Getting up to the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds near Queenstown takes an early start – which we undertook this week thanks to Mazda New Zealand, to experience its vehicles, particularly its i-Activ all-wheel drive system on the snow and ice.
The SPHG attracts vehicle and tyre firms from around the world every year as part of their development programmes, alongside select groups of customers and media also allowed to experience the unique facility.
This is the second year Mazda has taken its place on the top of the Pisa range. This time it was more than just media getting their chance, with 20 customers – all repeat Mazda SUV owners – enjoying the experience.
Mazda New Zealand general manager vehicle sales and marketing, Glenn Harris explained before we hit the white stuff that the event was a great way to show the brand’s ‘driver first’ philosophy to technology.
“Everything we do today is to show you how we engineer our cars in a way that celebrates driving,” Harris explained. “We are about drivers first – we let you do the work, we let you drive the car, and at such time as you run out of talent, or you exceed the parameters of what’s possible, the car and the engineering take over.”
The first activity for the day was a head-to-head race on the hard packed snow, with winter tyres and the all-wheel drive system making it look relatively easy.
Conditions on an ice sheet took a little more caution, though, with electronic stability control, the i-Activ all-wheel drive and a soft foot, getting around the cone was a little easier. A BT50 set to rear wheel drive with assistance systems off proved how slippery the surface really was.
The i-Activ all-wheel drive system is predictive rather than reactive. It is never entirely front-wheel drive; it shares between 1-50% of torque to the rear wheels. It always preloads the rear wheels to avoid backlash through the drivetrain on take-off.
On the slalom course, the addition of Mazda’s GVC system allows the carrying of surprisingly high speeds. In the real world, it simply reduces the g-forces of cornering and lane changes, increasing driver and passenger comfort. A set of good snow tyres no doubt helps, though the all-wheel drive system is carrying a lot.
Want real fun in the snow? Mazda kitted out two of its MX5 RF sports cars with snow tyres. A little guidance from the experts and its time for a drifting ballet… at least until the inevitable spin.
Hot laps on a cold track were last. In the hands of the experts, even the MX5 can achieve surprising speeds on this winter race track.
To see a video of our day on the snow, visit the Auto Media Group Youtube channel.
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