Mazda 3 | 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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April 18, 2023May 3, 2023

Race Better with the Mazda 3 Transmission Gears Upgrade

Racing is brutal! When pushing a vehicle to the razor’s edge, you tend to find the platform’s limitations rather quickly – then set out to overcome them! This is precisely where the CorkSport 3^rd & 4^th Upgrade Gears come in.

Mazda 3 manual transmission gear upgrade

In the years of racing our Touring Car class Mazda 3, we found many pitfalls that have been easy to overcome. However, we found the gears’ limit with the 317whp/355wtq of the CorkSport Turbo Kit pumping through the manual transmission. Pair that with a limited-slip differential and wide sticky racing tires…well, it’s shocking the drivetrain has held up as well as it has.

Destroying a transmission during a race weekend was not a viable path to success, so we developed our own race-quality CorkSport High Strength Gears to solve the problem. As you might imagine, this posed some significant challenges. For example, to retain the 6-speed setup, we had to stick with the same gear widths – which are very narrow.

Mazda 3 performance upgraded gears manual transmission

To gain the strength and durability needed, we opted to use a higher strength material; SAE9310 steel, and to further increase the durability, the surfaces are shot peened. The shot peening process helps durability by reducing the chances for stress cracks to develop, increasing fatigue life and bending strength.

Since then, we have been running these gears in our TC Racing Car for a complete season to validate that there are, in fact, better than OEM. Racing is the ultimate test for performance parts, and we are happy to report the transmission has caught every shift!

So why might you need these upgrade gears? Do you have a turbo or supercharger kit on your manual Mazda 3 or Mazda 6? Do you like driving your car hard and even doing some structured racing events? If yes, these may be in your future, so you can push your Mazda to the limits without worrying.

Thanks for tuning in!

Barett @ CS

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February 7, 2023March 23, 2023

Boost Appearance & Handling with the 2019+ Mazda 3 Coilover Kit

Looking for the next mod to turn your 4^th GEN Mazda 3 into the hot hatch Mazda should have made? We are proud to introduce the CorkSport Performance Coilover Kit for 2019+ Mazda 3 and Mazda 3 Turbo. Drastically improve the handling and looks of your GEN4 with stiffer spring rates, damping adjustability, front camber adjustability, and lowered ride height. We went back to the drawing board and created a completely new coilover kit design that shares no similarities with our older coilovers! Read on for full details.

The CorkSport coilover kit uses a 5K front spring and 7K rear spring (~280lb/in. and ~392lb/in.) for optimum balance of ride and handling. We went through extensive testing to ensure the springs bring stiff enough rates for novice autocross and track handling, yet soft enough rates for the daily commute. These spring rates have a larger increase in the rear than in the front. This helps to reduce understeer and bring the handling closer to neutral. This also keeps the car having a natural frequency of the rear suspension slightly higher than the rear. This matches OEM specs and ensures great driver feedback and comfort. You can even go for the optional Swift Springs for some added special sauce!

Paired with the 5K and 7K springs are a set of 30-way adjustable dampers. The damping was carefully chosen to match our spring rates and to provide a wide adjustment range for a variety of vehicle uses and personal preferences. A car on max soft damping has a sportier ride than OEM but is still perfectly comfortable on the daily commute. A car on max stiff damping has a much more active feel that offers great driver feedback when attacking a backroad or when on track. We find most people end up somewhere in the middle, with 10 clicks from full soft being our recommended starting point.

While the CS coilover kit is focused on handling improvement, it does add a noticeable appearance boost. At maximum low, the CS coilover kit is ~2.25” lower than OEM. There is ~2.75” of adjustability in the front and ~1.5” of adjustability in the rear. This puts the maximum high adjustment at ~0.5” higher than OEM in the front and ~0.75” lower than OEM in the rear. So if you prefer a more subtle drop for an OEM+ look we’ve got you covered! Lowering the ride height isn’t all about appearance though, it does make for a lower center of gravity for reduced body roll and increased driver confidence.

2020 Mazda3 Upgraded Coilovers Min-Height

The CorkSport coilovers are an easy direct bolt-in for your Mazda 3, with no permanent modifications or special tools required. They can be installed in just a few hours using the full-color CS installation instructions and included hardware. You can be sure the installation with last as all components in the kit are made from corrosion-resistant materials and/or coated to keep the rust away. All aluminum comes anodized while all steel parts are powder coated for years of reliable performance!

If you’re looking to transform the look and handling of your 4^th GEN Mazda 3, look no further than the CorkSport Coilover Kit! Check out the product listing HERE for more pictures and be sure to give us a call if you have any further questions!

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December 21, 2022January 6, 2023

The Beautiful New Carbon Fiber Trunk Lip Spoiler for the 3rd Gen Mazda 3

We here at CorkSport are excited to offer 2014-2018 Mazda 3 Sedan owners another exterior mod to add to your build. The new addition to the lineup is the CorkSport Trunk Lip Spoiler which replaces the small and hardly noticeable factory lip. The CS Trunk Lip offers a larger profile that flows nicely with the back of your Mazda to give it a more aggressive appearance. Available in both Carbon Fiber and FRP you can select the best option that will work with your build. More details and pictures of the new CS Trunk Lip Spoiler for the Mazda 3 can be found below.

Mazda 3 Large OEM style Trunk Lip Carbon fiber

The CS Trunk Lip expands upon the OEM lip to provide a much more prominent and pronounced profile. Also, fitment of the CS Trunk Lip is right in line with the factory lip, so installation is straightforward without any surprises along the way. During the install, no modifications are necessary so you always have the option to return your car back to stock if needed down the road. The CorkSport Trunk Lip also includes the necessary double sided tape to secure the trunk lip so installation can be completed without any interruption.

BM BN Mazda 3 Carbon Fiber Sedan Spoiler JPG

The CS Trunk Lip is available in two separate materials. These include a carbon fiber version and a full FRP version. Both CS Trunk Lip Spoilers start out with a base layer made of fiberglass and in the case of the carbon fiber lip, it then gets overlaid with twill weave carbon fiber of course. The carbon fiber lip is then coated in a UV-resistant epoxy resin to give it a high gloss finish as well as protection from the elements.

2017 Mazda 3 Sedan Carbon Fiber Spoiler Wing

The full FRP lip comes in a grey primer which will need to be prepped and sanded. It can then be painted or wrapped with vinyl to achieve whatever look you’re after for your 3.

2014-2018 Mazda 3 Carbon Fiber Trunk spoiler white DIY option in gray primer

If you’re interested in adding the CorkSport Trunk Lip SPoiler to your Mazda 3, you can head over to the product page to see more angles of the Mazda 3 Trunk Lip Spoiler installed. We are also available if you have any questions about the trunk lip, so feel free to reach out!

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Get the Carbon Fiber Trunk Lip

The new Carbon Fiber Trunk Lip is designed to be durable and light weight. Choose between a primer painted lip or the carbon fiber weave. You’ll enjoy the style of this OEM designed spoiler.

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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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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.

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

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

Get the Carbon Fiber Trunk Lip

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

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