Author: CorkSport

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What are the Chances of an AWD Mazda 3 coming to the US

One thing that has been lacking in the US market for some time now is an Awd/4wd small car from Mazda. With the recent releases of the Cx5 and the existence of the Awd Mazda 3 in Japan I have been looking for hints that we will get lucky and Mazda will bring us something fun with the next generation of the Mazda 3. So far there has been no word or hint about it that I have found browsing through releases from Mazda or other news outlets, but there are a few things which are giving me some hope we will see one sometime soon.

First, the Cx5 is available in Awd and the chassis for the Mazda 3 is looking like it will be from the Cx5. Awd experience on the existing chassis should allow Mazda the ability to chase the bugs out before the release of an Awd Mazda 3 if any appear.

Second, the Mazda 3 is already available in Awd in Japan with the 2 liter and an automatic transmission. This really doesn’t lend itself to performance applications well, but it shows Mazda was not willing to give up work on Awd small cars.

Third, Mazda has really been pushing the “we are a green company, but we are also a performance company”. With the SkyActiv brand being integrated into the fleet of vehicles, the next performance car will definitely include a variant of the direct injected motor. Mazda has done the Awd manual gearbox with the Mazdaspeed 6 but that was the last stick transmission we saw released that way.

My dream next gen Mazdaspeed 3 would be a 2.2 Sky-D manual transmission awd Mazdaspeed 3. If you change out the secondary turbo with something larger to increase the top end power you could do Awd burnouts for days with 350+ wheel torque.

So far the only pictures we have seen of the next Mazda 3 is the one above. I expect we will see more on the future 3 at the end of the year after the Mazda 6 finishes up being released.

Derrick-

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Vote for July’s Featured Car of the Month!

Time for our July face-off to see who will become CorkSport’s next featured car of the month!

This month it is really going to come down to looks and current mods because we have two evenly matched competitors with Tommy Taberski’s 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 and Mark Kennedy’s 2010 Mazdaspeed 3.

Kennedy’s speed3 is all CorkSport featuring a Stage II SRI, Racepipe, Top Mount Intercooler, Interior LED Light Kit, Motor Mount Inserts, and several other performance parts including an Access Port, HPFP upgrades, recirculation Valve, and lowering springs.

Tommy has been building up his speed3 choosing to do a cold air intake over the short ram, adding a little suspension tuning with a front tower bar and upgrading his brakes with slotted front and rear brake rotors. His most recent additions include a CorkSport Cat Back Exhaust and Racepipe for some go fast power.

It’s anyones guess who will win this month’s honored award. Let us know by voting today on Facebook, Twitter, or commenting on this post!

Gwynne-

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Product Release! Mazdaspeed 3 CorkSport Adjustable Rear Camber Arms

Mazdaspeed3 adjustable rear suspension arms

CorkSport is happy to announce the addition of the CorkSport Mazda 3 and Mazdaspeed 3 Adjustable Rear Camber Arms to our growing list of suspension products!

Speed3 adjustable camber arms featuring spherical bearings

 

By replacing your stock camber arms with the CorkSport Adjustable Camber Arms, you will be able to adjust your suspension to accommodate for lowering springs or coilovers and fine tune your Mazda or Mazdaspeed to the appropriate camber setting needed to balance uneven tire wear and improve cornering performance.

The CorkSport Mazda and Mazdaspeed Adjustable Rear Camber Arms are made from reinforced high strength extruded bent steel tubing that is stronger, less brittle, and more durable than aluminum. The adjustability provides precision tuning by allowing for +/- 5 degrees of camber adjustment and can be easily adjusted while installed on the vehicle using just a wrench.

Unlike other adjustable camber arm options on the market, CorkSport’s unique design includes spherical bearings that replace the soft rubber bushings on the OEM camber arms, providing a true attachment to the suspension of the vehicle for improved handling and road feel.

