Mazda 3 SkyActiv Short Ram Performance Air Intake

CorkSport began development of the new SkyActiv intake as soon as the technology was made available in the United States and today is happy to be the first Mazda aftermarket performance company to add a short ram intake for the 2012+ SkyActiv Mazda 3 and 2013+ Mazda CX-5 to its catalog of Mazda performance parts.

Engineered with exacting tolerances, the CorkSport Mazda SkyActiv Intake includes our precision machined MAF housing made from billet aluminum, durable dry flow air filter and custom reinforced silicone connector. In initial testing on the SkyActiv Mazda CX5, the CorkSport SkyActiv Short Ram Intake netted peak gains of +5 HP and +6 lb torque.

Mazda 3 Skyactiv Short Ram Intake Dyno Results

“Sales for Mazda’s new SkyActiv product line-up have shown tremendous potential and we have had several product requests for a SkyActiv short ram intake,“ said Rich Harris, President of CorkSport Mazda Performance, “Our engineering staff really stepped up to the plate to get our new SkyActiv intake to market quickly in order to fully support the Mazda community.”

Skyactive Mazda Engine Bay with CorkSport Short Ram Intake

CorkSport has already confirmed the fitment of the single exit Mazda 3 exhaust for the SkyActiv Mazda 3 and made it available to the public and is happy to be able to add a second performance offering designed for the SkyActiv technologies developed by Mazda to increase fuel efficiency and engine output.

As with all CorkSport Mazda SRIs, the SkyActiv Short Ram Intake comes with a two-year limited warranty, full-color installation instructions, and CorkSport service and support. For added support, this kit also has a complete installation video.

The CX-5 SkyActiv intake can be purchased separately in our newly added CorkSport CX5 catalog and the Mazda 3 SkyActiv Intake can be purchased as an option that has been added to the CorkSport Power Series 2.0 Liter Mazda 3 intake.

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35 Replies to “Mazda 3 SkyActiv Short Ram Performance Air Intake”

  1. The deisel version will not be available in the US until 2013 sometime so we will likely not have a vehicle to use for development until then.

  2. According to other torque curves provided from Mazda Inc., your dyno graph appears to resemble the CX-5 skyactiv, and NOT the Mazda 3 Skyactiv as stated above. Compared to the Mazda 3, the CX-5 has a more free flowing 4-2-1 exhaust header, 13:1 vs. 12:1 compression and different tuning, which altogether gives it more low end torque. According to other dynos of the Mazda 3 skyactiv, there is a much larger dip in torque at around 2500-3000 rpm, followed by a slower increase.

    Please clarify which cars dyno curve is posted Corksport.

    It would be useful to run dyno’s on both cars to see if the new intake really gives similar performance gains despite significantly different hardware in each car. Its unlikely that the CX-5 and Mazda 3 skyactiv intakes would yield the exact same hp/tq gains, especially in the low end rpm range.

  3. I will have to check with the engineers. I may have been mistaken and it was tested on the CX-5 not the Mazda 3. I will look into it

  4. Can we please have an update Corksport- was it dyno tested on a CX-5 or Mazda 3?

    If it was actually a CX-5, can you please let us know whether you will also test this intake on a Mazda 3 skyactiv?

  5. I spoke with the engineers and confirmed that the dyno was completed on the CX5. We will likely dyno the Mazda 3 in the future, but it is not on the immediate schedule.

  6. Thanks, looking forward to seeing the upcoming Mazda 3 skyactiv dyno results!

    According to the dyno results posted on your product website, your short ram intake (2.5L) reversed much of the low-end power dip in the non-skyactiv Mazda 3 2.0. Considering the amount of parts in common eg. header, I would hope to see a similar trend on the Mazda 3 skyactiv.

  7. Thank you Alex! I will follow-up as soon as I have more data to share 🙂

  8. Will there be an airbox for the SkyActiv models? Or will the engine bay not accomodate one?

  9. I guedd I’m thickheaded but why do you continue to list a graoh witgh HP and Torque for thew wrong application? Yes I know the SRI fits my 2012 Mazda3 Shyactiv, but don’t know if I would gain or loose HP and Torque? I was prepared to buy ,however, most of my driving is around town and I want to feel a difference(positive). Also I assume that the SRI will give the car a nore sporty sound on acceleration?

  10. The gains will not be identical, but there will still be noticable gains from adding the SkyActiv intake to the Mazda 3. We have plans to test it and will publish the results once the testing has been completed. We also have MANY people that have purchased the intake for their SkyActiv Mazda 3 and are very happy with the results. Here is a forum post from a happy Mazda 3 SkyActiv customer https://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-mazda-3-engine-performance/11013-corksport-skyactiv-intake.html

  11. I believe Steve is right. If it was not tested on a Mazda 3, then you are falsely advertising the product through the above dyno graph and claimed hp and tq gains. This intake may even be detrimental to performance on parts of the powerband in the Mazda 3. Please change the text to “initial testing on the CX-5” until you ACTUALLY test the Mazda 3 skyactiv.

