SkyActiv | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

December 8, 2022March 16, 2023

It’s Finally Here! The Performance Turbo Inlet Pipe for the Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.5L Turbo

The best and most complete intake system for your Turbo Mazda is finally available! Introducing the last piece of the puzzle, the CorkSport Performance Turbo Inlet Pipe. Combine the turbo inlet pipe with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake and Heatshield to create the complete intake system for the SkyActiv-G 2.5T engine found in nearly every model Mazda currently produced.

Skyactiv Turbo 3 Filter Inlet Engine Placement

Why does an upgraded turbo inlet pipe matter?

Power comes from efficiently flowing air in and out of the engine. When there is a restriction in the flow path, this causes a power and efficiency loss. Our goal was to design a new performance turbo inlet pipe that removes the restrictions of the OEM design, fits like OEM, and integrates perfectly with the already existing CorkSport Short Ram Intake and Heatshield.

The Turbo Inlet Pipe for the4th Gen Mazda 3

Here you can truly see the difference in size! While the shape of the CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe is…unusual…it’s for good reason. We invite you to check out the design blog for more in-depth details.

In a nutshell, we investigated the typical aftermarket design path of a metal pipe, but a 2.5 inch metal pipe was not good enough. We thought outside of the box to truly design the best turbo inlet pipe option for the community. We moved up to a 3 inch inner diameter system to maintain a continuous 3 inch inner area matching the MAF housing.

Full Image of the 4th Gen Mazda 3 Turbo Intake System

It’s the final piece in the CorkSport 4th GEN Turbo Intake System making it the best and most complete system on the market!

Turbo Inlet Providing Power Gains

So does it make power? Short answer. YES IT DOES! While tuning for the 4^th GEN Mazda platform is still primitive and restrictive, we are able to see faster spooling and higher flow before the ECU hits the load limits. This tells us we are making more power with the addition of the turbo inlet pipe to the existing CorkSport short ram intake system. It also tells us there is more potential in the system once tuning develops further. We can promise, as tuning does develop, we too will further test and validate the benefits of the turbo inlet pipe system.

Power gains are great, but another key addition to the driving experience is unleashing the induction and turbocharger noise trapped by the factory air intake system. The CorkSport SRI and TIP frees up a surprising amount of turbo noise when driving around and provides more induction sound under hard acceleration. The extra level of turbocharger noise is enjoyable when you want, but doesn’t get in the way when you don’t.

CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe Intake System Engine View

The Turbo Inlet Pipe Made Better & Fits Like OEM

Let’s talk about how its made; the material and manufacturing method used is another advantage over the OEM counterpart. The CorkSport TIP is Roto-Molded out of a high temp nylon to offer good strength and flow while retaining an OEM like appearance. The CorkSport TIP also utilizes two silicone couplers which are reinforced so they don’t deform under vacuum high load. The silicone coupler that connects the SRI to the TIP gives a nice smooth transition between the two when compared to the OEM coupler, which has ribs that introduce unwanted turbulent air into the TIP.

The Best Intake For Turbo Mazda 3 Silicone

The outlet silicone that leads to the turbo features a barbed fitting to retain the valve cover breather and we also provide a silicone breather hose to connect the two together. This barbed fitting can also be used for an oil catch can if you want to add one in the future.

The last component that is included with the CorkSport TIP is the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is made out of 304 stainless steel and was designed to work with both the air-to-air intercooler system found on the Mazda 6, CX-9, and CX-5 and the air-to-water intercooler system found on the Mazda 3, CX-30, and CX-50. From the factory they have different mounting locations for the TIP so we decided to offer a single mounting bracket that will work with which ever model you have.

Hardware for the Turbo Inlet Pipe Hardware

As with most CorkSport performance products, this Turbo Inlet Pipe kit includes all the necessary installation hardware and color step-by-step installation instructions to ensure you have a quick and straightforward install.

The addition of the CS Turbo Inlet Pipe on your Turbo Mazda is a fantastic mod to further build upon your current CorkSport SRI. And Heatshield. At this time, no competitor intake systems have been test fit with the CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe.

Check it out below and be sure to contact us with any questions you may have, we will be happy to help!

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The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The final component for the most complete intake system for your 4th Gen Turbo Mazda is finally available!

GET THE INLET PIPE

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The final component for the most complete intake system for your 4th Gen Turbo Mazda is finally available!

