GPS box/antenna on dash (2017 Mirage) - why? (SOLVED)

[VespaGoGo]

I just purchased my second Mirage, a 2017, and have a question:

My car has a black box on the dash embossed with "GPS". It is affixed with adhesive near the windshield on the passenger side with a cable routing under the dash. As my car only has navigation using my smart phone I'm curious as to what use it has. Anyone have any insight?

[inuvik]

Show us a pic of what it looks like, intriguing !

[daleWV]

I noticed this too on my 2017 and wondered what that GPS module was for. The only use i can find for it is for setting the time in the radio display. Assuming you have the Display Audio unit radio there is a setting that allow you to use "GPS Time" to set the time in the radio.

[Alex1a1f]

Here are some pics... I always wondered the same in my '17. There are some countries that get the factory navigation radio and maybe it's just easier to install the antenna in all the markets cars then just leave it out? Hmm.

[chris_top_her]

probably acts as an external antenna for whatever gps app you are using

[Alex1a1f]

probably acts as an external antenna for whatever gps app you are using

The apps use the GPS in the phone. If gps is off on the phone, the gps app (either carplay or Android auto) won't work. So that's not it.

[Remy]

If it wasn't a new car, I'd say it looks an awful lot like the gps modules used by "pay here" car lots to remotely shut down cars for repo-ing. Hopefully when the dealership showroom opens up I'll have a chance to look at some of the 2017 models.

[flotownj]

Its a GPS antenna for sure. Just not sure what it is used for.

[VespaGoGo]

I contacted Mitsubishi and they said it was in fact a GPS antenna (as well as controlled another function in some regions...he said something about automatic wiper control). I then asked why it would have a GPS antenna yet the GPS icon on my touchscreen be greyed out. I figured it was setup so that they could charge to enable that option in the future. The guy said that wasn't the case and that when the car became equipped with Apple Carplay that the Carplay took over the GPS function, thus greying out the standard GPS icon. Odd, but that's apparently what it is and what it's for....even though we can't use it.

Edit note: He also confirmed its use for the GPS time setting as daleWV had mentioned.

[live4redline]

Curious also. Mine has it and I wish they would have built a space for it to sink into the dash or clip in. The voice microphone for my G4 is also mounted on top the steering column and that's anouther one I wish they would have rethought.