February Mind Dump: Vibe Check
2024 has been a whirlwind year so far. It kicked off with the worst flu I’ve dealt with probably in my life. Since then, symptoms have never truly gone away and I’ve faced that ever since. But that doesn’t mean work hasn’t stopped on my end, as is the job search.
Now that I have a full-time job that kicked off this week, I can put worries to rest and focus on what I’ve been wanting to do with WAC for some time. What better way to get back on the saddle than with a Vibe Check, which has been my favorite things to write so far?
We’re sticking close to Mazda as that’s where my new job concerns. But also, there’s been a significant product shakeup in such a short time period, much like the way my life is going at the moment. February has brought on some epic TV, including the penultimate Grand Tour special before the iconic trio calls quits on cars for good.
1st Shift: There’s Another New Mazda
After a years-long stretch where Mazda didn’t introduce a single new model to the lineup, the company is on a role. In 2022, it introduced the CX-50 which is a pseudo-adventure wagon designed to take Subaru head-on. In 2023, the CX-90 was introduced on a large platform with a new engine to better cater to families. Now, there’s a CX-70.
Drawing virtually everything from its larger sibling, the CX-70 is a slightly more beautiful SUV without a third row of seats. The wheelbase is the same for that ample interior room as is the premium options. Even the straight-six and plug-in hybrid powertrains carry over with minimal changes.
Prices were announced at around $41,000 for the Preferred trim. Pound for pound, it comes out to about $5,0000 cheaper when you compare price ladders with the CX-90. Technically, the rest of the car isn’t actually that new apart from the optional red leather seats. But is that a bad thing?
With two straight-six high riders on offer, Mazda should turn its attention to an exclusive sedan with the same engine to better morph into the Japanese BMW. So far though, the company is definitely on the right path.
2nd Shift: The Rest Of Mazda Is Fully Updated For 2024
There’s a new Miata. Well, sort of. It’s still the same car that launched in September 2014 to SkyActiv fanfare. But leave it to Mazda to hold off on visual updates until now. So however little the adjustments, the minor changes are major on the MX-5. Let’s break down what’s new.
On the visual side, new LEDs flank the housings on both ends. The details are sharper but the general aesthetic is familiar to the car that first arrived in the US for 2016. Underneath, there’s a new asymmetrical limited-slip differential to improve handling but you won’t see that. What you will see, is the simple, iconic cabin. Here, there is one more major change.
About ten years ago, infotainment displays were inferior. Before Apple CarPlay came along, these were the dark ages of trying and failing to adjust your radio, and cramming conventional features like seat warmers into a screen display that had a more likely chance of failure than physical buttons.
Even Mazda couldn’t get away from this. Early Connect systems were inferior even though they came with a secondary set of physical controls to support the touchscreen. Like a lot of systems, it didn’t have enough software baked in for daily use, however many miles you put on cars.
The company introduced the second generation of Mazda Connect for 2019. It took until 2024 for this massively-improved interface to hit the MX-5 Miata. Even better, it skipped the earlier implementations where the system relied on the center clickwheel and omit touchscreen functions. This returns for 2024 on all models, and brings the little roadster up to date.
So finally, you can buy a Miata that went from a sports car with few flaws to a car that does absolutely nothing to deter you from the enjoyable driving experience. As the owner of a 2021 car myself, I can tell you that it’s an experience worth pursuing.
3rd Shift: Television Is Epic But Tastes Vary
Coincidentally, the TV I was looking forward to most this month comes from Amazon Prime. In addition to rewatching Bosch and its spinoff in Bosch: Legacy, I looked forward to the next edition of The Grand Tour as well as the reboot of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Bless Donald Glover of Because The Internet and Community fame. He’s everywhere.
But first, cars. It’s no secret that Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond are done with great big adventures. Two of the boys are in their sixties while Hammond is in his fifties. So it’s understandable after a few decades that the trio’s time will come to an end.
That doesn’t mean they’re not going out with a bang, however. The latest special to feature the guys, aptly named Sand Job, take place in the deserts of Mauritania in Africa. There’s explosions, laughs, and shenanigans to guide them to the finish line in Dakar. As if more logic was needed, they decided to face the scorching sun with exotic convertibles with heavy depreciation. So, an Aston Martin DB9, Maserati GranTurismo Cabriolet, and a Jaguar F-Type will suffice.
It’s an epic runabout that sees them tackle sand with extraordinarily modified cars that look more at home in Beverly Hills. Without giving spoilers, it’s worth a watch. And it makes me look forward to the last grand adventure they will bow out on. Presumably on a blazing path of glory.
