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Smiling 3 Goes “Under the Knife” to Come Out Not Quite As Happy

Debuting at the Canadian International Auto Show this weekend, the 2012 Mazda 3 received numerous changes from its predecessor. The most visually obvious change is the new front bumper. Mazda went from full grin, to a more laid-back smirk along with changing up the fog light bezels to flow with the new grill. The change is not a drastic one, but may help convince on the fence buyers who were not in love with the happy face of the 2010-11 3’s. The rear end also received some slight lipo in the form of a slightly redesigned bumper and some new taillights. Mazda will also be offering new designs for the 16 and 17 inch rim options (One option shown below).

2012 Mazda 3

2012 Mazda 3

The 3 will also get a slight brow lift in the form of some redesigned headlights. The most obvious change being that they will no longer have the “arrow” on the inside of the projector housing.

2012 Mazda 3

The biggest change, in my opinion, is not something that can be easily seen from afar. The 2012 Mazda 3 will receive a heart transplant in the form of the all new Mazda engine with Skyactiv technology. The engine features a low-friction block with an ultra high compression ratio of 14.0/1. It can also recirculates exhaust gases back into the engine for decreased emissions. Future plans for this engine include idle-stop and regenerative braking, with the possibility of a hybrid in the works. Displacement, fuel efficiency, power and torque numbers have yet to be released.

2012 Mazda 3

2012 Mazda 3

As an engineer at CorkSport, I am excited to see the final production 2012 Mazda 3 in person and hopefully get some great new products released for it as well.

– Jake

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CorkSport at the Portland Auto Show

Oh how I love an auto show, a whole building filled with new cars and the and new car smell. Multiple manufacturers gathered in one building to show me the best of their new line up. Concept cars, eco cars, Italian cars, it’s the best. This years Portland Auto show was even better than years past. Mazda’s booth is built for fun, and to make it memorable they incorporated an alternative gaming station, STAR Mazda racecars, a spec Miata, and us, CorkSport.

Mazda North America first contacted us several weeks before the show about joining them at the Portland Auto Show with our Mazda 2. A few days later the MazdaSpeed 3 was added to the lineup. Then the fun began: prep-work.

Anyone who has ever entered their car in a show of any kind will totally understand that the prep-work is really hours of cleaning and scrubbing followed by tons of polishing and buffing. It’s standing outside in the cold January weather washing cars, scrubbing tires and trying to dry the car while you still have a little feeling left in your fingers. It’s cursing whoever drove the car last and didn’t clean-up right, but in the end its just so worth it because the cars end up looking beautiful.

CorkSport MazdaSpeed 3 at the Portland Auto Show

All the cleaning and prep aside, there is always a little disaster that drops in at the last minute. We like to refer to these disasters as “team builders”, because it takes the team to fix the disaster before it turns into a gulf spill that spews for months on end with no resolution. Our little disaster was the hood on the 2. About a month before the show the 2 took a direct hit from a piece of tire that was kicked-up by an SUV in front of us on our way to a MazdasNW meet. No one was injured but the 2’s window and hood were done. Fast forward to the auto show, window was fixed weeks ago, but we weren’t able to get a hood that wasn’t damaged in transit until just before the show. After much debate and several vinyl peel-offs we finally struck gold with simplicity. We cleaned the hood, polished it up and dropped a CorkSport logo across the top of the hood at an angle. It turned out great and the disaster was capped.

CorkSport Mazda 2 at the Portland Auto Show

After all was said and done, the cars got dropped off on time and look great in the Mazda booth. Thanks again to Mazda North America for the invite, we really enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the show.

– Kelly

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PRESS RELEASE: CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley 07-11 MazdaSpeed 3

CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley for the 2010+ MazdaSpeed 3

CorkSport’s blue anodized Aluminum Crank Pulley features an etched CS CorkSport logo with a fully anodized Aluminum pulley and steel trigger wheel. The best way to free up existing power is to lighten your vehicles rotating mass. The Lightweight Crank Pulley shaves two pounds off of the stock pulley’s 4.40 pounds of rotating mass. This is a weight savings of nearly 50%.

The kit includes the cam alignment tool and TDC timing pin required for timing the engine after installation (these tools retail for more than we are selling the entire kit for).

Features:
The CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley’s fully anodized aluminum body has very similar dampening characteristics to the stock cast steel/rubber pulley, while eliminating all of the unneeded extra mass. The precision machined trigger wheel is an exact replica of the stock trigger wheel, so you can rest assured that you will not have any issues with this pulley once installed. The kit includes a CorkSport cam alignment tool and Top Dead Center (TDC) timing pin that is required for timing the engine whenever the crank pulley is removed (the pulley is not keyed). The OEM versions of these two (2) tools could cost you over $200 alone.

