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Shiptastic – Shipping the CorkSport Way

Often times companies will give what appears to be “free shipping” to their customers by absorbing the shipping cost into the price of the product and then passing it off as a value add, when in reality the customer still pays for the shipping in the form of higher priced products. At CorkSport, we wanted to find a better way to give our customers value when it came to shipping, so we created a program that would provide complete transparency on shipping costs and peace of mind that our goal is to make our company profitable from the development and sales of CorkSport products, not on shipping and logistics costs.

Through feedback and focus groups, in February of this year we implemented a new shipping policy that we felt made sense to our customers. As a part of the new program, if it was determined during our shipping audit that your shipping cost and administrative charges amounted to less than what we charged you, we would issue you a refund for the overcharged amount.

Since the inception of this program, we have refunded nearly $2000 to our customers. This is not because we are bad at estimating shipping charges, on the contrary, our logistics department is constantly monitoring and updating our shipping quotes to give you the best possible idea of what your potential cost will be. Rather, this is a symptom of the literally millions of ways parts can be combined into a single purchase, the various freight and shipping methods and frequency, and the unpredictable fuel surcharges that factor into the day-to-day flux of shipping prices.

Cost does matter, and our strategy is to focus on reducing the total cost drivers that add little value to the development of the part so that we can produce a win/win situation by providing the highest quality part for the best possible price.

This unique take on giving our customers the best value in the marketplace is just one such example of the relationship CorkSport wants to continue to support with the Mazda community. Transparency, value, honesty and integrity are staples in our mission statement and we hope that comes through in each interaction that you, our customers, have with CorkSport whether it is on the phone, by email, during your purchase process, on our blog or Facebook page, or at an event.

Have you received a shipping refund from CorkSport or appreciate this policy? Let us know by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page today:

Gwynne-

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Mazda and Audi – A Match Made in Heaven?

There have been rumors abound lately about a possible revival of the RX-7 and other rumors about the possible end of the rotary engine altogether, but the latest word on the street is about a possible collaboration between Mazda and Audi that just may be the savior for the rotary engine.

With the RX-8 soon to be discontinued and mixed signals from Mazda on a possible RX-9 modeled after the RX-7, the fate of the rotary engine is in the minds of many Mazda enthusiasts. The Wankel has been a signature in the Mazda lineup since 1964 when it was first showcased in the Cosmo R100 coupe.

Now there’s talk of Audi teaming up with Mazda for the next chapter of the rotary engine car by developing a rotary for the Audi A1 e-tron, Lexus’s attempt at the nearly all-electric compact with a range extender that currently uses a single-piston rotary engine to charge the batteries as the car is running.

Inside Line recently reported that sources inside Mazda say engineers are already developing new technology for the Wankel by potentially removing the conventional spark plugs and replacing them with a laser ignition. By doing this, the engine will be much more efficient and will produce less hydrocarbon emissions than the older version. The car will produce only 130g/km or carbon dioxide rather than the 299g/kg that is currently produced by the RX-8. Reports on this development are also followed by reports that a launch of the new rotary has not been green-lighted and the Mazda is seeking additional funding.

So Audi provides the influx of cash and Mazda provides the technology to put a Wankel range-extender underneath the trunk floor of the A1 e-tron. It sounds like a win-win on the surface, but talk is cheap and a Mazda-Audi partnership seems like an odd couple in the making.

Gwynne-

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Is Your Car a Pinup?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and CorkSport agrees. That is why we would like to invite our community of Mazda enthusiasts with current CorkSport mods to submit a photo collection for our 2012 CorkSport calendar!

CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3

Show off your ride by submitting your photos for consideration before August 31, 2011 and be sure to include:

• 3 professional style photos of your ride
• A minimum of 300 dpi for good print quality
• A list of modifications
• You must have permission to use the photo and you must grant CorkSport permission to use the photo in print and on the web.
• If possible, please remove the license plates for the photos or avoid shots that include the plate numbers. If it is unavoidable, you can either remove them digitally, or we can attempt to blur them out.
• This calendar will be used to promote the CorkSport brand. If your photo is selected, a complimentary calendar will be mailed to you upon release.

