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All About the 2017 Mazda3: Updates, Mods, and More

Mazda has updated the Mazda3 for 2017, so we’re taking a look at the changes and what mods you’ll want to add first.

The Mazda3 is, obviously, a favorite around CorkSport HQ. And now that the best handling front wheel drive car on the market has been updated and upgraded for 2017, we wanted to break down what’s new and what you can mod.

The rundown

The 2017 Mazda3 has a few styling updates, like an updated front bumper and grill that’ll look very similar to CX-9 drivers. Speaking of the CX-9, the steering wheel is comparable to the CX-9, as well. Back to the exterior, the new bumper and grill features excellent LED headlights and an LED fog light option. There’s an option for 18-inch wheels, though you can stick with 16-inch wheels, and two new colors are available: Machine Gray Metallic and Eternal Blue Mica, which replaces the previous Blue Reflex Mica.

The interior is updated to include heated steering wheel and upholstery upgrade options. The heads up display is now in color and there’s an electric parking brake, as well.

The Mazda3 engine remains unchanged: 3 i models feature a 155-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while 3 s models have a 184-hp 2.5-liter inline-four. A six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission are available. But, the big addition is the G-Vectoring Control, which is a software-based torque-reduction system. Savage Geese has a great rundown of all the Mazda3 updates that has an excellent explanation of what GVC does and what it adds to your ride, starting at the 7:38 mark. Check out MotorTrend, Car and Driver, and Road and Track if you want a few more informative explanations of the 2017 Mazda3’s updates.

All the reviews agree, this is the best Mazda3 yet. Now, let’s take it up a notch.

The mods

While the Mazda3 has some nice new features (and who doesn’t like new features?), what remains undeniable is that this is a damn good car. But good can be the enemy of great, and that’s where CorkSport comes in. With some performance and style mods, a 2017 Mazda3 can go from a satisfying award-winning vehicle to a high-performance, fun-to-drive dream!

2014+ Mazda3 Lowering Spring set

Our Mazda3 Lowering Springs deliver an aggressive appearance and a performance edge without sacrificing ride quality.

Our Mazda3 Lowering Springs deliver an aggressive appearance and a performance edge without sacrificing ride quality. Begin taking that 2017 Mazda3 where you want it by making your ride a little lower.

Mazda Headlight Level Adjuster

CorkSport’s Headlight Level Adjuster makes sure the road stays well lit ahead of you while you roll in your lowered ride.

Your lowered 2017 Mazda3 looks dope, but the self-leveling headlights sometimes have difficulty with this suspension geometry change. CorkSport’s Headlight Level Adjuster makes sure the road stays well lit ahead of you while you roll in your lowered ride.

Mazda 3 Adjustable Struts and Shocks

With 15 different positions to choose from, our Adjustable Struts and Shocks can take your 2017 Mazda3’s handling to godlike levels of precision.

With 15 different positions to choose from, our Adjustable Struts and Shocks can take your 2017 Mazda3’s handling to godlike levels of precision. Sure, the 2017 already has great handling, but what did we say about good and great? Make that great handling truly exceptional with this adjustable upgrade.

2014+ Mazda 3/6/CX5 Big Brake Kit

Shave weight off your ride without sacrificing stopping power thanks to our Big Brake Kit.

Shave weight off your ride without sacrificing stopping power thanks to our Big Brake Kit. Combined with the GVC, this added braking ability will lead to some next level curve handling.

2014+ Mazda 3 Leather Steering Wheel

Our leather steering wheel has a hand-wrapped and stitched racing-inspired grip — and it only takes an hour and a half to install!

Not a fan of that new OEM steering wheel? We got you covered. Our leather steering wheel has a hand-wrapped and stitched racing-inspired grip — and it only takes an hour and a half to install!

And that’s just the beginning. Check out the rest of our Mazda3 parts and modify your new 2017 Mazda3 to your heart’s content.

If you’ve got questions, drop us a line before you get started on your 2017 Mazda3 mods and we’ll help you out. And keep following the CorkSport blog for more modification advice and tips, Mazda lifestyle talk, and help taking your new ride from great to outstanding!

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CorkSport’s Favorite Part of the Week: Week Three

Our new blog series continues with the 2014+ Mazda 3 Lowering Springs — another one of our favorite parts.

Hey, CorkSport family, I hope you’re all doing well this week! I’m here again, keeping my promise, to give a brief description of my favorite part each week. Which means our blog series, “CorkSport’s Favorite Part of the Week,” continues!

This time, I’ll be talking about the 2014+ Mazda 3 Lowering Spring set. I am excited for this one, because lowering springs offer many benefits that deliver an incredible bang for your buck.

