Mazda did a great job bringing a turbocharged engine back to the Mazda 6 (Mazda 3 next please?), but may have done too good of a job of keeping it quiet. Say hello to the CorkSport 80mm Cat Back Exhaust and Axle Back Exhaust for 2018+ Mazda 6 equipped with the turbocharged 2.5L engine. If you’re interested in waking up your SkyActiv-T in both excitement and power, read on as we breakdown the newest CS exhaust.
As with all CorkSport exhausts, the goal of the Mazda 6 2.5T exhaust is to improve power and sound by improving the flow of the OEM exhaust. We started by increasing the size of the piping from 60mm to 80mm. That is an increase of over three-quarters of an inch to really help your turbocharger breathe better. In addition, the CS exhaust system eliminates the crushed areas present in the OEM exhaust and replaces the restrictive muffler sections with pass-through resonators. These resonators control volume and drone without affecting power output.
All that extra flow does mean a power increase. In our in-house dyno testing, we saw an increase in 5-6WHP just by bolting on the CorkSport Cat Back Exhaust. Check out the dyno sheet down below to see. This increase came with no tuning changes, no check engine lights, and the only other mod beingthe CorkSport Short Ram Intake, which was installed for both tests. With the 80mm piping size, this exhaust is ready to support future modifications and would likely show more power gains with proper tuning.
The CorkSport MZ6T exhaust is more than just function. We went through multiple iterations and designs to ensure the best-sounding exhaust for your Mazda 6. The finished product ups the volume without being annoying to daily drive yet still sounds great when in hard acceleration. We strongly recommend you watch the video below to hear what to expect from this exhaust.
If you feel the video below gives you too much volume for the daily, then check out the Axle Back Only Exhaust. Recently added to the CorkSport line-up, the Axle Back alone adds a mellower, but still noticeable tone to the exhaust. This is a great middle ground between the CorkSport Cat Back and the stock exhaust.
To give a great-looking, long-lasting finish to each exhaust, they are manufactured from fully polished 304 stainless steel. To ensure a high-quality fitment, all components are precision TIG welded together on jigs made from OEM exhaust components. Lastly, as a finishing touch, we use 100mm dual wall exhaust tips. They fill out the bumper cutouts and are extended slightly to give a classy look and enhance the new Mazda 6’s styling.
The CS Mazda 6 Turbo Exhaust comes with all the hardware and gaskets you need for installation, high quality instructions, and CorkSport support for any questions you may have. Pick up a CorkSport MZ6 2.5T Exhaust today and liven up that daily commute.
We are proud to announce a old product that we have redesigned. Introducing the V2 CorkSport Coilovers for 2004-2013 Mazda 3 and Mazdaspeed 3.
We’ve taken the same basic designed and revised and refined it with small changes to fitment and big changes to spring rates and damping rates.
For spring rates we took an approach that seems to differ with most street oriented kits on the market today. We wanted to develop coilovers that were both enjoyable to drive on the street in a daily driven car, but could also perform on the track in more performance oriented settings. With these goals we focus on the ride feedback, understeer/oversteer balance, and suspension frequency balance.
The result; linear rate 7K front springs and 8.5K rear springs. This provided us with a ride quality that was comfortable, but sport focused and with the right balance of understeer vs oversteer, with a car that is more oversteer biased. The frequency of the suspension was also taken into consideration with a higher rear frequency than front to improve driver feedback and comfort.
Like most coilovers, ride height adjustability is essential to setting up you Mazdaspeed 3 or Mazda 3 for your goals. The redesigned CS coilovers offer 2 inches of height adjustability from approximately 0.75 inches to 2.75 inches lower than stock springs. This range of ride height allows you to have a conservative track-oriented setup or a slammed show setup depending on your goals.
With ride height, you can also adjust the front camber setup with the CS Coilovers include front camber plate, this kit comes to your door ready to install.
Lastly, and also somewhat unique to CS, is the design of the front coilovers. Instead of a more conventional and cost effective design, we’ve utilized an inverted damper design for improve performance. By inverting the front damper/shock, we’ve both reduce the unsprung weight of the front suspension and increased the rigidity. Both of these result in increased driver feedback and improved performance.