Testing:
The CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley has been tested on our own vehicles to ensure fit, form and function. The pulley does not add power, but simply frees up existing horsespower and torque by allowing the engine to spin quicker and more efficiently.*

Available Now:
As with all our CorkSport Brand Mazda Products, the Lightweight Crank Pulley ships with all the hardware you need for installation. Full color step by step installation instructions and telephone technical support are also included with your purchase.

Note: The Wrench Rating is a 4/5 which means that this installation is recommended by an experienced mechanic or someone very comfortable using tools on their vehicle.

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PRESS RELEASE: CorkSport Polyurethane Mud Flaps

CorkSport Polyurethane Mud Flaps

CorkSport is proud to announce the release of our Polyurethane Mud Flaps. You have the choice of black with a laser etched logo on the rear flaps or red with silver vinyl CorkSport stickers. The mud flaps are made from 1/8” thick 80A durometer polyurethane for long lasting protection. The mud flaps will not only help keep your car clean, but also add style to your Mazda.

The mud flaps were CAD designed and die cut using the latest technologies. The mud flaps are designed to allow the customer to mount them at a height that matches your vehicles height and style preferences.

Features:
CorkSports Polyurethane Mud Flaps are die cut from 1/8” thick 80A durometer polyurethane for a perfect blend of stiffness and impact resistance. The mud flaps are strong enough to not fold back in the wind, but soft enough to handle high speed rock impacts as well as speed bump or curb abuse. CorkSport only uses high quality FDA approved food handling grade polyurethane sheets for their mud flaps. We even designed the mud flaps so that you can raise or lower them to match your vehicles height. The mud flaps come with all the installation hardware and only require a drill, 0.25” drill bit, and two 10mm end wrenches.

Testing:
The CorkSport Polyurethane Mud Flaps have gone through several design and material revisions to what we think is the best mud flap on the market for your Mazda. We have tested the mud flaps in snow, mud, gravel, and heavy pacific northwest rains. We have even tested them on different height vehicles so that you know they will work regardless of your current ride height.

Available Now:
As with all our CorkSport Brand Mazda Products, the Polyurethane Mud Flaps ship with all the hardware you need for installation. Full color step by step installation instructions and telephone technical support are also included with your purchase.

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Sno-Drift 2011

I had a chance to attend the aptly named Sno-Drift Rally the on Jan 28th and 29th in Michigan. Man it was cold too with the high temperature of 16 degrees. The rally is run around (and in) Lewiston and Atlanta Michigan which is in the middle of nowhere (see map below for the middle of nowhere)

A map of the middle of nowhere

I attended the event as a guest of Thayer Mazda who is a sponsor of the event. Thayer Mazda supplied the green light car for the for Rally America to use. Thayer took a 2011 Mazdaspeed 3 which is sponsored by CorkSport and Mazda and built it from the ground up.

2011 MazdaSpeed 3 Rally Car

2011 MazdaSpeed 3 Rally Car

The Mazdaspeed 3 is equipped with the CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 SRI, CorkSport SRI Airbox w/ Carbon Lid, CorkSport 80mm Catback Exhaust, CorkSport Skid Plate, CorkSport Urethane Exhaust Hangars, and CorkSport Motor Mount Inserts.

There were two Mazdas competing in the Sno-Drift Rally, a 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 driven by Wyatt Knox and a 1988 323GTX driven by Erik Zenz. The Mazdaspeed 3 was on pace the first day to challenge for the 2wd G5 title but a flat tire and some difficulty with snow and ice changing the tire held them up. On Saturday Wyatt fought back to get to 4th place in 2wd and 18th overall. Not too bad when there were 45 cars that started the event and a good half of them were 4wd models.

MazdaSpeed 3 Rally Drift

Photo credit Lee Sam

At the super special stage a lucky 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 owner got a chance to take his car out on the course for a quick lap after the rally cars had finished up.

Special guest MazdaSpeed 3 on the track

The super special spectators got a special treat with a guest appearance of the “Stig” who was accompanied by an attractive (freezing) lady.

Stig and friends

More Stig

I would like to give a big thanks to Thayer Mazda for bringing a massive tent with power to the super special stage. They had heaters, a DJ, two couches, two big screen TVs, and a Mazda 2 parked inside the tent. Everyone was welcome to warm up in the tent and enjoy the extra comforts provided.

Thayer Mazda tent at the Sno-Drift Rally

The rally was a great event to attend. If you are anywhere near the Sno-Drift Rally next year I recommend attending. Just make sure you bring some warm clothes.

– Derrick