mazda performance enhancement | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

March 30, 2015

2015 Recap of Our New Mazda Parts

Increase your Mazdaspeed's handling and style with this new leather steering wheel.

With April just around the corner, we’re a quarter of the way through 2015, and it’s already been a great year for new Mazda parts. Things will only get more exciting when we release our turbocharger (soon, soon: good things take time), but we’re really happy with the inventory we’ve added in the past three months:

2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3 Adjustable Short Shifter

You don’t need to feel stuck with the OEM anymore. Our double-adjustable short shifter for the 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3 allows you to personalize throw distance and shift knob height (up to 2 1/4″ in height reduction!). See the video, full specs, and design with the link above. You know you need this.

Mazdaspeed Boost Control Solenoid

Your Blow-Off Valve can’t do all the work. That’s why we developed the Mazdaspeed Electronic Boost Control Solenoid for ya: An EBCS that uses the latest solenoid technology to build boost faster and minimize boost spikes and creep. To feel the difference in horsepower for yourself, just click on that link to buy yours today.

2006-2007 Mazdaspeed 6 Upper Control Arms

The next suspension mod for your 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed 6 is here. Our adjustable front camber arms help you balance your tires and grip as you perfect your cornering performance on the track—then adjust back to your ideal degree for city driving. These pair nicely with our front strut bar for the Mazdaspeed 6.

Leather Shift Knob for Mazdas

Want some style to go with that new short shifter? We’ve got you covered. Our embroidered and hand-stitched leather shift knob weighs 320 grams, improving gear-changing smoothness and making you feel more connected to the transition. Whatever Mazda you drive, you need this knob.

2006-2007 Mazdaspeed 6 Rear Brake Pads

Get ready to brake in a whole new way. These Mazdaspeed 6 rear brake pads use our proprietary semi-metallic and ceramic formula to improve your braking power and handling. With a smooth feel, low dust, and less brake fade than the usual standard, you need these—and some new front pads while you’re at it!

2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Hood Scoop

Increase your performance and step up your look with our latest hood scoop for the 2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3. With a 52% larger opening than the OEM hood scoop and a mirror-like finish, you’re going to turn heads while increasing the cold air inflow to your top mount intercooler.

2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3 Steering Wheel

Last (er, most recently) but not least: Our hand wrapped and stitched leather steering wheel for the Gen 1 Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazda 3! As our engineer Barett wrote in a recent post, if you’ve been on the fence about performance steering wheels, this is going to blow you over. But act fast. There’s a limited availability of these beauties.

March 25, 2015August 21, 2023

The New CorkSport Steering Wheel for 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3

Looking to add a little style to the interior of your Genjuan? Or maybe you’re searching for another performance product to give you the edge? What if I told you I could give you both of those with one performance product?

Introducing the new CorkSport Performance Steering Wheel for 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3!

No stitching is required! The CorkSport Performance Steering Wheel was designed to be a direct OEM replacement. It works flawlessly with the OEM steering column, covers, button panels, and airbag for a stress-free 30-minute installation. Check out the images below: On the left shows exactly what you would receive in the package. On the right is a fully assembled steering wheel with all the OEM components.

Now I have to admit, when this product idea (Big thanks to Brett Ross!) came across my desk, I was a bit skeptical. I’m not one to spend money on aesthetics on my Mazdaspeed 3. So we got a prototype manufactured, and I installed it in my car to begin the R&D process. Within minutes, I was sold—and not just by how good it looked in my 09’ MS3, but by how much more connected I felt with the car.

Mazdaspeed 3 Steering Wheel for Better Driving Experience

While driving I saw the value in a performance steering wheel—things like the hand-wrapped and stitched leather that has a slight texture and plush feel to it. The perforated leather in the high-use areas is a great addition so your hands won’t get clammy on spirited drives. The wheel diameter is the same, but the thickness of the wheel has been increased, which is much more comfortable for long drives and canyon carving. The flat bottom gives it a more aggressive feel and actually makes it easier to get in and out of the car since I’m 6’ 2” tall. All that said, probably the most exciting feature of the CorkSport Performance Steering Wheel are the aggressive thumb grooves. These help you lock your hands in place, giving you more confidence in the twisty roads and while fighting the lovely torque steer.

