The Easy Boost Gauge Reference Adapter for the 2021+ Mazda 3

Getting accurate readings for your Mazda Skyactiv 2.5L turbo is nearly impossible. Now your boost & vacuum signal for your 4th generation 2021+ Mazda 3 turbo just got so much easier with the CorkSport Boost Reference Adapter. Designed for all Skyactiv 2.5L Turbo models, adding a boost gauge could not be easier!

CorkSport Boost Reference Adapter Mazda 3 Skyactiv 2.5L Turbo

Mazda, We Have A Problem

While we are all grateful that Mazda finally put a turbo in the 4th GEN Mazda 3, they did not see fit to include a boost gauge of any type for the driver. Adding a boost gauge to your Mazda 3 Turbo (or other Mazda models with the 2.5L turbo engine) is now easy with the CorkSport Boost Reference Adapter & CorkSport Boost Gauge!

Mazda 3 Boost Reference Adapter with MAP sensor installed

The Challenge

The challenge with Mazda’s design is that they didn’t provide a port to get boost and vacuum signal from your Skyactiv Turbocharged engine.  Why?!  It’s a mystery to us. Since data is crucial to improving performance, we wanted a solution to get this information.   It quickly became apparent to our engineers that we needed a bolt-on solution that provides the world with the missing link!

The Mazda 3 Turbo 4th Gen Boost Reference Adapter with Map sensor installed

A Bolt On Solution

The CorkSport Boost Reference Block provides a very simple way to source boost and vacuum from the intake manifold post intercooler. This gives you the best possible boost signal right as the airflow enters the engine.

The installation is easy. The bolt-on design allows you to simply attach your boost gauge hose to the barb fitting once the adapter block is installed! Boom! Now that the problem has also been solved, let’s build a better Mazda 3 Turbo!

Upgrade your 4th Gen Mazda 3 Turbo with the essential Boost Reference Adapter. It gives you precise readings to help boost your Mazda’s performance.

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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
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Mazda CX-5 Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Model

We are back with another product release for you CX-5 owners! Say hello to the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5. Using our tried and true 11 gauge aluminum construction and 2-piece design, the CS skid plate adds some much needed protection to the underside of your CX5. Whether you use your CX-5 for camping, extra snow protection, or as a slammed show car, the CorkSport skid tray is a perfect fit for your build along with our axle-back exhaust! Read on for full details!

CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5

The OEM splash shield does a good job at its intended purpose: to smooth the air under your car for efficiency and keep your engine bay components dry. Any impact from road debris, rocks, or even a pesky speed bump though can easily crack or tear off your plastic splash shield leaving you without any protection.

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The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

The CorkSport Skid Plate replaces the easily broken OEM unit with a full aluminum skid tray that can take a beating. We’ve used and abused these skid trays at the track (and some off-track excursions…) on our Mazda 3’s over the years and they have proven themselves to be sturdy, even withstanding the stresses of the 25 hours of Thunderhill! The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine so you can be less worried about your CX-5 when you take it camping on rocky forest roads, up to the mountain through snow & ice, or slam it and take it to shows.

CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5
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To offer the best experience possible for you all, we have carefully CAD designed the CX-5 skid plate to mount directly in place of the OEM splash shield. This means no drilling, cutting, trimming, or headaches during the hour or less install. We kept the OEM style 2-piece design for further easy installation plus, the bonus of adjustability for minor variation vehicle to vehicle and cheaper shipping! Finally, there is an oil access cover just like OEM that you can move out of the way to easily change your oil and filter.

CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5
CorkSport

Each CorkSport CX-5 skid tray is made from laser-cut and precision formed 5052 aluminum. This ensures a consistent product for each of you that will stand the test of time and the elements. Included with each kit is all the extra hardware needed for installation.

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

This includes stainless steel button head bolts that fasten the skid tray to the vehicle. These provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag as easily as a traditional hex head bolt. We also include Torx screws for the oil access cover. This style of screw prevents the head from stripping after repeated oil changes which are typical with a traditional Phillips head screw.

CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5

If you’re looking to add some protection to the underbody of your 2017+ CX-5, look no further than the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Tray! Be sure to check out the product listing for more images and don’t hesitate to call us with any questions.

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2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs

We are proud to announce the Sport Lowering Springs for 2017+ Mazda CX-5 equipped with the 2.5L turbocharged engine. We took a fresh approach to spring design to offer you the best combination of style, ride quality, and handling in a package that fits just like OEM. The new Mazda CX-5 looks great, but a functional drop gives it just what it needs to look even better. 

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs
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Let’s get right to the point…ride height. The CX-5 looks great but it needs a drop and dropped it we did. Being an SUV, the factory ride height is pretty high up so we were able to make a significant drop while still keeping your SUV functional and practical for a daily driver.  

These springs offer a drop of about 2.1 inches front & rear. We chose this height as it offers a great new look without sacrificing any of the daily drivability of the Mazda CX-5. This height clears the typical driveway with no issues, and retains plenty of suspension travel, even when fully loaded with 5 adults and weight in the trunk. 

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs
Driver + Rear Passenger

The height drop will be noticed when you’re outside the car, but the handling improvements will be apparent when driving. By lowering the center of gravity and stiffening the springs, body roll is reduced in corners, giving you extra confidence when attacking that backroad (Haha we know it’s an SUV). Also, we stiffened the rear springs more than the fronts, reducing understeer. By number, this meant 3.4K front springs (17% stiffer than OEM) and 7.0K rear springs (32% stiffer than OEM). 

