived a couple of months ago and the signs are that it will keep its place as the world's best-selling sports car.

The roadster has been a huge success for Mazda in the UK and more than half of MX-5s sold in Europe are bought by Brits.

For 25 years it has dominated the two-seater market with almost a million being sold worldwide.

The new car is smaller, over 100kg lighter and more efficient than its predecessor and offers genuine sports car thrills for those who can't afford supercars.

The sharp new design is inspired by Mazda's Kodo design language and the newcomer looks more muscular than the car it replaces.

It looks fantastic and more importantly it is still great to drive. It still offers rear wheel drive fun and it makes you smile when you press on through tight corners.

The foldaway hardtop featured on the lastmodel has been ditched to save weight but the new fabric hood is well insulated and can be folded in seconds. It stows neatly behind the cabin and the car looks great with it in place or folded.

Available witha choice of 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines Mazda sticks with its SKYACTIV technology designed to optimise power and economy. Both are connected to a slick six-speed gearbox and the smaller engine provides entertainment that harks back to the original model.

It produces 131ps and tackles the sprint to 60mph in 8.3 seconds before going on to a top speed of 127mph.

The larger 2.0-litre in the car I drove offers more grunt with 160ps on tap and is a second quickerto 60mph with the top speed rising to 133mph.

All 2.0-litre models have a limited-slip differential, which helps improve traction. They also get bigger wheels and larger brakes which deliver better stopping power.

With the sport model you also get Bilstien Dampers.These reduce body roll - but in my opinion they have an adverse effect on the ride comfort.

With its perfect 50-50 weight distribution the MX-5 is superbly balanced and agile and its handling is sublime.

Thanks to its new engines and lighter weight the 1.5 can achieve a claimed 47.1mpg and the 2.0-litre 40.9mpg with emissions of 139 and 161g/km respectively and in the test car I got very close to 40mpg on a run.

It must have been a nightmare to be given the job of improving an icon but the designers have risen to the challenge. The new MX-5 enjoys perfect proportions, sits lower and now looks more muscular.

Slim LED headlights and a gaping front grille also help to give the car a more masculine look, while round taillights give it a striking appearance from the rear.

On the inside, the door tops are coloured to match the exterior paint, adding a dash of colour to the cabin and on higher-spec models the dash is dominated by an iPad-like screen, controlled by a rotary dial on the centre console.

Three circular dials for the climate control sit underneath and the instrument panel has been designed to deliver a sporting cockpit feel.

The cabin is still as snug as ever and there are some small cubbies between the seats and on the centre console but there is no longer a glovebox or storage pockets in the doors. The boot looks to be about the same size as before and will take a couple of soft bags for a long weekend but you certainly won't get the golf clubs in.

The new car bristles with all the latest safety equipment and it featuresi-ACTIVESENSE active safety system which uses radars and sensors to warn the driver of potential dangers. There are side airbags with a head protection function, and an active pop-up bonnet for pedestrian protection.