2016 Mazda MX-5 Packing Tons Of Tech
The current generation Mazda MX-5 is pretty light on tech gizmos – the current car doesn’t even have Bluetooth, let alone navigation or a USB port. But the upcoming ND MX-5 will reverse that, with a generous suite of the latest in technology and safety features.
After getting a closer look at a Japanese-spec prototype, it appears that the new MX-5 will have an Adaptive Front-Lighting System Blind Spot Monitoring a Lane Departure Warning System and even a start-stop system. Whether these make it to America is unknown – I’d wager that start-stop will likely stay in world markets and not make it over here, but we could see the other features on higher end trim levels.
Also on board is a DVD-based navigation system, as well as multiple slots for USB, SD and MicroSD ports. The DVD slot is located behind the armrest, which also holds a storage compartment in lieu of a glovebox.
More by Derek Kreindler
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While a rear-view camera seems superfluous in a car like the MX-5, it's there because U.S. law will require their being phased in between 2016 and 2018. Because we can't expect our drivers to, you know, actually watch where they're going. But I'm with those who think all of the gadgetry, outside of a decent AM-FM-satellite radio, should be absent from such a car... and many others.
I'm all for backup cameras. In fact, I will be adding one to the Kenwood in my Altima before I hand it down to the stepdaughter. My first and only experience with that tech was in the Juke, and I never realized how awesome it was until I experienced it first hand. It's way cheaper than a replacement bumper. Add a backup camera and a $2 blind spot bubble from Autozone on each side mirror, and you've got great visibility in almost any situation.
No, as someone who is a huge proponent of tech, no, the Miata should have nothing in it. Adaptive lighting, start-stop, FFS? With regards to navigation even though I have it in my car, I always carry a cheap backup handheld unit and to be honest 90% of the time unless it is a long trip, it is a 100 times faster to just bark into my phone using Google maps and find where I need to go. Was just discussing that with my brother today that all car navigation should basically be using Google at this point, it just works and works better and faster. As someone who loves backup cameras, I have to say, if you can't backup a 3 ft long car without the aid of a camera, you should off yourself.
These days, tech is cheap, light and easy. All you need is a Bluetooth-compatible infotainment module and a climate control module. The mass and cost penalty of adding basic infotainment to a sports car is not really huge; it was inevitable that the latest cabin UIs made their way into the MX-5. "Tech" and "quality" have now reversed roles in cars. It's easy to throw infotainment in, but hard to make a well-designed interior with good materials and pleasing shapes. A car with a ton of "tech features" but a crappy interior is just a lazy product--see any Scion interior. As far as the MX-5 is concerned, turn the @$^% off and enjoy the drive. Disclaimer: The cutting-edge luxury stuff (radar cruise control, blind-spot/lane-keeping/parallel-parking assists) does add a lot of weight and should be left out of sports cars.