Tag: mazda 3 turbo

Posted on

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

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport   

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.    

Mazda 3 Performance Race Poly Mount

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.

turbo mazda 3 poly bushing mount

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.

2021 Mazda 3 RMM Bushing Sleeve

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.

2019 Mazda 3 RMM Bushing.JPG

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 4th 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.   

Connect with us:

Get the Rear Motor Mount

Elevate the driver experience with the CorkSport Rear Motor Mount.

GET THE RMM

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

* indicates required
Posted on

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

Cold air vibes for your Mazda 3 turbo

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.

3 cold air intake heat shield test data

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.

Mazda 3 turbo cold air box

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.

Posted on

2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30 – License Plate Relocation Kit is here!

Mazda3 License Plate Kit

If you’re looking for a quick and easy mod to boost the appearance of your 4th Gen Mazda 3 and CX-30, the new CorkSport License Plate Relocation Kit is a great place to look. The factory front license plate location is front and center which detracts from the aggressive front grill of the 4th Gen Mazda 3. The CS relocation kit moves the front license plate out of the center of the grill and over to the side for an overall better look. A comparison between the factory and CS license plate locations can be seen below. The CS relocation kit is also super simple to install and takes only 15-30 minutes to complete. Read on for a detailed look at the components included in the Mazda 3 License Plate Relocation Kit.   

First let’s take a look at the tow hook screw that is used to hold the license plate bracket. The tow hook screw is made out of high strength steel and zinc coated so that it will hold up in all types of environments. The tow hook screw also utilizes the factory mounting location to avoid any permanent modifications to the front end of your Mazda. Now onto the main component of the CS kit which is the license plate bracket. Starting out as an 11 gauge 304 stainless steel sheet the bracket is bent to provide quick access to the main mounting bolt and to also flow better with the lines of your front bumper. The license plate bracket includes a quick detach feature so if you ever need to run through a car wash you can quickly loosen the bolt with the provided low profile 19mm wrench and lift it up and off.

We have also positioned the license plate bracket out of the view of the parking sensors so everything continues to work as it should. Finally, all of the hardware included in the kit is stainless steel and we provide tamper resistant screws to hold on your license plate so it’s more difficult if anyone tried to remove it.    

Thanks for checking out the CorkSport License Plate Relocation Kit for the 4th Gen Mazda 3 & CX-30! Be sure to head over to the product page and scoop one of these up if you want an appearance boost for the front of your Mazda.

Relocation License Plate blue overlay

License Plate Relocation Kit

Get the license plate relocation kit for the 2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30

GET THE KIT

License Plate Relocation Kit

Get the license plate relocation kit for the 2019+ Mazda 3 & 2020+ CX30

GET THE KIT
Posted on

Gen4 Mazda 3 Turbo Performance Lowering Springs

Putting a turbocharged engine in the GEN4 Mazda 3 was a step in the right direction for Mazda but it still misses the mark of a “hot hatch”. Well, that’s where we come in! Introducing the CorkSport Lowering Springs for 2021+ Mazda 3 Turbo. We took what we learned from the naturally aspirated Mazda 3 and applied it to the slightly heftier turbo models. This resulted in a great new ride height and improved handling to push the GEN4 closer to a hot hatch, without ruining the daily driving comfort. Read on for full details and images of the great new look!

Red Mazda 3 Turbo Best Lowering Springs for 2021+ models

Let’s start off with what everyone wants to know: ride height! With only one driveline & transmission option, we could really dial in the ride height for both turbo hatchback and sedan models. The CS lowering springs for the turbo models offer a similar ride height drop to the N/A models. For the turbo hatchback, this means a ride height drop of approximately 1.5” in the front and 1.8” in the rear. For the slightly heavier turbo sedan, expect a drop of 1.5” in the front and 1.9” in the rear. While the sedan is a slightly larger drop in the rear than the hatchback, it still sits level and looks great!

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport   

Red Mazda 3 Turbo with installed lowering springs

This ride height is low enough to look great yet not too low to cause you issues on your daily commute. We found that this ride height can clear most driveways and speed bumps no problem. On really steep driveways, taking it slow and at an angle will help you keep your front bumper safe. We haven’t really found a driveway that was an issue though! One final note: we did test our regular, non-turbo Mazda 3 lowering springs on a turbo car. While they fit, the extra weight from the turbo system had the car sitting way too low in the front & looking ugly. We would not recommend doing this!

CorkSport Best Mazda 3 Turbo Lowering Springs red

Moving on to the next best benefit from lowering springs: handling! The CorkSport lowering springs offer some much needed sharpness to the MZ3-T. By lowering the ride height, you lower the center of gravity of the vehicle. Combining this with stiffer than OEM spring rates, body roll is reduced, which greatly helps driver confidence through the twisties. We carefully chose our upgraded spring rates to also help reduce understeer when at the limit of traction. By increasing the rear spring rate more than the front, your turbo 3 gets better turn in and more neutral handling.