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs
CorkSport

While this may sound like a big jump, they ride very similar to the OEM springs. We used natural frequency analysis and referenced our spring designs from earlier CX5 models to ensure we achieved comfortable characteristics over bumps. The spring rates we chose fit well with the stock shocks and struts to prevent any bounciness, plus, the drop ensures you are in the normal operating range of the dampers. This means no prematurely worn shocks/struts due to springs that are too low. 

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs
2017+ Mazda CX-5 Lowering Springs – FWD & AWD

Lastly, the CS Sport Lowering Springs are made from high tensile strength spring steel and come with pre-installed spring isolators to eliminate any unwanted noises common with lowering springs. With that, we are introducing our new CorkSport Blue powder coat for long-lasting quality and corrosion resistance. They install just like stock, reusing all your OEM components. The only permanent modification is trimming the bump stops to match OEM suspension travel. 

Thanks for checking out the new lowering springs for the facelift 2017+ CX-5. Check out our product listing for more details and images!

  • Barett @ CS
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Skyactiv 2.5T Intake Heat Shield

OEM Look and solid performance power gains for the Mazda 6 Turbo

We’re back with another product for SkyActiv 2.5T owners that a lot of you have requested after getting your CorkSport SRI. Introducing the CorkSport Heat Shield for 2018+ Mazda 6 Turbo, 2019+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and 2016+ Mazda CX-9! Cool down your intake air temps in two ways: by blocking heat from the engine bay and by using the OEM ducting to draw in fresh air. This allows your turbo system to breathe just a bit easier, especially during hot days or if you’re stuck sitting in traffic. Plus, it makes the CS SRI look like a factory option performance part!

Read on for full details and be sure to give us a call if you have any questions!

Isolates heat from the Mazda 6 turbo SRI

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We really focused on keeping cool air around the filter with the CorkSport SkyActiv 2.5T heat shield. The shield was carefully designed to seal the intake off from as much engine bay heat as possible. This meant a complicated 2 piece design that is riveted together. We also designed the shield to work with the OEM air ducting. This directs cool outside air to the filter, further reducing intake air temps. The shield is also left open to the area in front of the tire, underneath the headlight. We found that this area gets some fresh air during driving as well, further keeping air temps down.

Cx9 Turbo cold air intake heat shield
CorkSport Heatshield

Now what benefits does cooler air offer? The basic generalization is that since cooler air is denser than warmer air, your engine can ingest more air per cycle, and make more power. When a car is turbocharged though, this gets a little more complicated as you have a turbo that compresses and heats up your intake air and then an intercooler that cools down the boosted air before even getting to the engine. What that means is that the “colder air will make more power” generalization may not hold true, especially with how advanced modern turbocharged vehicles have become. What colder intake air does offer you is a less stress on your turbo system. Colder air means your turbo does not have to work as hard to flow the same amount of air at the same boost pressure. In addition, colder intake air can translate to slightly cooler air exiting your turbo and heading to your intercooler, taking some stress off the intercooler as well.

Cx5 Skyactiv 2.5T Performance airbox
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Enough theory, let’s talk results! In both daily driving testing and in torture testing on the dyno, we found decreased intake air temps with the CorkSport Heat Shield installed. When cruising or when it’s cold outside, we were actually surprised at the low intake temps of the CS SRI alone—there’s actually a surprising amount of fresh air that gets into the engine bay. Where the heat shield really comes into its own is when sitting stationary or driving on a very hot day. That’s when we saw our biggest improvements in intake air temp.

While we did not see any notable changes to horsepower, our torture testing on the dyno really shows what a worst case scenario would look like for intake temps. Check out the graph below that compares the CS SRI alone vs. the CS SRI and heat shield combo. This is a little exaggerated due to decreased airflow on the dyno but is similar to what your engine could see when sitting in traffic on a hot day, then accelerating back up to speed.

Performance Skyactiv 2.5T air temp data
CorkSport

The CorkSport Heat Shield is made from laser cut and precision formed carbon steel. We chose carbon steel for great strength and lower heat transfer than aluminum. For corrosion resistance, the heat shield is finished off with wrinkle black powdercoating. This coating also gives the heatshield a great look that helps it blend in with the rest of the engine bay and make the intake system look like a factory performance part! The two sections of the shield are attached together using stainless steel rivets for a great look and long lasting strength. Lastly we include rubber edge seal to keep as much heat out as possible, and to prevent any vibration or unwanted noise.

Mazda Cx5 Turbo Short Ram Intake OEM Look
CS Heatshield

If you’re looking for the next mod your Sky 2.5T or have been holding off on the CS SRI until there was some heat protection, check out the new CorkSport Heat Shield. We are even offering a package deal! If you purchase the heatshield and SRI together you will save $20.

For early adopters of the CS SRI, we have not forgotten about you! We are also offering the same $20 discount on the heatshield for a short time. When placing your order, enter coupon code heatshield20, and in the customer notes, enter your original SRI order number. BAM – $20 Savings!

Finally, we’ve got some new silicone colors coming for the CS SRI! They aren’t quite here yet but if you’re looking to add a splash of color in your engine bay, wait just a bit longer! That’s all for now, be sure to check out the product listing for more images of the heat shield and give us a call if you have questions!


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