Author: Derrick Ambrose

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Is Your Car CorkSport Calendar Worthy?

It is hard to believe that it is already time to start making selections for CorkSport’s next calendar, but November will be here before you know it and due to the huge success of our 2012 calendar, CorkSport has plans to offer a 2013 calendar for all of our fans to enjoy again in the coming year!

Would you like to see your car in our next edition of the CorkSport calendar? Well now is your chance. This post is an all call for photo submissions for the 2013 calendar.

Requirements for submissions are as follows:

  • Must have high quality photos of your ride. No iPhone or Android pics please.
  • Include a list of modifications, and yes, of course we want to see lots of CorkSport mods, but will consider all submissions.
  • You must have permission to use the photo and by submitting for the calendar you are granting CorkSport permission to use the photos in print and on the web to promote the calendar and our products.
  • If possible, please remove the license plate, avoid shots of the license plate or photoshop out the license plate.

If your photo is selected for the calendar, a complimentary calendar will sent along to you upon release.

As we did last year, the proceeds of the calendar will be going to another worthy cause. If you have a charity that you support and think CorkSport should look into donating the proceeds of the sale to it, let us know!

Please submit all photos, questions, and charity ideas to Gwynne at gw****@*******rt.com and remember, CorkSport supports the full lineup of Mazda vehicles, so whether you drive a Speed3, a Miata, a CX7 or a Cosmo, if you have a nice ride and a great pic, CorkSport wants to see it!

Gwynne

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Vote for June’s Reader Car of the Month!

Well CorkSport readers, it’s that time again. Time to choose a car of the month!

You might remember last month, where we ended up with Christian’s Mazdaspeed 3 as our winner.

This month, shockingly, we’ve got a Mazda 3 and a Mazdaspeed 3. Will this month be a repeat of last month? Or will the Mazda 3 pull off an upset victory?

First up we’ve got Ray’s 2009 Mazdaspeed 3. He’s gone big turbo, and has done just about everything you can do to a Mazdaspeed 3.

Ray has the CorkSport Top Mount Intercooler, CorkSport Downpipe, CorkSport Cat-back Exhaust, CorkSport Cold Air Box, and way more than we can list here.

Our next gladiator in the arena of automotive combat is Joe. He lands the other end of the spectrum, keeping a refined, subtle, OEM look to his car with only clean styling cues to give away the enthusiast inside.

Joe’s car features the CorkSport Power Series Exhaust, and CorkSport Short Ram Intake, along with 5k HIDs in the headlights, and 3k foglights. Coupled with some lowering springs and swaybars, this car is a stealthy animal.

So there you have it everyone, cast your votes on our Facebook page, or by leaving a comment right here on the blog!

– Gwynne “G”

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SkyActiv-D Goes Racing

Mazda has already made the announcement that they intend to begin offering the Mazda SkyActiv-D (diesel engine) on the CX-5 in the US market in 2013 and as a leader in the motorsports arena, it should come as no surprise that the latest announcement surrounding their new SkyActiv diesel technology comes on the racetrack.

Mazda announced that they will be supplying SkyActiv-D engines to the GRAND-AM series GX class. Set to debut in 2013, the rules for the GX class are still being developed, but are expected to showcase the exploration of clean diesels, alternative fuels and even hybrid powertrains.

In press release distributed by Mazda Motorsports, Jay Amestoy, Vice President of Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) was quoted saying, “This opens a new chapter in racing for us. We’ve won with rotary technology, and now we’re looking to again put our customers in the winner’s circle with what we believe will be the most advanced and cleanest production-based powerplant the sport has ever seen.”

The engine is being jointly developed by Mazda Motor Corporation, Mazda North American Operations, and Speedsource Engineering and will be featuring a 14:1 low compression ratio, new two-stage turbocharger, a 5,200 rpm redline and compared to Mazda’s current-production 2.2L MZR-CD diesel engine, up to 20% reduction in fuel consumption, 20% reduction in internal engine friction and 10% reduction in weight.

On track testing will begin later this year. The actual Mazda model the SkyActiv racing engine will be installed on will be announced after the conclusion of the 2012 Grand-Am racing season. My guess is that we will see it debut on a Mazda 3, but only time will tell.

Gwynne-

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Fiat. Again.

I wrote a post about rumors of a Fiat/Mazda partnership in March and here we are several months later and the rumor of Mazda and Fiat working together has become a reality.

The official news is that Fiat is going to share Mazda’s upcoming Mx5 chassis in a new Alfa Romeo roadster of some type. Contrary to my other blog post on the topic, I am ok with this. Mazda will be able to re-coup some of the engineering and production costs from the Mx5 and I don’t see the Alfa and the MX5 really competing for the same buyer.

Reading between the lines on the announcement, I expect we will see the news of Mazdas being built in Fiat owned plants in the coming years and would expect it to be the new Skyactiv platform vehicles (aka Cx5 and new generation Mazda 3).

Assembling vehicles in the EU would benefit Mazda by allowing them to lower prices and be more competitive in the European market. Along with the Mazda plant being built in Mexico, Mazda has several bright spots in their production plans that will compliment their great sales numbers making them more competitive on the global market.

I do have some doubts about the quality of vehicles being built outside of Mazda plants in Japan. The Mazda 6s built in the auto alliance plant in Michigan seemed to be ok but the reliability stigma around Fiats and Alfas from the 70s and 80s makes me question the alliance’s long-term value.

Officially Fiat has said it does not want to purchase a stake in Mazda and wants to finish the Chrysler purchase in the near future. I’m not too sure I believe the statement offered by Fiat but at this point we will have to wait and see what happens.

There is an interesting side story in all of this. Mazda has agreed to have Sollers in Russia build the Cx5 and Mazda 6 for the Russian market. This deal was made after a deal for Fiat and Sollers fell through to have Sollers build vehicles in a joint venture.

With this move, the Mexico plant, and the agreement with Sollers in Russia, I see a great path for Mazda to move forward on and I look forward to seeing how this goes.

-Derrick

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Featured Car of the Month – Christian’s Speed 3

This month’s winner for our blog segment, The CorkSport Featured Car of the Month, goes to Christian who’s 2011 Mazdaspeed 3 plays the looks and the part for the role!

This Tustin, CA resident was featured in the CorkSport booth at Mazfest 2011 and with good reason. He sports a CorkSport Front Mount Intercooler, CorkSport Downpipe, CorkSport Racepipe, and CorkSport Power Series Exhaust on his Mazdaspeed.

But the mods don’t stop there, in addition to his CS go fast parts, he has also added a COBB xle bpv, upgraded his fuel pump internals and motor mounts and added a short shifter kit, CorkSport Skid Plate, and COBB AP.

For improved handling Christian has added HKS Hypermax Coilovers, Auto EXE front, rear, and bottom strut bars and BBS Wheels. To help him stop his speedy ride he has also added CorkSport Stainless Brake Lines and Stop Tech Slotted Rotors.

Ever since Christian learned how to build his first engine, he was hooked, but this is the first Mazda he has ever owned. He knew immediately that it was the perfect ride for him, “It is lightweight, powerful, and has superb handling” said Christian, “All I have to say is I love my Mazda.”

What’s next on the list for this Mazda lover? An Act Lightweight Flywheel and Clutch, CorkSport Front Camber Plates and CorkSport Oil Catch Can.

I think I can speak for your Mazda Christian when I say; your Mazda loves you too.

Gwynne-