  12. My intent was never to be dishonest and quite frankly am a bit taken back by these comments. I will edit the post, but respectfully request that you limit your rhetoric. The intake we are offering is in NO WAY detrimental to the performance of the Mazda 3. We have installed it and road tested it on a Mazda 3 but have not had the opportunity to dyno it yet. I have been nothing but forthcoming with all of the comments and responses to this post and have many happy customers who have installed the part on their vehicle. No one is forcing you to purchase our products. If you are concerned, then I suggest you do not purchase it and do not make aftermarket modifications to your vehicle.

  13. Does it only come in blue? And will there be some headers in the future? Maybe a body kit or some fog lights. All this for the 2012 Mazda 3 skyactiv.

  14. We have not submitted for CARB approval. It would only be something we would consider doing if there was enough demand for it. Please submit a product idea requesting CARB approval. If we get enough of them, it just may end up on the development log. https://www.corksport.com/product-ideas.html

  15. Here is one person asking for CARB approval. I have a friend looking at a Skyactiv and know 100% he would also only purchase this intake if it is CARB approved (we are boring ‘squares’ who want legal performance upgrades).

    Also, any idea on when we can see a dyno for the Skyactiv 3 SRI? If you are located in SoCal, I would be more than happy to be the test subject….

  16. Are there any other performance upgrades coming out for the 2012 mazda 3 skyactiv? I am also planning on getting the short ram air intake, and am very curious to see those dyno results on the mazda 3 skyactive. Any updates?

  17. The SkyActiv Mazda 3 and non-SkyActiv Mazda 3 have a lot of overlapping parts. Our Power Series Exhaust works on both the 2.0 liter and SkyActiv models https://www.corksport.com/corksport-power-series-exhaust-system-mazda-3.html, along with anything else in our catalog for 2012+ Mazda 3 that is not specifically noted as not compatible with the SkyActiv model. The only handling part that has been confirmed as not working with the SkyActiv model is our front lower arm bar, otherwise all of our handling products should fit as well!

  18. I purchased the intake for my skyactiv Mazda 3 hoping to get more performance. I was happy about the gain in performance at high rpm ranges (4000k+) despite not pushing my car above 4 k very often. Unfortunately, the intake dropped my low end torque (below 3000k), as the car felt more sluggish on the low end and stalled more easily at launch compared to the stock intake. The situation became much worse during hot days when I had the A/C on, forcing me to uninstall the intake. Researching these problems on many blogs, I confirmed that others have also reported the same losses in performance using this product. I’m sure much of this has to do with the intake bringing in more hot air from inside the engine bay.

    Will corksport release a cold air box to alleviate the problems associated with this intake? If so, I would gladly purchase it and re-install the intake. A dyno test with the intake and a well designed airbox would be very useful and appropriate. Either way, I would love to see a dyno test done using the intake alone to find out how much performance is really being gained (not just on the CX-5 as shown above).

  19. “The intake we are offering is in NO WAY detrimental to the performance of the Mazda 3. We have installed it and road tested it on a Mazda 3 but have not had the opportunity to dyno it yet”

    Not sure how you can say that without dynoing. It’s a FACT that some aftermarket intakes can DECREASE power – mainly at low rpms – and usually gain power at high rpms. In fact, this is not uncommon. It can occur from a variety of reasons. From what I’ve read, it’s often related to how air enters the cone and travels down the pipe. It’s more of an issue with short intakes where the air doesn’t have enough distance to stabilize before going past the mass airflow sensor. The MAF may then read incorrectly and the air/fuel ratio will no longer be optimal. It’s not as simple as sticking on a pipe and air filter – there is a lot of engineering and testing behind air intakes. I’m sure the factory designed their intake the way they did for a reason. Not saying your intake isn’t beneficial – just saying it’s not necessarily better at all rpms, and it’s hard to compare without dyno testing.

  20. I can say that because our MAF is designed to maintain optimal airflow and does not throw a check engine light which would be the case if the “The MAF read incorrectly and the air/fuel ratio was no longer optimal”

  21. The most common way a short-ram intake becomes detrimental to power is by drawing in too much hot air from the engine bay. This likely contributes to my problems with the intake as the Mazda 3 skyactiv has an engine bay that’s more covered from the exterior to improve aerodynamics. The stock intake appears to work well with this design by drawing in air from both in front, and below the car.

    Could you please reply to my question Corksport:

    Will you be releasing a cold air box for this product in the near future?

  22. I would be interested in seeing the actual dyno for the mazda 3 skyactiv. AT this point I think CorkSport has had plenty of time to answer this question. It is hard to respect an aftermarket parts manufacturer without the numbers. Please take the 4 hours it takes to schedule a dyno test, pay a lacky to deliver it to the dyno and get us the results. That is all we are asking for !!!!!!!!!

  23. Only thing stopping me from getting this intake for my Skyactiv Mazda 3 is the lack of a cold air box and dyno info. A cold air box is a must for this type of intake!

  24. ughhh, hope that there would be a Cold air intake version of this for the cx-5, and I was looking for a throttle body spacer for it, for it could help out the SRI? I was a CAI user and loved it esp on higher RPM’s + vtec. and oh yeah it’s carb legal AEM(big company I guess and more demands from them?)

  25. Will you be making an Air Box for the 2014 Mazda 3 2.0 sky active to go along with the SRI or can I just use the 2013 air box that you guys have

  26. Hey guys, I have a customer who is interested in a couple of your products and was wondering if you do any wholesales pricing for dealer accounts? Let me know. Thanks.

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