Are you taking your MX5 on its holidays this summer? Perhaps you will be one of the thousands sailing from Dover to Calais on this ship and then driving south through France to the sunshine. Once the car is lashed down in the hold you will probably wander up on deck to watch the ships going by, and perhaps wonder where they are all going. Well now you can find out very easily using a super tracking application from MarineTraffic.com. There are an awful lot of vessels out there as this screenshot shows:
The simplest way to access this worldwide service is via your PC or laptop, but there are now apps for most mobile devices and you can of course take these with you in your pocket. To go straight to the Marinetraffic.com site just click on the photo above and move the map to your area of interest. If you would like to get the app for your device then follow the instructions below:
For iPhone devices, click on the apple or open the App Store and search for ‘marinetraffic’. The app costs £2.49.
For Android devices open the Android Market on your mobile device and search for ‘marinetraffic’. Alternatively, click on the android.
Finally, if you would like to learn more about how it all works and perhaps set up your own tracking station, then visit our sister site, Whitbyweather.com.
I love my MX5 so much that it pains me to publish this review of the new Sport Black L E by the straight-talking American team at “Fast Lane Daily”, but perhaps as a result Mazda will start to listen to their customers and produce proper Limited Editions of the world’s favourite sports car with real added quality, instead of just poorly considered cosmetic tweaks.
Early L Es had superchargers, much improved interiors, or great colours like the much loved yellow California. Now they increasingly seem to be an exercise in shifting unwanted models or components, instead of having genuine improvements and therefore being much sought after.
For example, the beautiful Kendo, which I like very much, is astonishingly only available with a five speed gearbox, even for the 2 ltr model. This latest offering, the Sport Black, is based on the MX5 GT, but has no performance enhancement, lacks style and is ridiculously expensive.
So come on Mazda, show some respect to the 900,00 drivers who love your car and start producing some really special limited editions!
Take a look at the review and let me know what you think.
The Mazda MX5 GT motorsport iPad app is now available – featuring the very latest information on the lightweight and nimble Mazda MX5 GT race car and its progress in the Britcar Production GTN Championship. In its first year of racing, the MX5 GT has achieved two podiums and is currently third in class.
To follow the performance of the race car simply click here to download the free iPad app, or please copy www.mazdamx5racing.co.uk into your web browser.
Mazda UK have at last released formal press details of the new sport black limited edition which goes on sale today:
“The success of this year’s MX5 race programme and the popularity of the MX5 GT has lead to the track-inspired ‘Black Limited Edition’ Mazda MX5. The Sport Black is distinguished by unique paint finishes and an enhanced specification; externally the car is highlighted by a Brilliant Black powered retractable hard-top, this is in contrast with the choice of bodywork colours – Spirited Green metallic, Crystal White Pearlescent and Velocity Red mica – but compliments the dark ‘gun metal’ 17-inch alloy wheels.
The model also comes with black leather interior with contrasting ‘sand’ coloured stitching, Piano Black steering wheel and deco panel, and unique ‘Black Limited Edition’ exterior badging, uniquely numbered interior plaque and Limited Edition floor mats.
Only 500 examples of the Mazda MX-5 Sport Black will be produced, each costing £22,995 (OTR), just £360 more than the 160ps, 2.0-litre, six-speed transmission Sport Tech model on which it is based.” Click on the picture above to get full details.