I am excited for this one, because lowering springs offer many benefits that deliver an incredible bang for your buck.

All of us Mazda enthusiasts know that stock Mazdas have quite a bit of wheel gap, which isn’t appealing to most of us. Our lowering springs have been designed to take care of that unwanted wheel gap — these springs will drop the car about 1.75” in the front and about 2.00” in the rear.

We wanted to make sure our springs would give the car a modest drop. Why modest? We decided to keep the drop minimal because we wanted the car to have a sleek look without sacrificing ride quality. Plus, we wanted to avoid potential damage to the front end when going over, for example, speed bumps.

Our lowering springs also have a 7 percent increase in spring rate. Which means that, whether or not you’re running OEM wheels or aftermarket wheels, these springs will — without a doubt — give your ride a much cleaner look. Please note, though, if you’re running wider than stock wheels/tires, you may have to roll your fenders depending on how aggressive your offset is or how wide your tires are running.

I mentioned multiple benefits to our springs, so I want to make sure to hit on the other primary advantage you get from adding lowering springs to your 2014+ Mazda 3. When you add lowering springs, you are lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle. By doing this, you’re allowing the car to grip the pavement harder. You can take corners faster and with more confidence knowing the car will react the way you want with increased handling. Add in some wider/stickier tires and you’ll increase that handling exponentially.

This part is truly a must-have for people who don’t track their car every weekend, but are looking for a more aggressive feel when driving around town. Trust me, you won’t regret that decision. If anyone has any questions in regards to lowering springs, please call us at 360-260-2675!

Cheers,

Luke @ CS

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Get Ready for Boise’s 2017 Mazda Takeover Event

Another year, another weekend of Mazda community love. Here’s a rundown of 2016’s Mazda Takeover Event in Boise to prepare for 2017.

Last year, Barrett and I got the chance to head to Boise, Idaho, for a great Mazda Takeover event that my good friend Keith Eggert put together. People from Utah, Washington, and northern Idaho all made the trip for a fun weekend full of racecars, beer, and good laughs. We met some new people and reconnected with friends that we hadn’t seen in awhile. It was a big event made even better by securing a few shops so we could do some fun things besides racing.

This Thursday, we’re heading back to Boise for another weekend of good times. But before we go, let’s reflect on last year’s event.

The 2017 Mazda Takeover event in Boise, Idaho, is a great Mazda community event.
It’s always a good time when the Mazda community gets together.

Dyno Day

Everyone who wanted to dyno their car had the opportunity to do so last year, which made for an incredible day. Almost all of the cars that attended Dyno Day were fully bolted and tuned on E85, so you can imagine we had a lot of quick Mazdaspeeds in attendance.

A few notable results: Cody Allington from Utah made right at 500whp with his HTA turbo and port injection. Next up was my car strapped with the CS turbo and meth coming in at 400whp on the stock block. There were plenty of other Speeds right around 320whp. The smell of E85 and meth definitely told us we were in the right place!

Drags

Once we were done with the dyno, most of us hung out and prepared some cars to run in the 1320. Cody needed to install a cut-off switch, because he had relocated his battery from the engine bay to the hatch of the car. Once we had that all figured out, it was time to head to the track.

Over 40 Mazdaspeeds attended the Mazda Takeover in Boise, Idaho, last year.
That’s a lot of Mazdaspeeds.

We had about 40 Mazdaspeeds show up to the track — the biggest turnout I have ever seen.  I remember thinking this is what the Mazda community is all about: a bunch of friends getting together to have a genuinely good time. That’s something I think we forget about from time to time. I realize there’s a lot of competition out there, but at the end of the day, we’re all in this together.

That race night was great because I got to see a bunch of Mazdas ripping down the track. And, I also got to see the smiles that came with a fun night among a great community.

This year's Mazda Takeover in Boise promises to be bigger and better than the amazing event in 2016.
Boise, here we come.

We’re going to be in attendance again at the Mazda Takeover this year in hopes that the event is even bigger and produces an even larger turnout. The plan is the same as last year. But, this time around, the boys from CorkSport have more lead time so we can take more time off than just the weekend. It’s going to be a amazing!

We are very excited to see what happens this year and look forward to hanging out with 40+ Mazdaspeed people. I highly encourage anyone that is within driving distance of Boise to check out this meetup. At its current rate, this takeover event is turning into the largest on the West Coast. The meetup begins on June 8, and I’d really like to see some fresh faces there!

If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me (Luke McCarvel) a Facebook message.

Cheers,

Luke

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Dear Car Guy: Absolute Beginners

You may be new, but the one thing I do know about you is that you take pride in your vehicle and you’re looking to learn more!