GET THE INLET PIPE

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October 12, 2022November 3, 2022

Announcing The Turbo Kit 80mm GEN3 Mazda 3 Cat Back Exhaust

Around 3 years ago the 80mm Cat Back Exhaust was released for the 3^rd Gen Mazda 3. During this time many have enjoyed the increased sound, performance and looks that it offers. As we have been developing the Turbo Kit for the 2.5L 3^rd Gen Mazda 3, we have also had a chance to refine and tune the 80mm CBE to further improve the tone and sound of the exhaust while reducing drone for 3’s equipped with the Turbo Kit. That is why we are excited to release the Turbo Kit specific 80mm CBE to those of you who have or are looking to pick up the Turbo Kit for your 2014-2018 2.5L Mazda 3.

With the original 80mm CBE installed on our Turbo Kit equipped Mazda 3, we found that while the sound was good, the drone it created in the cabin was too aggressive for our liking. To combat this we tested multiple different combinations of midpipes and axle backs with different resonator configurations to find the best solution. From this testing we found that the combo that worked best was to keep the same midpipe setup, but to modify the axle back so that no resonators were used. This resulted in a substantial reduction in drone while adding in a more aggressive tone at higher RPM’s. With that being said if you are upgrading from a stock or 60.5mm exhaust it will be a large increase in NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) but this is offset in our opinion by the tons of fun noises it offers. Since the axle back is the only component that has been changed for the Turbo Kit specific exhaust, if you already have an 80mm CBE and want to upgrade, all you have to get is the non-resonated axle back to take advantage of the reduced drone and improved sound. To get a good idea of how the 80mm CBE will sound during different driving conditions, check out the video below.

The Turbo Kit 80mm CBE also provides the same great appearance of the original 80mm CBE. Both the sedan and hatchback exhausts feature 100mm or ~4” tips. On the hatchback this helps fill out the bumper cutouts and the slant cut design helps them match the flow of the bumper profile. The sedan on the other hand, features a single wall design so that water and other debris don’t get caught in the tip since they are hidden behind the bumper and angled down. No matter which model you have, these features help the rear of the car stand out and provide an aftermarket look that is subtle and classy as it should have been from the factory.

The great build quality and material are also carried over from the original 80mm CBE with the use of T-304 stainless steel that is polished to a mirror like finish. This helps keep the CBE looking new and protects against corrosion for a long time to come. All joints are TIG welded to ensure durability along with a nice appearance. The resonators use a flow-thru design so exhaust flow remains uninterrupted while drone is kept down. Check out the product page for more pictures and details on the Turbo Kit 80mm CBE.

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The 80mm Non-resonated Cat Back is the perfect sound for the 2.5L 3rd Gen Mazda 3 Turbo Kit

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July 25, 2022March 16, 2023

Coming Soon: The New Turbo Inlet Pipe – Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.5L

The Design Logic

If you are a car enthusiast, own a new Mazda utilizing the awesome SkyActiv-G Turbo Engine, and have been searching the internet for performance parts then you probably know that CorkSport has been deep in development for this new Mazda platform. Specifically, CorkSport has been working on the last piece of the intake system puzzle, the Turbo Inlet Pipe.

This is the black plastic “tube/pipe” that connects the Short Ram Intake System to the turbocharger inlet. While the SRI System adds some great turbo noises and power gains to the Sky-Activ Turbo, there is still more opportunity for additional performance and sound improvements. This is where the new CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe steps in.

Mazda 3 Turbo Inlet Pipe Concept Designed by CorkSport

March 17, 2022December 27, 2022

2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30 – License Plate Relocation Kit is here!

If you’re looking for a quick and easy mod to boost the appearance of your 4^th Gen Mazda 3 and CX-30, the new CorkSport License Plate Relocation Kit is a great place to look. The factory front license plate location is front and center which detracts from the aggressive front grill of the 4^th Gen Mazda 3. The CS relocation kit moves the front license plate out of the center of the grill and over to the side for an overall better look. A comparison between the factory and CS license plate locations can be seen below. The CS relocation kit is also super simple to install and takes only 15-30 minutes to complete. Read on for a detailed look at the components included in the Mazda 3 License Plate Relocation Kit.

First let’s take a look at the tow hook screw that is used to hold the license plate bracket. The tow hook screw is made out of high strength steel and zinc coated so that it will hold up in all types of environments. The tow hook screw also utilizes the factory mounting location to avoid any permanent modifications to the front end of your Mazda. Now onto the main component of the CS kit which is the license plate bracket. Starting out as an 11 gauge 304 stainless steel sheet the bracket is bent to provide quick access to the main mounting bolt and to also flow better with the lines of your front bumper. The license plate bracket includes a quick detach feature so if you ever need to run through a car wash you can quickly loosen the bolt with the provided low profile 19mm wrench and lift it up and off.

