Derrick Ambrose | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

July 26, 2013April 24, 2023

CorkSport Wants To Make Your 2014 Mazda 6 Even Better

If you have a 2014 + Mazda 6 then today is your lucky day! CorkSport is officially releasing the 2014+ Mazda 6 Rear Sway Bar, LED Light Kit, and License Plate Relocation Kit.

Relocate Your Plate

In order to improve airflow, and look better we created the 2014+ Mazda 6 License Plate Relocation Kit. The stock location of the license plate blocks the airflow through the grill of your Mazda 6 which is why we relocated the License Plate to the Tow Hook adapter location. This kit is simple to install and really creates a stunning front view of your Mazda 6.

The CorkSport 2014+ License Plate Bracket Relocation Kit is available at our online catalog. For more information please visit our product listing at: https://corksport.com/corksport-license-plate-bracket-relocation-kit-for-2014-mazda-6.html

Lights, Camera, Action

Allow your new Mazda 6 to shine, literally. Replacing the yellowish lighting inside the cabin of your Mazda 6 is one of the simplest upgrades to your car and makes the cabin more visible, cleaner looking, and feel higher-end. Don’t let the yellow light of the Mazda 6 ruin the atmosphere or limit the clean look of the interior, instead swap out the bulbs for fresh white LED lights.

The CorkSport 2014+ LED Light Kit is available at our online catalog for only $59.99 and is ready to ship now. For more information please visit our product listing at: https://corksport.com/corksport-led-light-kit-for-2014-mazda-6.html

Own the Corners

If you want to handle better, then this is the upgrade for you. Adding the 2014+ Mazda 6 Rear Sway Bar will limit the body roll when cornering by helping transfer some of the inside compression to the outside suspension. The rear sway bar effectively increases the compressed springs rate by helping distribute the load more evenly across the rear suspension. This helps control body roll and ultimately helps you corner flatter, faster and with more predictability.

The CorkSport 2014+ Mazda 6 Rear Sway Bar is available at our online catalog for only $229.99 and is ready to ship now. For more information please visit our product listing at: https://corksport.com/corksport-2014-mazda-6-rear-sway-bar.html

We also have the CorkSport 2013+ CX5 Rear Sway Bar available here: https://corksport.com/corksport-2013-mazda-cx5-rear-sway-bar.html

Upcoming Products:

CorkSport has been hard at work at more than just the parts listed above, soon we will be releasing the CorkSport 2014 Mazda 6 Power Series Short Ram Intake. Just like all our intakes this has been tested in varying conditions for proven power gains and improved sound.

If you can’t wait to improve the sound of your 2014 Mazda 6, we also have an exhaust for the Mazda 6 that will be released soon. It sounds great and looks even better. CorkSport has a great opportunity for one lucky person. If you simply HAVE to HAVE the Mazda 6 Axle Back Exhaust before anyone else then send Spencer an email (Update: we have already filled the beta testing spot.). We are looking for one lucky 2014 Mazda 6 owner to Beta test our CorkSport Axle Back exhaust and give us their thoughts. If chosen you will get to be inside the testing process and work with our engineers to provide feedback about our newest part!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edu2KOE3tOA

Stay tuned for official release dates and more exciting news in the near future!

Also, if you haven’t signed up for our Email Newsletter, now would be a great time. This is where we release coupons, news, release dates, events, and more.

July 25, 2013October 8, 2024

“Which intercooler should I get?” The Pros and Cons of a TMIC & FMIC

“Which intercooler should I get?” At Corksport, we get this question almost every day. The debate of top mount intercooler vs. front mount intercooler has been one that has raged on in the forums for years. Just looking around you will see both options on all sorts of cars. So what is the answer?

The Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazdaspeed 6 both come with a top mount intercooler (TMIC) from the factory. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that it is much cheaper to manufacture and install. A top-mounted intercooler can be installed directly into the engine at the factory so it is ready to drop into the car, saving both time and money.

Pros of the TMIC

The upside of the TMIC is that it uses the shortest possible path from the turbo to the engine. This reduces the amount of time it takes for the car to accelerate, this feeling can be amplified between shifts when the power comes back on very quickly. The TMIC is also very simple and compact, with very few connections and possible places for air leaks. A TMIC will also weigh very little compared to a FMIC setup and usually is in a place with very good airflow. With our TMIC, it’s a simple replacement as it fits like OEM. Generally, it is more affordable than an FMIC. So, if you’re on a budget, the TMIC may be what you want.

CorkSport-Intercooler-Mazda-Mazdaspeed-3-Front-Mount-vs-Top-Mount-2

Cons of the TMIC

The downside of TMICs is that they are generally limited in size by the design of the car. Often times they are much smaller than most FMICs. They are typically placed very high in the engine bay, raising the car’s center of gravity. Most importantly, the biggest downside of the TMIC is that it sits in a hot engine bay. Just by sitting on top of the motor, the TMIC can soak up heat, thereby decreasing its effectiveness in cooling the air compressed by your turbo.