If you been considering lowering springs or coilovers for you Mazda 3 or Mazdaspeed 3 then give CS a good look. Thanks for taking the time to checkout CS, stay connected on the blog, newsletter and social media channels for upcoming performance parts for your Mazda.
Ever wonder what it was like to win the lottery. You ever let your mind wander and think what it would be like to actually “Live the dream.” I know I have, well, until I joined CorkSport! My name is Zach Sprague, and I wanted to share with you my experience of joining, what I believe to be, the best well known and respected company in the Mazda Community. Let’s take a look at my journey.
I’ve always been into cars and have had a pretty big obsession with FWD Hatchbacks. My passion for this platform started back in 2014. I sold cars for Toyota in Southwest Washington for about four years. During my tenure, I drove some pretty amazing vehicles, one of them being a 2013 VRM MS3 Tech pack. I knew what a Mazdaspeed was, a Turbo FWD Hatchback, and at that time that was more than enough to pique my interest in the platform. It was temporarily sitting on my lot, and I had to drive it back down to Portland to our sister store.
Before jumping into the seat, I didn’t know any horsepower or torque figures. I didn’t know what kind of emotion it was going to spark when I drove it. I had NO idea that it would become the screen saver on my computer. I slid in and pushed the button. (You know those Cold Starts) This Mazdaspeed’s exhaust made my heart drop and gave me goosebumps. I honestly felt like an 8-year-old on Christmas Morning.
Once on the ramp, I slowly shift into third at about three and a half grand on the tach and just sent it. Torque steer was prevalent as I was gently pushed back into my seat. I slammed 4th, and I hear this intoxicating PSSHHHHHH from the short ram intake. I was done, I was hooked, addicted and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was so intrigued I stopped at every rest stop on the way down so that I could feel this car accelerate back onto the freeway. <insert uncontrolled giggling here>.
Flash forward a couple of years, and a guy I worked with, now one of my best friends, went out and bought a VRM Mazdaspeed6. Everything on that car from top to bottom was stock down to the wheels. I slowly watched his build progress over the year and transform into one of the most inspiring builds I have ever seen. In that time he was kind enough to let me pick his brain about these cars and what they like, what they don’t like.
In 2018 this is when things got interesting! After a few months of looking and 100 YouTube videos later, I was finally ready to pull the trigger on one of my bucket list cars. I snagged a 2013 MazdaSpeed3 in liquid Silver. I drove almost 4 hours and paid an arm and a leg for sales tax, but it was worth it.
Miles of Smiles
I was grinning ear to ear the entire way home; 4th gear dumps on the freeway, testing the grip of the tires out at a few stoplights, full-on shenanigans. I tell you what; I made it home a lot quicker than the drive up.
I had the car for 3 weeks before I added my first mod. I already had a vision for the car, but first things first, I had to take care of those sloppy shifts. My shifter bushings and short shift plate showed up from CorkSport. At that time I knew they made great parts and were one of the very few places that even made parts for this car. What a difference that made! It felt robust and more responsive.
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
I always joked with my friends about working for a company like CorkSport. I just thought it was this elusive dream that I’d be sitting behind a desk helping other people build their dream cars. I never thought in my life that an opportunity like this would come into fruition.
My buddy, who helped me get into Mazdaspeeds, sent me a message on FB, letting me know that CS was hiring. I thought to myself; this is no lie. “There is no way on god’s green earth I’d ever get that lucky.” However, I applied. What’s the worst thing that could happen, right?
CorkSport isn’t a revolving door, and the team is made up of a close-knit group of professionals that also happen to be car nuts. They carefully consider who’s going to be a good fit with their existing team and identify candidates that are going to get the right shit done well. I knew this was a different company, and their standards were high because they didn’t just accept my resume; there was a pre-test.
A funny little story. I got a message from CorkSport saying they wanted to set up a phone interview! I couldn’t believe it! That Friday, I called to set up a meeting for Monday. This is where the humor known as my life kicked in; I BROKE MY PHONE ON SUNDAY! *RED ALERT* My dream job was calling me on Monday, and I didn’t have a phone, so I went out and bought a little prepaid flip phone.
