mazda 3 turbo | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

August 1, 2023August 10, 2023

Improve Handling for Your 4th Gen Mazda 3 Hatch with the Rear Hatch Brace

Looking to elevate the handling of your Gen 4 Mazda 3 Hatch to new levels? If that is the case then you may be interested in the new CorkSport Rear Hatch Brace. The 4^th GEN Mazda 3 Rear Hatch Brace (aka Rear Strut Brace) is designed for any 2019+ Mazda 3 Hatchback Turbo & non-Turbo model and is a must-have for those wanting to improve chassis stiffness. If you already have CorkSport’s Front Tower Bar, Rear Motor Mount, or Rear Sway Bar installed, this will be the perfect complement for your 2019+ Mazda 3 Hatchback.

We actually introduced this back in April 2023 with a Tech Blog that you can check out here. Now here is the final product!

The Need For A Rear Hatch Brace

First, let’s start by addressing why the CS Mazda 3 Rear Hatch Brace is only available for the hatch and not the sedan as well. One of the main benefits of a hatch is that you get ~50% more cargo area than what the sedan offers. This makes it very practical for day-to-day use and road trips but does come with some tradeoffs. The one that is most relevant to us as car enthusiasts is the removal of the support structure that is behind the rear seats. This support structure helps the chassis to better resist flexing and twisting. Since this support structure is missing in the hatch, it results in lower performance when comparing chassis rigidity. This is where the CorkSport Rear Hatch Brace comes into play and leads to an increase in the torsional rigidity of your Mazda 3 hatch, so you get even better handling characteristics

The Mazda 3 Rear Hatch Brace Has 2 Configurations

Mazda 3 hatchback rear reinforcement bar

Available in two configurations, you can choose just how aggressive of a setup you want. Even if you start with the Stage 1, you can always upgrade to the Stage 2 down the road and carry over the parts you already have. Below we’ll get into more specifics of why you should consider picking up the CorkSport Rear Hatch Brace for your Mazda 3 Hatch.

Stage 1 – Single Top Cross-Bar

Stage 2 – Top Cross-bar with Triangulate Lower Bars & Lower Mount

The Components of the RHB

The CorkSport RHB is made up of two main types of components, the first being the brackets and the other the cross bar/s. The brackets are made out of 3/16in thick carbon steel so the cross bars have a rock-solid base to mount to. The cross bars on the other hand are made from 0.083in wall rectangular carbon steel tubing to provide a strong connection between the brackets. Both brackets and the crossbar get powder coated in textured black to provide a look that will blend in with the interior to give you an OEM look and feel.

Functional and Stylish Hardware

Connecting everything is stainless steel hardware, but not just your boring hex head bolts. Being a centerpiece of your hatchback, we wanted the hardware to not just be functional, but look great. To do that we used countersink head screws with conical washers to give a clean and purposeful look to the CS Rear Hatch Brace and your Mazda 3 Turbo.

Rear Hatch Brace hardware for the Mazda 3 Turbo

Thanks for checking out the CorkSport Rear Hatch Brace for the 4^th Gen Mazda 3 hatchback! If you want to add this mod to your Mazda and get all the benefits discussed above, be sure to head over to the product page for more details.

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December 8, 2022August 15, 2023

It’s Finally Here! The Performance Turbo Inlet Pipe for the Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.5L Turbo

The best and most complete intake system for your Turbo Mazda is finally available! Introducing the last piece of the puzzle, the CorkSport Performance Turbo Inlet Pipe. Combine the turbo inlet pipe with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake and Heatshield to create the complete intake system for the SkyActiv-G 2.5T engine found in nearly every model Mazda currently produced.

Mazda 3 Turbo Inlet Pipe with SRI — Skyactiv Turbo 3 Filter Inlet Engine Placement

Why does an upgraded turbo inlet pipe matter?

Power comes from efficiently flowing air in and out of the engine. When there is a restriction in the flow path, this causes a power and efficiency loss. Our goal was to design a new performance turbo inlet pipe that removes the restrictions of the OEM design, fits like OEM, and integrates perfectly with the already existing CorkSport Short Ram Intake and Heatshield.

Mazda 3 Turbo Inlet Pipe OEM vs Improved CorkSport — The Turbo Inlet Pipe for the4th Gen Mazda 3

Here you can truly see the difference in size! While the shape of the CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe is…unusual…it’s for good reason. We invite you to check out the design blog for more in-depth details.

