Some observations and questions I have from the CarAdvice article (
http://www.caradvice.com.au/498941/2017-mazda-cx-5-unveiled-in-la/), which has the most amount of information I can find so far:
The body itself has gained 15.5 percent more torsional rigidity thanks to the use of ultra-high-tensile steel, which Mazda claims also aids in the new SUV’s steering response, now using a column-type electric power-steering system.
This is what OP meant by '15% stiffer'. Some people have taken that to mean that the suspension or ride quality is 15% stiffer, which I don't believe is the case. The CX-5 already rides fairly stiff for the segment as it is.
Mazda says the 7.0-inch display use a special ‘optical’ bonding method that reduces the glass area for a clearer image. The new Mazda CX-5 can now also project navigation information on the windscreen as part of the Active Driving Display system.
This sounds extremely similar to what Apple has been doing in the latest iPad displays (starting with the Air 2, and continuing with the iPad Pro models). Optically bonding the glass greatly reduces light reflection and provides a much clearer image. Look up YouTube videos comparing the Air 1 and Air 2 screens, and the Air 2 vs iPad Pro screens. As far as a car display goes, this should greatly improve viewing in direct sunlight.
I would be curious if the Active Driving Display is actually projecting onto the windshield, or is on a pop-up screen.
As for audio system, the new CX-5 gains tweeters in the redesigned A-pillars while utilising Harman (which will soon be bought out Samsung) technology for its connectivity.
The 10-speaker Bose system has been enhanced with noise cancellation technologies.
As an audio engineer, I can tell you this: The CX-5 greatly needed tweeters up front, as the system that is lacking them now is way too mid-range heavy to the point of sounding weird. So that's a very good change. I'm curious as to what 'Harman technology for its connectivity' means, but I think this is new for Mazda. 'Noise cancellation technologies' could mean a couple of different things. The most useful way would be a microphone that captures the interior cabin/road noise, and then makes the speakers play the inverse of that to cancel the noise out, extremely similar to what noise cancelling headphones do (and I think this is what the article means). But it could also means that while on voice calls, a microphone will pick up the road/cabin noise and cancel it out for the person on the other end of the call (similar to what every recent smartphone ever does). We'll have to wait to see, but the improvements in audio should be great.
Mazda promises the interior and body changes have resulted in notable noise vibration and harshness (NVH) improvements, with the new car now 1.3dB quieter inside than its predecessor at 100km/h when travelling on poorly surfaced roads.
The door speakers have been repositioned to reduce rattling in the doors, and there's increased sound deadening in the cabin. 1.3dB quieter is more of an improvement than it appears on paper, so that's very welcomed.
All in all, I think there are some really nice changes here. Personally, I test drove the CX-5 and then the Ford Escape, and the audio systems as they stand now don't even compare...the 10-speaker Sony setup in the Ford is *much* better. The Escape is also much quieter in the cabin in terms of road and wind noise, so Mazda bringing it more in-line is only a good thing in my eyes.