Although I almost missed this opportunity, it went well enough for CorkSport to schedule a second interview over Skype. I must add, this occurred over two weeks. I was losing my mind; I couldn’t believe it was happening. All my buddies knew I had the job, they knew how obsessed I am with cars, especially my Mazdaspeed 3. I still was in shock couldn’t believe I had my second interview.
When CorkSport called me to let me know, I had a final interview with the Company’s President, Corey – Hello nervousness, glad to see you again! I can’t put into words how excited I was; it was pure bliss and absolute disbelief. “IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING!” I screamed at the top of my lungs when I got off the phone. I showed up a half-hour early. It was cool; I got to meet someone I’ve stalked on Instagram for a while and who has been a significant influence on me since I got into the Mazda community – Brett White.
It’s so surreal when you get an interview for a job you’ve always wanted. Above all, I remember from the interview is telling Corey, “Even if I don’t get the job, knowing I made it this far and am sitting here with you having this interview is honestly a dream come true.” It’s unreal to think that one mistake, such as breaking my phone the day before my first interview, could have kept me from writing this blog for a company I’ve looked up to since I’ve been into Mazda’s.
I cannot believe I’ve been here a little over a year already! It’s a fun environment where everyone is looking out for one another. I’ve been able to FLY in the fastest thing I’ve ever been in (Barett’s monster Gen Juan), and had the chance to drive a car I’ve drooled over on social media (Brett’s Baby) for years.
Barett’s monster Gen Juan
Looking back, it wasn’t even four days after joining the company before the guys a CS put lowering springs on my car. It took a little over a week for me to buy an AccessPort and a Dual VTA Bypass Valve, and that was just the start! You don’t want to be an employee driving a stock Speed with a CorkSport Sticker on it.
Stay tuned to see where CorkSport and I go with my car. I’ll catch you on the flipside and, thanks for reading my first blog!
The long wait is finally over and you can now get your hands on the CorkSport CST6 Mazdaspeed Turbo, which holds the record for the highest horsepower on the OEM turbine flange at 684WHP! In case this is the first time you’ve heard “CST6”, be sure to check out our blogs on the CS Turbo catalog, CST6 Design, and CST6 Testing. The CST6 is truly a big turbo, so if you’re ready for some serious power on your Mazdaspeed 3 or 6, read on!
Let’s start by looking at the anatomy of the CST6. The backbone is a tried and true dual ceramic ball-bearing Garrett CHRA. We opted for ball bearings to improve response and durability, especially when running at high boost levels the CST6 is capable of. As for wheels, the turbine is a 10blade GT35 while the compressor is an 11blade GTX76 that is rated for 64 lb/min. This combo provides fantastic spool characteristics for its large size, achieving 20psi by 3800-3900 with the appropriate supporting mods and headwork like on Barett’s GEN1.
The quick spool is not due to the wheels and ball bearings alone though. A lot of research and development went into making the turbine and compressor housings the right fit for the CST6, and balance fast spool with top-end power. A 4” inlet with anti-surge ports provides plenty of air into that compressor wheel while a high swallowing capacity 0.82 A/R external wastegate turbine housing offers superior top-end power capabilities and optimum boost control. Even with all these changes, the CST6 Turbo fits in the OEM location; all you need is the external wastegate actuator and an intake that fits the 4” compressor cover.
The CST6 is definitely not all bark and no bite though. We have thoroughly tested the CST6 up to its limits and beyond and have had nothing but success. Check out the graph below, that is the CorkSport CST6 in “calm” trim making mid-500s at 28psi. The difference in power on the graph was a back to back exhaust manifold change but more on that when we reveal more of the CorkSport Exhaust Manifold….
At the limit of the CST6 is a full bore 38psi, port-injected E85, and revving out to 8000RPM, resulting in 684.7WHP and 552WTQ. Check out the graph below. There may even be a little more to be had, with a larger 4” intake and 3.5” downpipe and exhaust.