“The CorkSport Rear Camber Arms allow you to fine tune your camber to exacting settings.” said CorkSport Engineer, Brydon Foster, “The ease of adjustability and the unique nature of the spherical bearings will provide customers with improved cornering control that can’t be outmatched by any other options on the market today.”

The CorkSport Adjustable Rear Camber Arms are available for all Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazda 3 vehicles. 

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Showdown at PIR

Much to my delight, when I signed up for the SCCA Super Tour National Races at Portland International Raceway on July 13th though 15th, there was another B-Spec car registered to race against! My competition was a 2009 Honda Fit who was on the track for the first time over the weekend.

On Sunday afternoon the race between our B-Spec cars went off with a bang. By the first turn, all of the cars in the run group had passed the lowest horsepower car, the Mazda 2. I wasn’t too concerned though, there was still 35 minutes of racing to catch back up to the Fit.

Within three laps I had caught up with the Fit and started looking for spots where I was performing better than him. There were several spots where the 2 really out performs:

    1) Braking. I was hitting my brakes about 100 feet later off the front straight and on the back straight allowing me to gain a little bit of distance back on him lap after lap.

    2) Corners. Corners 4 through 7, where power isn’t as much of a factor and handling is, the Mazda2 excelled.

The Fit has more power than a Mazda 2, which you could really notice on the straights as it slowly started pulling away. By late braking as much as possible and using the entire track (and parts off the track too), I was able to pass the Fit on lap 7 by jumping him on the apex and late braking, forcing him out a little further to gain the lead.

Eight laps later, after nose to tail driving between both cars, the Fit was able to pass me up on the straight before the chicane to regain the lead.

After going back and forth for several more laps I was able to get along side of the Fit in the chicane. The Fit didn’t see me on the inside of the lane and I was forced to do some “off roading”. After getting back on the track behind the Fit I found the wheeling had caused the front pads to loosen up a bit which made slowing down into the next corner more exciting!

I got past the Fit on corner 7 again and led for six more laps. With one lap to go, the Fit drafted me and was able to get a good run and out brake me into the chicane. I stayed as close as I could to the Fit so I would be in position to pass again in turn 7.

One of the faster cars in the group, a Honda s2000, caught up to us just before turn 7 and dropped between us. I was cut-off from going through the corner and getting the lead. I could have tried but it would have resulted in a three car wreck. This gave the Fit a little bit of a gap between us on the back straight that I was unable to close. The Honda Fit was able to hold me off for the final two miles for a 0.480-second BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour win.

I may not have won this time, but I will have my revenge when we meet next. He may have won this battle, but the war is far from over.

Derrick-

To see more pictures from the event, go to https://dougberger.zenfolio.com/orscca-july2012-group-16-race

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Mazda 6 Wagon Redesign Sneak Peek

Mazda already confirmed the redesigned Mazda 6 sedan will be making its debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show this fall, but has said little about the new wagon model.

Last week however, the company provided us with a first look at the new Mazda 6 wagon that has been kept well under wraps by the Japanese automaker and is now expected to debut at the Moscow Motor Show at the end of August.

Photos, courtesy of Car Advice, show a design inspired by the Takeri concept that has little in common with the current model. It includes a new bigger grille and swept back headlights that give it a more aggressive feel.

The tighter window line adds to the sportiness of the vehicle and the previously mostly clear tail lights have been upgraded with slimmer, dark red fixtures.

The interior center console looks similar to the CX-5 touring package or upgraded sport package that includes the large color touch screen monitor with built in navigation and blue tooth enabled audio package.

The Mazda 6 will be equipped with the new SkyActiv technology and will also include the new i-ELOOP regenerative braking system, which Mazda says will improve fuel economy by 10%.

There have not been any sightings of the sedan as of yet, but Mazda did provide a little glimpse in a video they posted to YouTube on July 10th. The 21 second video definitely leaves you wanting to see more.

One thing is quite evident from this short clip though; this model is shaping up to be something spectacular!

Gwynne-