Submissions or questions can be sent to Dustin at the following link

Gwynne-

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More on SKYACTIV Technology with the SKYACTIV-Drive Automatic Transmission

We recently gave you the lowdown on the new SKYACTIV engine, today, let’s discuss transmissions! In a recent post on Mazda Motor Europe, Toshiyuki Kikuchi, Program Manager in the Powertrain Development Division at Mazda provided additional details about the new automatic transmission.

Mazda SkyACTIVE-Drive Transmission

The SKYACTIV-Drive combines the benefits of conventional automatics with those offered by continuously variable (CVTs) and dual clutch transmissions. The transmission has been developed with a six speed torque converter that has a full range lock-up clutch for all six gears called “full range direct drive”. The lock-up clutch ratio has been raised from 64% at the current 5-speed to 89% during vehicle operation.

This feature inhibits the loss of power often experienced during acceleration and delivers a more controlled driving feel. On the flip side, it is said to increase the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) because there is nothing to absorb the rotational speeds of the engine transmission. Mazda has addressed this issue by adapting a new torque converter and installing a new damper to better absorb the NVH as well as a multi-disk lock-up clutch and its piston to improve clutch durability and control.

Mazda SkyACTIVE-Drive New Technologies

The new design will allow the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly, react dynamically to changes to the engine load right from low speeds, and raises the bar when it comes to fuel economy.

The new SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission promises to produce a green range of models within the next two years that will boast lower CO2 emissions and even lower fuel returns, without the need for alternative split/drive systems.

The 2012 Mazda 3 will feature the all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine and a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda says the new 2.0 liter, direct-injection four-cylinder is good for 155 hp and 148 lb feet of torque, which offers modest increases over the old, non-DI 2.0-liter engine.

2012 Mazda 3

See Toshiyuki Kikuchi’s technical explanation for the SKYACTIV-Drive on YouTube:

Gwynne-

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Twin Turbo Mazda What!?!

That’s right folks, Mazda is going to release a new twin turbo model and it is going to be used in none other than: a diesel Mazda 3!

Before everyone heads out to get the ropes to hang me for luring you into this blog post with the promise of twin turbos, let me explain. Mazda has been working to lower emissions while improving the performance of their motors for both gas and diesel. One such way Mazda has found is to run a really small turbo and a larger turbo in tandem to keep the performance linear in the diesel engines.

Mazda has been down this path before back in the late 80’s and early 90’s with two versions of the rotary engine, the 13B –RE used in the Eunos Cosmo and the 13B-REW used in the FD RX-7. Both 13B engines used a pair of turbos, a primary turbo that would spool until the RPM reached the switch-over point when the secondary turbo would come online to generate an ideal turbo response and wide enough power band for the car. This same feature will be applied with the diesel engine giving you a wider power band to drive with.

Mazda Sky-D Twin Turbos

Mazda has also lowered the compression of the diesel engine allowing the combustion to be more complete and putting less stress on the engine parts. This gives Mazda the ability to use lighter weight smaller parts to gain efficiency and provide better emissions.

The really trick feature Mazda has put on the diesel engine is variable valve timing. This allows the exhaust valves to open slightly after the initial startup to let exhaust gas into the combustion chamber on the intake stroke. The exhaust gas then warms the combustion chamber to help the engine get to operating temperature more quickly thereby reducing the chance of engine misfire.

Mazda Sky-D Twin Turbos

Mazda has stated that the engine has 20% better fuel economy over the outgoing MZR-CD diesel engines putting it at 48 MPG (the MZR-CD engine gets 40 MPG).

Now the big question is would I own a new Mazda with the new Sky-D engine? With all of the work Mazda has put into the new engine, I look forward to trying one out and will wait to pass judgment.

For more information head to the technical information Mazda has made public on their webpage

– Derrick