Like every other CorkSport turbo, the CST6 comes with all new hardware, gaskets, and the needed oil and coolant lines to make your install as painless as possible. The CST6 is a little special though as it also comes with a v-band clamp and EWG elbow to help with the installation of your EWG actuator. While you will have to supply the EWG actuator itself, the elbow helps locate the Tial 44mm (or equivalent) wastegate in a usable location, whether you have an MS3 or MS6. In addition, we have a dump tube available for purchase to prevent any fabrication on your CST6 install.
So if you’re in the market for
some serious horsepower on your speed, be sure to check out the CorkSport CST6.
Let us know if you have any questions on the CST6, installation, or supporting
mods, we’re happy to help!
P.S. If you buy a CST6 share your
power graph with #CorkSport
The CST6 has Arrived for the Mazdaspeed! January 8th, 2024CorkSport
Today we want to break down the OEM exhaust manifold for the Mazdaspeed platform so that you can better understand how and why the CorkSport Exhaust Manifold makespower.
If you haven’t heard, CorkSport has been developing a performance cast exhaust manifold for the Mazdaspeed platform. We’ve tested and validated samples on Mazdaspeeds ranging from 350whp to 684whp. We’ve done dyno testing on the OEM exhaust manifold vs the CS manifold, as well as on the XS Power V3 manifold vs the CS manifold with the man, Will Dawson of Purple Drank Tuning, setting the calibrations. Both tests showed good gains from just the CorkSport Exhaust Manifold alone. However, we can get into those details later.
Mazda Exhaust Manifold Design
OEM Exhaust Manifold Flange
This is the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) exhaust manifold found on the 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed 6. Manufactured from cast iron and very compact in design, the OEM design leaves A LOT on the table in the performance department.
In the image, we’ve labeled each cylinder since that will be important for later discussion.
OEM Manifold Exhaust Flow
So now let’s talk flow. Fluids (or exhaust gases in this situation), will always take the path of least resistance. When the flow path is not clearly defined for the exhaust gas, such as a merge between different cylinders, turbulence is created which reduces the efficiency of the exhaust manifold.
A prime example of turbulence is shown in the image above with the orange arrows at the merge for cylinder 1 and cylinder 2. Cylinder 2 comes to a “T” and therefore could flow left or right. This creates turbulence which causes a loss in potential power.
Next is the yellow arrow. This is identifying the inner diameter of the runners in the OEM exhaust manifold. To our surprise, the inner diameter of the OEM exhaust manifold is actually pretty decent at ~1.48 inches. This diameter partially defines the power a manifold can support efficiently. Bigger is better in this situation, but small changes here will make big differences in the final performance.
Surprisingly, there are “performance” exhaust manifolds on the market for the Mazdaspeed platform that have smaller inner diameter runners…
OEM Exhaust Manifold Gasket
We also wanted to point out an unusual but important aspect of the Mazdaspeed exhaust manifold and gasket. Have you ever noticed the seemingly useless extend flange off of cylinder 4? This extended flange acts as part of the passage for the exhaust gas recirculation port.
You can more clearly see this port path in the gasket.
OEM Exhaust Manifold
Designing For Efficiency
In this image, we want to direct your attention to a unique and troubling design feature of the OEM exhaust manifold. There is a right way and a wrong way to pair cylinders on an exhaust manifold for a 4-cylinder engine, and this is the wrong way.
Referencing our cylinder callouts in the first image above; you can see that the OEM design pair cylinder 1 & 2 together and cylinder 3 & 4 together. This design physically works, but it is not ideal from a performance standpoint. In a divided manifold, you should pair cylinders 1 & 4 together and cylinders 2 & 3 together for optimal cylinder exhaust gas scavenging. To learn more about exhaust scavenging you can check out a blog on that here, or watch the video below!
Exhaust Gas Scavenging. See the difference between the CS and OEM Manifolds.
Before we wrap here we do have one good thing to say about the OEM exhaust manifold. It does sound really good and gives the Mazdaspeed platform a unique exhaust note, but don’t worry you don’t lose your unique rumble with the CorkSport design.
Thanks for checking in with CorkSport Mazda Performance. Stay tuned for more info about the CorkSport Performance Exhaust Manifold.
