AN awful lot of people are taking their tops off in the summer sunshine.

Those who drive a convertible - and no one likes this type of car more than us Brits - have been taking advantage of the rise in temperatures to enjoy some wind-in-the-hair motoring.

And staking its claim as the convertible of choice is the multi-award winning Mazda MX-5, the only car to win both World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year.

This latest incarnation of the world's best-selling sports car is a driver-focused thing of joy and beauty.

It's actually slightly smaller than the previous version, and its diminutive size becomes more apparent when you park it between a couple of hatchbacks.

Viewed from the front, its bulging wings give it a new sense of purpose, while the proportions are just about perfect.

On the downside, there's slightly less interior space and no steering wheel reach adjustment, and instead of a glove box on the passenger side there's little more than a lockable cubby hole sitting centrally behind the two seats.

With the roof in place, there are also some visibility issues caused by the hood and the chunky A-pillars

The boot, which features a sunken central area, is surprisingly capable of holding a selection of bags.

Among the most impressive features are the super-tight turning circle, instant throttle response and sensitive, accurate steering.

Revered for the way it handles, it feels torquey thanks to lightness and low gearing, and armed with the 2.0-litre 160hp petrol engine - as opposed to the less rewarding 1.5-litre engine - you can overtake with confidence and power out of corners to your heart's content.

You will want to get that hood down at every available opportunity, not only because entry into the low seats is so much easier and visibility is so much better but also because it takes the MX-5 experience to another level.

Raising and lowering the top is a relatively simple affair. Simply press a switch and push it back into position behind the seats to open the roof, and reverse the procedure to close it. The process takes a few seconds, and while there is not the convenience of an electric-powered movement, the folded roof does not impinge on boot space and keeps the weight down. The lightest MX-5 since the first-generation, the latest car has achieved a weight saving of over 100kg compared with the outgoing model.

Chassis balance is outrageously good. The car is so communicative all the time that you never feel anything but completely in control, and there are few more rewarding new cars to steer.

Cars with the 2.0-litre 160ps Skyactive-G engine have a limited slip differential and strut brace, while Sport trim cars with this engine feature sports suspension with Bilstein dampers.

Both engines are mated to Mazda’s short-throw six-speed manual gearbox, which has been adapted for the MX-5’s classic front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

The 2.0-litre version tested here has been tuned for extra low and mid-range torque, delivering up to160ps.

Designed to personify everything a great roadster should be, the MX-5 represents the pinnacle of Mazda’s efforts to create a perfectly proportioned lightweight sports car.

In SE and SE-L trim, the 1.5-litre 131ps car features 16-inch alloy wheels and body-coloured mirrors, while Sport trim 1.5 MX-5’s come with 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black door mirrors.

Outside of the entry-level 1.5-litre SE, all models have slender LED daytime running lights at the outer edges of the front bumper, a feature that further highlights the MX-5’s broad stance on the road.

When it comes to connectivity, the car now benefits from an infotainment system. From SE-L models onwards it features DAB radio, Bluetooth and cruise control.

Yet for all the latest MX-5’s premium equipment and improved quality, the spotlight on the driving position is more focused as ever.