The weather is one of the most dangerous obstacles to safe driving, perhaps the single most important condition that controls your ability to drive safely. That's why Mazda created the "Ice Academy," to test out their i-Activ AWD system. They surmised that in order for the system to overcome the iciest and worst of weather conditions you might face on the road, the system needs to be able to do something nearly impossible: Predict the future. When you hit ice, the AWD system needs to transfer power to the back wheels, giving you a tighter grip on the road and greater ability to control the vehicle. Thankfully, i-Activ AWD passes the test with ease.