In a nutshell, we investigated the typical aftermarket design path of a metal pipe, but a 2.5 inch metal pipe was not good enough. We thought outside of the box to truly design the best turbo inlet pipe option for the community. We moved up to a 3 inch inner diameter system to maintain a continuous 3 inch inner area matching the MAF housing.

Full Mazda 3 Turbo Inlet Pipe Kit WIth SRI and heat shield — Full Image of the 4th Gen Mazda 3 Turbo Intake System

It’s the final piece in the CorkSport 4th GEN Turbo Intake System making it the best and most complete intake system on the market!

Turbo Inlet Providing Power Gains

So does it make power? Short answer. YES IT DOES! While tuning for the 4^th GEN Mazda platform is still primitive and restrictive, we are able to see faster spooling and higher flow before the ECU hits the load limits. This tells us we are making more power with the addition of the turbo inlet pipe to the existing CorkSport short ram intake system. It also tells us there is more potential in the system once tuning develops further. We can promise, as tuning does develop, we too will further test and validate the benefits of the turbo inlet pipe system.

Power gains are great, but another key addition to the driving experience is unleashing the induction and turbocharger noise trapped by the factory air intake system. The CorkSport SRI and TIP free up a surprising amount of turbo noise when driving around and provides more induction sound under hard acceleration. The extra level of turbocharger noise is enjoyable when you want, but doesn’t get in the way when you don’t.

Installed Mazda Turbo Inlet Pipe and Intake System — CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe Intake System Engine View

The Turbo Inlet Pipe Made Is Better & Fits Like OEM

Let’s talk about how its made; the material and manufacturing method used is another advantage over the OEM counterpart. The CorkSport TIP is Roto-Molded out of a high temp nylon to offer good strength and flow while retaining an OEM-like appearance. The CorkSport TIP also utilizes two silicone couplers which are reinforced so they don’t deform under vacuum high load. The silicone coupler that connects the SRI to the TIP gives a nice smooth transition between the two when compared to the OEM coupler, which has ribs that introduce unwanted turbulent air into the TIP.

Blue Silicon for the TIP Mazda 3 — The Best Intake For Turbo Mazda 3 Silicone

The outlet silicone that leads to the turbo features a barbed fitting to retain the valve cover breather and we also provide a silicone breather hose to connect the two together. This barbed fitting can also be used for an oil catch can if you want to add one in the future.

Silcone connectors in red, blue, and black — 4th Gen Turbo Inlet Pipe Colors

The last component that is included with the CorkSport TIP is the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is made out of 304 stainless steel and was designed to work with both the air-to-air intercooler system found on the Mazda 6, CX-9, and CX-5 and the air-to-water intercooler system found on the Mazda 3, CX-30, and CX-50. From the factory they have different mounting locations for the TIP so we decided to offer a single mounting bracket that will work with which ever model you have.

Hardware included with the Turbo Inlet Pipe kit for Mazda 3 — Hardware for the Turbo Inlet Pipe Hardware

As with most CorkSport performance products, this Turbo Inlet Pipe kit includes all the necessary installation hardware and color step-by-step installation instructions to ensure you have a quick and straightforward install.

The addition of the CS Turbo Inlet Pipe on your Turbo Mazda is a fantastic mod to further build upon your current CorkSport SRI. And Heatshield. At this time, no competitor intake systems have been test fit with the CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe.

Check it out below and be sure to contact us with any questions you may have, we will be happy to help!

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The final component for the most complete intake system for your 4th Gen Turbo Mazda is finally available!

GET THE INLET PIPE

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The final component for the most complete intake system for your 4th Gen Turbo Mazda is finally available!

GET THE INLET PIPE

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December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

Not-So-Low Lowering Springs For The Gen4 Mazda 3 Turbo

Since releasing our original turbo springs for the Mazda 3, we have noticed that some people would like lowering springs for their Mazda 3 Turbo that offer a milder drop in ride height, but still provide the same great handling characteristics as the originals. This is the reason behind the new CS lowering springs for the turbo Mazda 3; the “Not-So-Low” springs. The drop in ride height has been reduced 0.5 inches in the front and 0.3in in the rear and offers another option for those wanting lowering springs for their Turbo Mazda 3. Keep on reading to get a look at the new CS lowering springs in action.

