Just in time for summer top-down driving, the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) has named the Mazda MX-5 Miata its 2012 Favorite Fun Entry-Level Convertible.

For more than 20 years, the MX-5 Miata has offered sports car enthusiasts a pure, uncomplicated and fun-focused roadster at an affordable price. Sticking to that simple concept has made the MX-5 the most popular two-seat convertible sports car in the world with more than 900,000 units produced, qualifying it as a Guinness World Record holder.

“It is an honor to receive this award for the MX-5 Miata,” said Jim O’Sullivan, Mazda North American Operations’ (MNAO) President and CEO. “Whether you are commuting to work or taking a relaxing drive on the weekend, driving the Miata will put a smile on your face.”

NEMPA President Keith Griffin said, “Mazda continues to stay true to its winning formula of fun-to-drive, affordable, light weight, sports cars with its third-generation Miata. It was an easy choice to name the Miata NEMPA’s Favorite Fun Entry-Level Convertible for the second consecutive year.”

The New England Motor Press Association was founded in 1987 to coordinate professional media coverage of the auto industry in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, whose 14.5 million citizens have unique demographics and automotive preferences.