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Calling all Mazda2 Owners: New Parts On the Way!

After putting almost two thousand miles on our new Mazda 2, we have already added our own touches to the car to make it a true CorkSport vehicle. The two pictures below shows our CorkSport License Plate Relocation Bracket, which has been modified from the current Mazda 3 application to not only to fit on the passenger side of the vehicle, but also with a prototype Lexan frame (Production part would be a black opaque Lexan with our new CS logo etched on the face if we do go with Lexan). It utilizes the stock tow hook location so no drilling or cutting is required.


Another new product we have in the works for release in the near future is and LED kit that would replace the license plate, hatch, and interior lights with LED’s (license plate light can be seen in picture below reflecting off the ground). The kit would also include two LED amber blinker bulbs (for the front blinkers) with built in resistors to keep flash rates normal, but with an updated and refined look. Additionally, we are getting ready to release a fog/DRL light kit (shown in the picture below) for the 2 as well as the 3, 6, CX-7 and RX-8. As you can see in the picture below, the 23 LED bulbs put off a 6,000K color, which matches the LED light kits that we currently sell.

Finally, we are finishing up testing and validation of our CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intake for the Mazda 2. It includes all of the features of past CS SRI kits such as a silicone coupler, T-bolt clamps, and a machined and anodized MAF housing (anodized version not shown in picture) and CS logo etched post anodizing.


Look for all these products to be available in the very near future. Don’t see a product in the works for your 2 that you want to see made? Have an idea for any other part you want to see get made? Submit a product idea here.

– Jake

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“By the People, For the People”

It’s not just an excerpt from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, but also how we try to produce new products. Let’s face it, if a part is not something that you want, you don’t buy it. So what is the easiest way to produce parts that customers want? Have the customer tell you.

CorkSport has always tried to make sure the customer is our number one priority. We don’t just say that, but we try to show it in how we run the business as well as in our products. We have recently released two products that were part of our customer collaboration efforts. The first of which is our license plate relocation bracket for the 2010 MazdaSpeed 3. We collected ideas from customers, made prototypes, received feedback, revised the part, and repeated the process until we reached a product that was built by CorkSport, but designed and made possible by you the customer.

The next product that we have just released within the past month is eyelids for the 2010 Mazda 3 / MazdaSpeed 3. A customer (Derrick Williams) designed and made a prototype of the eyelids. He then contacted us to see if we wanted to partner with him to get these produced for sale as a CorkSport product, but not to lose sight of who originally designed and made these. After some slight tweaks and a few sample parts later, we released the part for sale. The design and idea was such a success that we immediately sold out of the first batch.

Due to the eyelids being so popular, we came back to you the customer to see if there was anything we could do to improve the product. Several people said that they would like to see the part made in carbon fiber as well. The picture below shows the first prototype set made from carbon fiber and clear coated.

These are just a few examples of how we never forget who makes us who we are: the customer. If you have any ideas for new products, or ways to enhance existing parts, feel free to contact us.

– Jake

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More Thoughts on Mazda Design

Last week I wrote about the Shinari concept vehicle which is said to be the Mazda 6 of the future. The overall design theme shown in the Shinari is called Kodo which Mazda describes as the “soul of motion”. Yesterday I ran across a Youtube video released by Mazda Australia which posts videos under the alias ZoomZoom. The video shows the Kodo design applied to another future Mazda vehicle.

The video has an interesting view showing a clay modeled compact Mazda which could be either the Mazda 2 or Mazda 3 successor. The video shows different aspects of the vehicles design and form with lighting and shading to show the contrasts.

Based on what the video shows I am very happy with what I see. The hatch shown has great lines and is very visually appealing. After watching the video several times I am thinking this will be a probably be the next 2. There are several styling points on the car which look more like the Mazda 2 than the 3. For example the rear wheels are placed really close to the back of the car to give maximum space on the inside, much like the existing 2. The rear slope of the hatch rear-quarter area looks like the existing 2 as well.

The video is just a rendering but it does offer more great insight into the upcoming vehicles from Mazda. I will be keeping my eyes open to see what other styling surprises Mazda leaks out in the future.

– Derrick

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Look Upon the New Direction of Mazda, and Behold!

Mazda took the wraps off a surprise in Milan this week and introduced the Shinari concept vehicle.

Ikuo Maeda (Head Design Chief at Mazda) really made a statement with the new concept vehicle showing the direction that Mazda is headed. The bulging fenders from the RX-8 and other newer Mazdas are gone. This is kind of ironic since Ikuo designed the RX-8 and set the fender style in motion at Mazda. To me the long hood design says Jaguar or Aston Martin, sort of a new age low slung E-Type.


E-Type Jaguar


Aston Martin DB9

I personally like the long hood look for the car. It means you have lots of engine room to play with. When I get bored with the Mazda 2 in the year 2030 I can pick up one of these and build a 4 rotor engine to install in it.

The rear of the car reminds me of the FD RX-7 with the small rear lights and the curves. The small lip on the back of the hatch is there is well from the FD, though it is not as pronounced on the RX-7 as it is on the Shinari.

The name Shinari means “resistance to being bent”. I find this pretty funny as the Nagare styling which is on the way out the door was “flow” which does imply bending.

The car is setup as a 4 door i.e. replacement for the Mazda 6. I am happy to see something new come out the door for Mazda which gives a sign of the direction Mazda is going since Nagare was pronounced dead with the 2011 Mazda 5.

If the Shinari was released as is now I would totally rock one. What do you guys think?

– Derrick

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1 Month and 1000 Miles

Recently I took a several hundred mile road trip in the 2. With a full load of people I was able to test out the car under a maximum capacity scenario. The car had 4 passengers and several bags in the trunk. Initially I wasn’t sure how well everything would fit into such a small car. After loading up the hatch, everything ended up fitting in just fine. If it were an overnight trip it would have been a bit cramped with the extra baggage we would have had in the hatch.

The trip we took was down the beautiful Columbia gorge to Parkdale Oregon. The trip had plenty of hills, twisty roads, and elevation to really put the Mazda 2 to the test. The twisty roads and the hills were great fun even with the loaded up car. The 2 handled great even through the large sweepers with the extra weight. The car has plenty of power still to overtake cars in the passing lanes with a down shift to 4th gear. The only time I had any moments were I wished for more power was climbing the hill outside of Hood River to Parkdale. When the altitude starts really climbing the fully loaded car could use about 10-20 more horsepower.

The 2 averaged 33 miles per gallon on the drive. This was mostly at highway speeds of 55-60 mph with the hill climbs. I consider this really good mileage considering the driving conditions. The drive from Hood River to Parkdale was in 4th gear climbing the elevation for about 20-25 minutes. I also had plenty of spots where I was gunning it coming out of corners too. I had thought the drive would have made a bigger dent in the fuel economy.

The 6 speaker stereo in the 2 sounds great and is easy to use. The Aux input jack for the factory stereo made it handy to hook up an MP3 player and keep the driving tunes going without having to load CDs. I found myself adjusting the volume knob on the stereo and not the steering wheel though. I think it is just from habit from my old car and once I get used to using it more it will be natural.

After we returned I asked the other passengers their thoughts about our 3 hour adventure in the Mazda 2. There were no complaints and there were plenty of praises for how comfortable the seats are. One other complement for the 2 was about the drink holders. Counting the spaces in the front doors you have spots for 5 bottles of water. As the driver I did not have any problems finding a comfortable driving position.

Having driven the new Mazda 2 for a month and putting 1000 miles on it I can say that the fun driving factor has not worn off. I look forward to driving the car each chance I get. I give the Mazda 2 an A+ for a road trip vehicle.

– Derrick