Turbo Lowering springs on a 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo in gray

First let’s go over the main difference between the new CS lowering springs and the original ones. Ride height is increased 0.5 inches over the previous lowering springs in the front and 0.3 inches in the rear which brings the total drop to 1.0 inch in the front and 1.5 inches in the rear for hatchback models. The slightly heavier sedan nets a total drop of 1.0 inch front and 1.6 inches in the rear. The sedan sits just slightly lower in the rear because of the extra weight, but also sits level and looks fantastic! The milder drop in ride height still looks low enough to give your Mazda an aggressive stance, b

Now onto the benefits of the CS lowering springs that you can feel. The improvement in handling that you get from the CS lowering springs really helps bring some much needed sharpness to the Mazda 3 Turbo. Lowering the height of the car also results in the center of gravity being lower, which helps reduce the amount of body roll felt while driving. Also in conjunction with this, is the increased spring rates, which also play a major part in reducing body roll while cornering. This gives you more confidence while driving at the limit. We have also adjusted the rear spring rates to help reduce understeer when pushing your car to the edge and helps give it more neutral handling characteristics.

Red Mazda 3 with the Not So Low Lowering Springs

For the new CS lowering springs we have retained the proven spring rates from the original lowering spring kit. This results in a front spring rate of 3.4K while the rear has a spring rate of 5.9K. This gives you a great balance of still being able to enjoy daily driving while also giving you a sportier feel when hitting the backroads. The Turbo Mazda 3 also features stiffer dampers that control the extra weight added by the turbo better so the ride is smooth and not bouncy.

Single side view of black not so low lowering springs

These springs also feature the same simple installation of the original kit and only require modification to the factory bump stops so that proper suspension travel is retained at the lower ride height. The springs are made with high tensile strength spring steel to ensure that they perform consistently and will not settle over time. The springs are then powdercoated black to provide a durable finish and protect against corrosion. They also feature spring silencers to prevent any additional noise during suspension travel.

Back side of 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo with Lowering Springs

Well that covers the major details of the new CS lowering springs for the Mazda 3 turbo. Head over to the product listing for more pictures and give us a call if you have any questions on the lowering springs.

P.S. The car in the above images is riding on Advan GT wheels in 19×8.5 +38 size, wrapped in Kumho 235/35 R19 summer tires.

P.S. – We hope are as happy as Aaron Maves with his new springs!

CorkSport sponsored drive Aaron Maves with Mazda 3 Turbo installed Lowering springs

October 20, 2022November 16, 2022

The Performance Rear Motor Mount For 4th Gen Mazda 3 is Ready For Action

If you’re looking for a performance part for your Gen 4 Mazda 3 & CX30 to elevate the driver experience then the CorkSport Rear Motor Mount. This CS RMM is designed to fit any 2019+ Mazda 3 & CX30 whether it is AWD or FWD, Turbo or NA, MT or AT. The key focal point for this RMM is to offer the driver additional feedback for what the car is doing when driving hard. The CS RMM helps eliminate the excessive engine movement, increase throttle response and provide a more solid shifter feel if you have a car with a stick.

Mazda 3 Turbo Skyactiv Polyurethane Mount

Watch the Comparison Video For The Rear Motor Mount

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Starting with the main body of the CorkSport RMM, it is manufactured from A356-T6 aluminum to provide a robust and light weight mount that effectively replaces the quite large and heavy OEM mount. The factory mount features a large rubber center section which contributes to the excessive engine movement and additional weight. For the CS RMM we decided to add smaller bushings towards the front and back of the mount which allowed us to save material and weight. Below you can see the two RMM’s compared against one another.

Now onto the polyurethane bushings, which play a big role in the increased driver feedback and reduction in engine movement. We tested the selected 70A bushings extensively and found that they offer a good combination of providing both a noticeable improvement in the driving experience while not introducing to much extra noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) into the mix for daily driving.

NOTE: NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) is a standard term used in the automotive industry. NVH is a byproduct of changing some OEM components to aftermarket components in the pursuit of focused performance. Example of components that can increase NVH: engine mounts, clutch/flywheel, intake, exhaust, suspension, tires/wheels…and many more.

During the first stage of testing we started out with only two poly bushings in the front of the RMM, but after further testing we found that adding an additional two bushing to the rear of the RMM provided much lower NVH while still reducing engine movement considerably.

The last piece that is fundamental in the CS RMM is the bushing sleeves. The sleeves provide the ability to install hardware through the polyurethane bushing without having the bushing itself compress and possibly crack when applying torque to the bolt and instead transfer the force into the sleeve. The bushing sleeves are precision machined out of steel for strength and then zinc coated so they will not corrode over time and wear out the polyurethane bushing prematurely.

Ok, so now how does the CS RMM improve the driver experience? Well, the factory RMM allows the motor to rotate a good amount which helps provide a smooth driving experience for around town, but this increase in engine movement decreases the throttle response and shifter feel.