We have also positioned the license plate bracket out of the view of the parking sensors so everything continues to work as it should. Finally, all of the hardware included in the kit is stainless steel and we provide tamper resistant screws to hold on your license plate so it’s more difficult if anyone tried to remove it.

Thanks for checking out the CorkSport License Plate Relocation Kit for the 4^th Gen Mazda 3 & CX-30! Be sure to head over to the product page and scoop one of these up if you want an appearance boost for the front of your Mazda.

License Plate Relocation Kit

Get the license plate relocation kit for the 2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30

GET THE KIT

License Plate Relocation Kit

Get the license plate relocation kit for the 2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30

GET THE KIT

August 3, 2021October 25, 2022

Gen4 Mazda 3 Turbo Performance Lowering Springs

Putting a turbocharged engine in the GEN4 Mazda 3 was a step in the right direction for Mazda but it still misses the mark of a “hot hatch”. Well that’s where we come in! Introducing the CorkSport Lowering Springs for 2021+ Mazda 3 Turbo. We took what we learned from the naturally aspirated 3 and applied it to the slightly heftier turbo models. This resulted in a great new ride height and improved handling to push the GEN4 closer to a hot hatch, without ruining the daily driving comfort. Read on for full details and images of the great new look!

Let’s start off with what everyone wants to know: ride height! With only one driveline & transmission option, we could really dial in the ride height for both turbo hatchback and sedan models. The CS lowering springs for the turbo models offer a similar ride height drop to the N/A models. For the turbo hatchback, this means a ride height drop of approximately 1.5” in the front and 1.8” in the rear. For the slightly heavier turbo sedan, expect a drop of 1.5” in the front and 1.9” in the rear. While the sedan is a slightly larger drop in the rear than the hatchback, it still sits level and looks great!

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

This ride height is low enough to look great yet not too low to cause you issues on your daily commute. We found that this ride height can clear most driveways and speed bumps no problem. On really steep driveways, taking it slow and at an angle will help you keep your front bumper safe. We haven’t really found a driveway that was an issue though! One final note: we did test our regular, non-turbo Mazda 3 springs on a turbo car. While they fit, the extra weight from the turbo system had the car sitting way too low in the front & looking ugly. We would not recommend doing this!

Moving on to the next best benefit from lowering springs: handling! The CorkSport lowering springs offer some much needed sharpness to the MZ3-T. By lowering the ride height, you lower the center of gravity of the vehicle. Combining this with stiffer than OEM spring rates, body roll is reduced, which greatly helps driver confidence through the twisties. We carefully chose our upgraded spring rates to also help reduce understeer when at the limit of traction. By increasing the rear spring rate more than the front, your turbo 3 gets better turn in and more neutral handling.

The final spring rate numbers for the Mazda 3 2.5T lowering springs actually surprised us. We tested a few different spring rate combinations to find the best balance of ride and handling. Ultimately, the same spring rates as the naturally aspirated Mazda 3 won out (this was due to both cars using the same suspension design). A 3.4K front spring and a 5.9K rear spring offered a compliant ride for daily driving, yet great handling characteristics on a backroad. The OEM dampers on the turbo models are just a hair stiffer as well, so the increase in spring rate fits fantastic with no bouncy ride!

Each set of CorkSport lowering springs for Mazda 3 turbo are made specifically to fit directly in place of the OEM springs. The only small modification that is needed is to trim the bump stops to allow for correct suspension travel before the bump stop is contacted at the new lower ride height. The springs are all made from high tensile strength spring steel. This ensures a consistently performing spring that will stand the test of time and will not settle. We finish off each spring with a powdercoated red finish. We chose red instead of the typical CS blue to help the turbo models stand out and because red things are proven to go faster! We even include a spring silencer on the rear springs to prevent any noises.

That about wraps up the launch of the CorkSport Lowering Springs for Mazda 3 Turbo. Check out the product listing at the link below for more pictures. Be sure to give us a call with any questions you have, we’re happy to help!

P.S. The car in the above images is riding on Advan GT wheels in 19×8.5 +38 size, wrapped in Kumho 235/35 R19 summer tires.

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Why does an upgraded turbo inlet pipe matter?

Turbo Inlet Providing Power Gains

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

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GET THE 80mm Non-Resonated Cat Back

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

The Design Logic

License Plate Relocation Kit

License Plate Relocation Kit

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.