CorkSport-Intercooler-Mazda-Mazdaspeed-3-Front-Mount-vs-Top-Mount

Pros of an FMIC

The principles are mostly the same for the pros and cons of the FMIC. The core of an FMIC can be much larger and, in the case of a properly designed system, can cool temperatures much more effectively. Being placed further away from the engine and out into the stream of air of your car can make the FMIC much cooler and, more importantly, more consistent. One last reason that many people love FMIC’s is the look, nothing says I mean business more than a massive bar and plate core smiling in your rear view.

CorkSport Front Mount intercooler for 2007-2013 Madaspeed

Cons of an FMIC

The biggest downside of an FMIC is that the installation process is much longer, requiring your car to be out while you do the work. Another downside of an FMIC can be the much longer piping needed to route compressed air to them. This piping can increase turbo lag and usually has many couplers that may cause the potential for air leaks or other issues.

So what does CorkSport say? As a general rule, we would say that if you don’t plan to add more than 50-100 horsepower, a top mount intercooler will work just fine and be much easier on your plans and wallet. If you eventually want to go wild with your car and build it up much higher than stock, you will want to seriously consider a front mount intercooler. Our advice would be to try to plan in advance what you want out of the car so that you only have to buy parts once.

Happy spooling!

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July 19, 2013December 18, 2017

Derricks Mazda Rumor Round-up

I have made some speculations in the past about things to come and have been fairly accurate thus far so I thought I would take another look into the future with the inside knowledge I have. Here are my most recent thoughts.

We know that the plant in Mexico that Mazda is building was slated for Mazda 3’s and Mazda 2’s for sale in North America. The whole plant will be online and running in 2014 with some production being slated for a small car from Toyota which Mazda will be building for them (which just says something about the quality of Mazda if Toyota is willing to have them Mazda build them). Mazda has said most of the production is slated for Central and South America which I am not sure about. I am betting that this new plant will be building additional units for the anticipated surge of the new Mazda 3 coming out and here is the reason why.

The new Skyactiv chassis Mazda is building cars from was announced to be shared in the next Mazda 2 recently. This means the Cx5, upcoming Mazda 3, and upcoming Mazda 2 will all be produced on the same platform. That means the tooling, production, power trains, and everything else will be available to build ½ of the Mazda product line in one place. This one place (Mexico) is a free trade zone for North, Central, and South America giving Mazda the ability to supply vehicles to any western hemisphere market quickly and tax free.

The capacity of the new plant will be 230,000 units by 2016 which is almost enough to supply the US sales with one plant if you look at the 277,046 Mazdas sold in 2012. I wouldn’t expect all of the supplied models to come from the new plant as Mazda Japan has a majority of their worldwide production capacity still based in Hiroshima, but the potential is there.

My second rumor will be that the new Mx5 will be released next spring or summer. It was back in 2011 when the patent pictures were dug up by someone and posted by all of the magazines. With the Rx8 gone and the current Mx5 having gone through a 2^nd facelift on the same chassis it is well overdue. 2 years have already gone by and the new Mx5 should be ready to pop. With the current focus being on the new Mazda 3 I am betting we will get a surprise next spring from Mazda.

-Derrick

July 16, 2013

Help Build the Mazdaspeed of Your Dreams

You may remember that we had to get a new shop testing vehicle after our last Mazdaspeed 3’s untimely demise See here; but what you may not know is how much time and effort was put into that car. Building a rolling showcase isn’t easy, cheap or quick. We were sad to see it go but now have a brand new canvas to start over on.

With our new speed we decided to go white, with that pearly white paint job we wanted to go towards a “panda” style going forward, mixing white and black parts in our build. We have started with a few small black and white things (intake, BOV, etc.). We’re really looking for input from you to really make this car unforgettable.

We’re looking at every detail to try to make an overall car that hasn’t been seen before that goes deeper than just bolting things on. We want to try new things, make combinations that have never been seen before and really try to make something that you would want if you never had to make a compromise.

Check us out on Facebook and let us know what you think we should add to this car to make it really unique.

July 11, 2013July 11, 2013

Product Release!! CORKSPORT 2010+ Mazda 3 Skyactiv Air Box for CorkSport SRI

Help limit your CorkSport Short Ram Intake from sucking in hot air with the CorkSport SkyActiv Cold Air Box for the 2010+ Mazda 3 Skyactiv. By coupling your Short Ram Intake with a cold air box, you will see the benefits of the intake system without the pressure drops inherent to longer tube intakes. Using the CorkSport Cold Air Box helps block hot air from the engine, while keeping open the access to cool air from the inner fender. Our Cold Air Box has undergone extensive testing at various ambient air conditions to verify performance in all conditions.

Made of durable and lightweight FRP construction the CorkSport Mazda 3 SkyActiv Air box is strong and lightweight, but looks great under your hood. Simple instructions make the CorkSport SkyActiv Air box easy to be installed by anyone with a CorkSport Short Ram Intake. With the SkyActiv Airbox your intake will stay cooler, which means your engine will run better. Whether you sit in a lot of traffic, live in a hot climate, or simply have noticed too much heat-soak, the SkyActiv Air box is the solution to loss of power due to high under hood temperatures.

The CorkSport 2010+ Mazda 3 Skyactiv Air Box for CorkSport SRI is available at our online catalog for only $99.99 and is ready to ship now. For more information please visit our product listing at:https://www.corksport.com/corksport-2010-mazda-3-skyactiv-air-box-for-corksport-sri.html