This is because the motor is allowed to rotate a certain amount before the wheels do, so by decreasing the amount the motor has to rotate, allows the wheels to start rotating sooner, thus increasing the responsiveness of the car. This reduction of movement also provides a better shifter feel if you have a manual because there is less movement between the connection of the shifter and transmission.

4th gen mazda 3 Turbo Poly Rear Motor Mount

What to expect from the Rear Motor Mount:

From our testing in multiple R&D cars and beta tester cars and the thousands of miles driven…it’s awesome! From about 2000rpm up to redline you are going to feel a smooth engine that loves to give you feedback on your throttle, shifting and engine braking. Below 2000rpm to idle you may notice some vibration, especially when the A/C pump is in operation.

Thanks for checking out the CorkSport Rear Motor Mount for the 4^th Gen Mazda 3 & CX30! If you want to add this mod to your Mazda and get all the benefits discussed above, be sure to head over to the product page for more details.

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Elevate the driver experience with the CorkSport Rear Motor Mount.

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April 14, 2022March 5, 2024

2021-up Mazda 3 Turbo and CX30 Turbo Intake Heat Shield

Have you been waiting for the CorkSport Heat Shield to go along with a CS SRI to snag one? Well you don’t have to wait any longer because the CS heat shield is here! Whether you have the CS SRI already or want to get both at the same time, the CorkSport Heat Shield for both the Mazda 3 and CX-30 with the SkyActiv 2.5T is a great mod to include in your build. Keep on reading to see how the CS Heat Shield is able to achieve lower intake air temps that allow your motor to make power easier.

Mazda 3 turbo engine bay intake heat shield

For the Mazda 3 Turbo Heat Shield our main focus was keeping cool air supplied to the filter. The shield was designed to seal off the intake from as much heat produced from the radiator, engine and transmission as possible. This lead to a multiple piece design that is riveted together which allows us to utilize the OEM air ducting which supplies cooler outside air to the filter. The shield does not fully surround the filter because we have also found that there is cool air that also comes from the area in front of the tire and underneath the headlight while driving, helping to ensure that your intake sees as much cool fresh air as possible.

Mazda Cx30 Performance Intake Heat Shield

Now with all of this cooler air being supplied, how does it help performance? The basic concept is that since cold air is denser than warm air, your engine gets more air per cycle, and thus allows more fuel to be added to make more power. However, when a car is turbocharged, the process is a little more complicated. A turbo compresses and heats up your intake air and then sends it to an intercooler that cools the air back down. What that means is that the “colder air will make more power” generalization may not be as significant, especially with the advancements in modern turbocharged vehicles. Colder intake air does offer a benefit in the form of less stress on your turbo system. This means that your turbo does not have to work as hard to flow the same amount of air at the same boost pressure. Also a reduction in intake air temps can translate to slightly cooler air exiting your turbo compressor, which helps take some stress off the intercooler as well.

Mazda 3 turbo cold air intake heat shield installed

With all of the theory covered, let’s get to the real world results! In daily driving testing we found decreased intake air temps with the CorkSport Heatshield 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 heatshield 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.

Lastly about the manufacturing, the CorkSport Heat Shield is made out of carbon steel that is laser cut and precision formed. Carbon steel was selected for its strength and lower heat transfer over aluminum. To fight off corrosion, the heatshield is powder coated wrinkle black and gives the heat shield a great look that helps it blend in with the other parts in the engine bay. Both sections of the shield are attached together using stainless steel rivets for corrosion resistance and a nice look. Lastly, we include rubber seals along the top edge of the CS Heat Shield to keep as much heat out as possible, and to prevent any unwanted vibrations or noise.

If you’re looking to complement your CS SRI with some added heat protection or want to pick them up together, check out the product listing for the CorkSport Heat Shield for additional photos and video! Also, feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

The Need For A Rear Hatch Brace

The Mazda 3 Rear Hatch Brace Has 2 Configurations

The Components of the RHB

Functional and Stylish Hardware

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Why does an upgraded turbo inlet pipe matter?

Turbo Inlet Providing Power Gains

The Turbo Inlet Pipe Made Is Better & Fits Like OEM

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

The 4th GEN Turbo Inlet Pipe

Subscribe to stay-up-to-date on the latest CorkSport News & Product Releases!

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Watch the Comparison Video For The Rear Motor Mount

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

What to expect from the Rear Motor Mount:

Get the Rear Motor Mount

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.