4 Road Safety Tips for Holiday Travel

If your Mazda came with Apple CarPlay or you’ve had Velocity Mazda install the upgrade, there’s a smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. With CarPlay, most tasks you previously performed using your phone are on the built-in display. Once you're connected use that display or steering wheel controls to get turn-by-turn directions, place calls, check or send messages using your voice and ask for directions. This article walks you through setup and answers some of the most frequently asked questions. Apple CarPlay Controls The whole point is to keep your eyes on the road. Control Apple CarPlay through your car's knobs, buttons, touchscreen or through Siri voice control. Activate Siri by pressing and holding the voice control button on your Mazda's steering wheel. If you're stopped or riding as a passenger, access icons with your vehicle's touchscreen just like you would a big iPad. You can also control the volume or change stations like you would with any infotainment system, using the knobs and buttons around the screen. Apple CarPlay Setup for Mazda Setup is easy and straightforward. First, put your car in park and engage the parking brake. Start your car and check to make sure Siri is on. Plug in your USB cable to the port with the CarPlay or smartphone icon or press and hold the voice command button on your Mazda's steering wheel. Your Mazda Connect system will detect your iPhone and you'll see prompts on your vehicle's screen. Press and hold the home button above the commander knob until you see the Apple CarPlay user interface. Use the knob to scroll over and highlight the Apple CarPlay icon in the top corner, then press down on the knob to make your selection. On your iPhone, you may need to go to Settings > General > CarPlay. Then, tap the option for available cars and choose your Mazda. Once connected, you'll have easy access to many of the apps already installed on your phone. Apple CarPlay Frequently Asked Questions What iPhones work with CarPlay and Mazda? If you have iPhone 5 or newer, it will work with Apple CarPlay. Can I get CarPlay in an older Mazda? Yes! See a list of the Mazda vehicles in which you can have Apple CarPlay installed. What apps are CarPlay compatible? A lot of them. You'll be ale to use Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts, Audiobooks and several other apps. Your phone itself will lock while connected to help you resist the temptation to use it while you're on the road. What happens if there's no cell signal? Most CarPlay apps need a cell signal to work. In areas with a bad signal, you can still use Mazda's built-in navigation system. What if I have problems with my Apple CarPlay? At Velocity Mazda, we're here to help. Just stop by and we'll walk you through how to get the most out of your Apple CarPlay.

Your Mazda has been with you through thick and thin. It gets your heart pumping and is there for you when you’ve had a bad day. Your Mazda takes you places you couldn't go alone. It never asks for flowers and chocolates but will appreciate a little TLC this Valentine’s Day. Routine maintenance ensures you and your Mazda can enjoy years of happiness together. Skip it, and the repair bill could break your heart. Preserve your relationship with these tips for Valentine's Day and beyond. Schedule February Maintenance Whether you do it yourself or turn it over to the pros, give your Mazda what it needs: Schedule an annual tune-up for consistent power and fuel economy. Change your oil and filter as instructed in your Mazda owner's manual. Check tire pressure every month, especially now when temperature averages fluctuate so much. Don't forget to check your spare. Check your wheel alignment. East Texas roads can be unforgiving. If your wheels aren't properly aligned it impacts your gas mileage, handling, driving pleasure and safety. Inspect lights and windshield wipers. They need periodic replacement from normal wear and tear. Give Your Mazda a Spa Day If you have somewhere warm to work, spend some time with warm soapy water and a sponge washing away all that winter road grime. Follow up with a good wax. Clean all the extra items out of your interior and trunk. Vacuum and wipe that dust off your dash. Add an interior air freshener so you get a mental lift when you slide behind the wheel. After its spa treatment your car will look better, and when you pull out of the driveway you'll feel like you have a new ride. Buy Your Mazda Accessories Your Mazda wants to stand out from the crowd. Genuine Mazda accessories fit perfectly, work like a dream and take your car's appearance to the next level. Buy audio and electrical accessories like remote engine start or Apple CarPlay integration. Get a "Zoom-Zoom" license plate that still has people humming the original commercial theme in their heads. Add cargo capacity with a roof rack or protect your baby from the elements with an all-weather car cover. Genuine Mazda accessories are available for browsing online. Once you find what you want, get in touch for current pricing and availability.

Mazda recently announced it's building not one, but two new crossovers for the United States and Canada, and car enthusiasts immediately started speculating. The teaser photo is dark and mysterious, with little more than a silhouette and seductively glowing taillights. Experts say the first will be similar to the Mazda CX-4 currently available in China. What the second might be is anyone's guess. We do know where Mazda will make the new cars. Right now in Huntsville Alabama Mazda and Toyota are working together to build a $1.6 billion factory. Mazda and Toyota will share the space and build cars they sell in the U.S. right here in the South. China's Mazda CX-4 Crossover Mazda has been selling the Mazda CX-4 since 2016, but only in China. It's based on the Mazda CX-5, the manufacturer's extremely popular crossover. It's larger than the Mazda CX-3, with an additional foot in length and a taller profile. It has the unmistakable KODO design found in all Mazda vehicles with a wide stance and sleek lines. Its high ground clearance makes it suitable for a range of road conditions. In China, Mazda CX-4 sells with the same i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies, excellent handling and environmental safety you find in similar Mazda vehicles we sell here in Tyler, Texas. Is Mazda CX-4 What's Coming? The teaser photo looks a lot like the Mazda CX-4 produced in China. In early February, Mazda spokesperson Drew Carey referenced the photo and said Mazda would reveal the car in Geneva, and that car would be coming to the United States. However, that's all the information he gave. It could have a different name, exterior and powertrain. The Geneva Motor Show starts Thursday, March 7 and runs through Sunday, March 17. Second Crossover in the Works Mazda is being vague about the details. Mazda North America CEO Masahiro Moro told reporters only that the second vehicle will be "a new crossover SUV which is exclusively designed for the North American market." He said both new vehicles would share the same architecture, and that Mazda is still finalizing the concept for the second. Crossovers have been wildly popular in the United States. In 2018, Mazda sold 150,622 Mazda CX-5s, more than half of the brand's total of 300,325 sales. Mazda and Toyota broke ground on the Alabama assembly plant in January of this year. The plant will employ up to 4,000 Americans and produce around 300,000 vehicles annually. Half of those could be the two new Mazda crossover models. Production is planned to start sometime in the middle of 2021, so that's the earliest we can expect to purchase the new vehicles.