2021+ Mazda 3 Turbo Lowering Springs

The final spring rate numbers for the Mazda 3 2.5T lowering springs actually surprised us. We tested a few different spring rate combinations to find the best balance of ride and handling. Ultimately, the same spring rates as the naturally aspirated Mazda 3 won out (this was due to both cars using the same suspension design). A 3.4K front spring and a 5.9K rear spring offered a compliant ride for daily driving, yet great handling characteristics on a backroad. The OEM dampers on the turbo models are just a hair stiffer as well, so the increase in spring rate fits fantastic with no bouncy ride!

Front Mazda 3 Turbo with CorkSport Lower Springs

Each set of CorkSport lowering springs for Mazda 3 turbo are made specifically to fit directly in place of the OEM springs. The only small modification that is needed is to trim the bump stops to allow for correct suspension travel before the bump stop is contacted at the new lower ride height. The springs are all made from high-tensile strength spring steel. This ensures a consistently performing spring that will stand the test of time and will not settle. We finish off each spring with a powder coated red finish. We chose red instead of the typical CS blue to help the turbo models stand out and because red things are proven to go faster! We even include a spring silencer on the rear springs to prevent any noise.

Red Lower Springs for Mazda 3 Turbo

That about wraps up the launch of the CorkSport Lowering Springs for Mazda 3 Turbo. Check out the product listing at the link below for more pictures. Be sure to give us a call with any questions you have, we’re happy to help!

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.

You may also like:

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

* indicates required
Posted on

Turbo Kit in Development for 2014+ Mazda 3 & 2013+ Mazda 6

Mazda 3

I am writing this exciting blog because the Mazda SkyActiv-G is getting some CorkSport TURBO LOVE.

Quick note, this kit is releasing in April 2022, take a look at the several videos #1 #2 #3 we have posted up on the kit.

Since 2013 and the loss of the Mazdaspeed 3, Mazda has really left a lot to be desired as far as power goes for its line-up. Don’t get me wrong, we love Mazda here at CorkSport; the interiors and exteriors are on point, they get great gas mileage, and are exciting to drive. We will always continue pushing and developing the platform that Mazda is kicking out, but let’s be real…we love power too much to let this one slide.

Our Decision Process

2.5l Mazda 3
©Car & Driver

I’ll admit, we thought long and hard about moving forward with such a large turbo kit for the Mazda 3 and 6. We hoped, we wished, and we dreamed that Mazda would eventually wise up and kick out a GEN3 Mazdaspeed, and we got really excited when we heard about the CX-9 Turbocharged 2.5L engine. Unfortunately, Mazda chose not to go down that path. Once we found out for sure, we decided it was time to pull the trigger on the GEN3 Mazda 3 & 6 Turbo Kit.

Moving forward on a project of this size was not a trivial decision. There were many aspects to consider:

  • Do we make a complete kit or just design and manufacture difficult components?
  • What is the right power level to shoot for?
  • How will the engine and drivetrain hold up to the increased stress of forced induction?
  • How do we properly tune the engine?

These are all important aspects we had to consider.

The Choices We Made

The most difficult and time-intensive aspect of the kit is designing the physical components that will make up the kit… the entire kit. And yes, we decided that a 100% complete kit was the only way to make this a great setup, so that exactly what we intend to provide.

A complete kit needs to include everything from the air filter to the downpipe, and everything in-between. This includes the intake system, turbocharger, intercooler piping, intercooler, exhaust manifold, downpipe, and all the necessary silicone couplers, hardware, and wiring extensions.

This will be the most complete turbo kit you can purchase for the 2.5L SkyActiv-G powertrain.

Mazda 3 CAD Turbo Kit
CAD Designed Turbo Kit Mock-Up

Right behind developing all the components for the kit comes the tuning. We are working with Versatune to develop the software to control the 2.5L Sky-G engine with forced induction. This portion of the project will be kicked into high gear in the near future once all functional prototypes are on our test car and strapped to the dyno.

The Things We Don’t Know

We’ve got a long way to go with this project, and there are still some uncertainties we will have to address when we get there. We will need to find out if the engine can take the added power, and how much until it goes zoom-zoom-boom!

Time will tell on these questions, but we do have some stuff in the works that will help. While I’m just spit-balling here, something around 280-300whp would be a lot of fun in the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6. Make sure to stay tuned as this project evolves through testing and development in the coming months. I have only skimmed the surface of this project and I could easily write pages and pages if time allowed.

What are your thoughts on this new project? Questions? Leave them in the comments section, we would love to hear from you.

-Barett @ CS