Right after the New Year, Mazda Germany announced the Impuls as a special edition. It was a limited series of 1,500 units, available with either the 1.6- or 1.8-liter engine. It would be the last special edition of the NBFL, shortly before the introduction of the third generation of the MX-5, the NC.
I think the Impuls is one of the nicest special editions of the NBFL. This version has a somewhat classic look, a sort of retro styling. It features a two-tone interior, though this isn’t carried through to the dashboard. It’s the seats, a panel in the doors, and the tonneau cover that add color to the otherwise predominantly black interior. I usually describe the color of the seats as caramel-colored. As was already the case in 2004, this model also features silver trim on the center console and around the air vents. Just like with the Memories III, this is complemented by wood accents on the gearshift knob, parking brake handle, and the steering wheel, which features a white inlay.
Another feature typical of the NBFL’s final years of production is that the leather seats feature piping along the edges. In the Impuls model, this piping is a contrasting brown color. The seats are also heated. Behind the seats in this version, there is no wind deflector with speakers; instead, there is a chrome-finished design bracket equipped with a soundboard featuring two speakers and a windshield that can be mounted on the back of the bracket. This version came standard with air conditioning.
For the exterior, there were three colors to choose from: a base version in Brilliant Black, or—for an additional charge of €490—Mystikgrün-Metallic (Nordic Green, 27C) and Taubenblau-Metallic (Razor Blue, 28P). The classic look is enhanced by the 20-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels and the chrome trim surrounding the triangular windows in the doors.
This version can be identified by:
- the black and caramel two-tone interior;
- a caramel tonneau cover;
- a chrome-plated design bar equipped with a soundboard and windshield;
- the wooden steering wheel with a white inlay, wooden gearshift knob, and parking brake handle;
- silver-colored radio and matching trim in the center console and around the air vents;
- 15-inch 20-spoke alloy wheels in silver paint;
- heated seats;
- a chrome luggage rack.
Given the €2,000 difference in list price between the 1.6 and 1.8 models, you’ll see the 1.6 much more often than the 1.8.