OPEN SKY · CARS AND THEIR HISTORY

Generation 4 Fastback in Open Sky: the Mazda MX-5 RF and its distinctive roof

· Simply Crafted team

A red Mazda MX-5 RF with its roof closed beneath a concrete canopy, viewed from an elevated angle.
Stylized AI-generated editorial illustration. It is not an Open Sky screenshot or documentation of a particular Mazda vehicle.

The Mazda MX-5 RF catches the eye before the roof even opens: its outline resembles a compact coupé. In Open Sky it appears as JDM Roadsters Generation 4 Fastback. Inside the JDM Roadsters garage group, the tile uses the shorter Generation 4 Fastback name.

Its real-world inspiration is the Mazda MX-5 RF from the fourth MX-5 generation, known as ND. The artwork is stylized; we do not assign it a specific model year, engine or equipment package.

What does RF mean?

RF stands for Retractable Fastback. With the roof closed, the roofline slopes towards the rear. With it open, the rear roof structure remains visible, preserving a distinctive profile. This detail distinguishes the RF from the soft-top. Mazda’s description.

White Generation 4 Fastback with its roof closed, side-view artwork from Open Sky.
Original Open Sky project artwork showing the closed roof. This is an app illustration asset, not a full interface screenshot or a photograph of a car.

From its debut to open-air driving

Mazda revealed the MX-5 RF in March 2016 ahead of the New York auto show. In Japan it is called Roadster RF; local sales began on December 22, 2016. Global debut, Japanese launch.

Three details explain the idea behind the car:

  • Approximately 13 seconds to open or close the roof, according to Mazda’s launch material. The manufacturer measured from pressing the switch until the roof locked in its final position.
  • A retractable rear window that lowers as the roof opens, changing the open-air experience.
  • 127 litres of luggage space, as stated at the Japanese launch. Compact roof packaging retained almost the same boot capacity as the soft-top.

These are historical RF launch facts, not a specification for every later example. Source: Mazda, November 2016.

White Generation 4 Fastback with the roof open, original Open Sky car artwork.
A second original app asset. The two images show different roof appearances; they are not an animation of the roof mechanism.

Choose it in Open Sky

Open the garage, find JDM Roadsters and select Generation 4 Fastback. Your choice changes the forecast illustration. It does not change the weather location or data.

The app offers Premium purchases; check current personalization access and terms in Open Sky. The illustrated roof does not control a real car. Before a drive, check the hourly forecast, rain and local weather warnings.

Download Top Down Weather: Open Sky from the App Store.

Sources

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