Dear Car Guy,

Or should I say, Dear New Car Guy,

You know who you are, so I won’t call you out. You’re new to the scene and looking to connect, learn, and invest in yourself and your ride. You’ve probably got some of the more basic mods already in place: intake, LED lights, wheels. You’re off to a good start!

However, you might be looking to connect with the Mazda community to get new ideas and grow your understanding of the potential your car actually possesses.

You may be new, but the one thing I do know about you is that you take pride in your vehicle and you’re looking to learn more! So, if you’re willing, I’d like to help.

First step: Read the guide.

The manual gives you a sound knowledge base and guidelines for key terms to boost your Mazda understanding. Whether you’ve got a Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-3, CX-5, or Miata, this book can help you grow your understanding of what’s out there and why it’s applicable to you!

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not saying it’s the know all, be all, end all of where your Mazda can go, but our “Ultimate Mazda Performance Guide” is a great start. The manual gives you a sound knowledge base and guidelines for key terms to boost your Mazda understanding. While the guide is catered to the Mazdaspeed 3, it doesn’t matter which Mazda you own. Whether you’ve got a Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-3, CX-5, or Miata, this book can help you grow your understanding of what’s out there and why it’s applicable to you!

Next step: Connect with knowledgeable members of the car community.

The groups are meant for the Mazdaspeed community and these passionate folks are some of the greatest people in this market.

You can find Nator groups across the country in most every state in the U.S. They are a great resource for information, so get connected for support and advice throughout the build stages of your Mazda. The groups are meant for the Mazdaspeed community and these passionate folks are some of the greatest people in this market.

Mazda3Club.com is a great forum to connect and get information on Mazda 3s. They provide reviews and support to Car Guys building out the Mazda 3 platform.

Mazda6Club.com is another great forum to connect with passionate Mazda owners. Populated buy Mazda 6 owners, you can get information from a large, experienced group as well as guidance while building out your car.

In any of these groups, you’ll be able to find like-minded people who are ready to lend help and give their opinions. Approach them with respect and you’ll receive it in turn — which is just great life advice, so you’re welcome in advance.

Not sure about a community? Check out our blog!

We’ve recently updated our blog to help our mobile users get quick access to our knowledge and information!

We’ve recently updated our blog to help our mobile users get quick access to our knowledge and information! If you haven’t already, check it out on your phone.

The CorkSport blog has a wealth of information dating all the way back to 2009. Imagine all the hours of reading you can log as you delve into our excellent Mazda subject matter.

If you’re ready to get started, I recommend beginning with these posts:

Or if you’re just in the mood for some fun reads, I have a series that I write just for you, Car Guy! The posts are intermittent, and sometimes borderline ridiculous, but I do my best to stay in touch.

CorkSport is here to help.

Lastly, we’re always available to help, so don’t hesitate to reach out to CorkSport directly. We have some great individuals who are knowledgeable and ready to help! It’s literally their job — and they love it. So, if you want to talk cars, builds, or parts, you should definitely give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction. We look forward to hearing from you!

Until next time: Stay safe, stay fast, and stay happy, my friends.

Cheers,

Kim @ CS

Lastly, we’re always available to help, so don’t hesitate to reach out to CorkSport directly.

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CorkSport’s Favorite Part of the Week: Week Two

Mazda 6 Power Series Exhaust

Hello again, CorkSport family! Let’s start the second week of our new blog series, “CorkSport’s Favorite Part of the Week,” off strong by talking about the new Mazda 6 2014-2017 Power Series Exhaust.  

Mazda 6 Power Series Exhaust

Are any of you Mazda 6 owners looking to add more power to your 2014+ Mazda 6? In the market for better sound? Look no further! We’re very happy to introduce you to this top-notch exhaust system. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider purchasing the Cat-Back Exhaust:

    • Direct bolt on
    • High quality stainless steel
    • Increased power
    • Better exhaust sound
  • Less weight

When it comes to power, we saw a 3whp increase over stock on an un-tuned Engine Control Unit (ECU). That doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you take the car and tune it with the exhaust installed, you’ll notice larger gains.

When it comes to sound, one reason why CorkSport loves this exhaust is that the sound is very subtle when cruising on the highway. However, when you give the car some throttle, you do get an increased exhaust note.

CorkSport does offer the option of selling the mid-pipes for this kit separately. Any customers that would like to purchase the mid-pipes to complete their Axle-Back Exhaust would need to call us at 360-260-2675 to get pricing and availability.

The Power Series Exhaust comes with a reasonable price tag. Please keep in mind that it helps to make an account when you order from us — we offer rewards points when you have a registered account. If you save those points, they can get you a nice discount on the purchase of this exhaust.

Cheers,

Luke @ CS