Why You Need a New Mazdaspeed 3 Steering Wheel

Trust me when I say, you need to try the CorkSport Performance Mazdaspeed 3 Steering Wheel. You will be pleasantly surprised.

-Barett, CS Engineering.

March 18, 2015August 15, 2023

The New CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 Hood Scoop

Look good and drive better with the latest version of our 2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Hood Scoop!

CorkSport Mazdasspeed 3 Carbon Hood Scoop Installed

Would you look at that beauty?

The CorkSport Hood Scoop has a mirror-like finish, giving your Mazdaspeed 3 a clean, styled look that’s as practical as it is fresh. With a 52% larger opening than the OEM hood scoop, you’ll increase the cold air inflow to your top mount intercooler. Boost air temperatures will drop, which means more power to the engine. You’re going to turn heads, and feel a difference in performance.

Increase Mazdaspeed 3 Cold Air Intake scoop

We engineered this to an exact fit, meaning, if you follow the instructions, installation shouldn’t take you more than half an hour. Oh, and the fiberglass is overlaid with real carbon fiber cloth and sealed with UV-resistant, epoxy resin—so it won’t lose its shine anytime soon.

UV-resistant carbon fiber hood scoop for the Mazdaspeed 3

Convinced yet? Yeah, we thought so. Check out the 2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Hood Scoop product listing page for a few more nitty-gritty details, and order yours today!

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March 4, 2015May 28, 2024

You Asked, We Answered: Our 2nd CorkSport and Mazda Q&A

Corksport Q&A

In January, we wrote a post answering questions our fans asked. It went over so well we wanted to do it again. Here are the top 7 questions we found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter:

Question: Would you guys consider making a turbo kit for the SkyActiv engines? What challenges would you face with that engine compared to the MZR engine?

Questioner: Michel Balk
Answer: There are a few key factors that would prove difficult to overcome when turbocharging a Skyactiv-G engine. First is the extremely high compression ratio of 13-14:1. High compression ratios and boost don’t mix well, and the supporting engine design to run that high of a compression ratio is very sensitive to major engine changes. For example: The exhaust manifold is a very well-engineered 4-2-1 design that is critical to running a high compression ratio on 87 octane fuel without pre-detonation. A typical turbo kit would replace the exhaust manifold which could cause many unknown issues. Second comes down to the overall design of the engine. Mazda has made it very clear they are chasing fuel economy, not white knuckle power. So, looking at that goal from a business standpoint, why would Mazda design the engine to handle 250+hp? That would only cost them more money. The engines are lightweight in every aspect: bearing size, connecting rods, pistons, crank…the list goes on. The SkyActiv-G engines are not built for power. Lastly, what good is a turbo kit if you can’t tune it correctly? As of right now there is not an effective method to tune the SkyActiv-powered vehicle. It’s unfortunate, but a turbo SkyActiv-G is a long shot.

Question: Give us all the info about the new CS turbo in production!

Questioner: Jeromy Williams
Answer: Well I can’t go and spill the beans, but I can give you a few tidbits of information. The goal of this turbocharger is not huge power numbers. Actually I would be in shock if anyone could get this to push 400whp with meth. The goal is to provide a turbocharger that cost only slightly more than a new K04 Turbo and is 100% bolt on. When I say bolt-on, I don’t mean “bolt-on” like BNR and ATP define it. This turbocharger requires no modifications to your current intake and exhaust systems; and no modifications need to be made to the oil and coolant lines. It’s like swapping in a new K04, but with much more power potential and no blue smoke. This effectively makes the turbocharger cheaper for the customer because none of the supporting sub-systems need to be upgraded or modified. As for some specs: Power is comparable to a BNR S3, and full spool is in the 3000-3200RPM range—depending on vehicle components. The current tune on my car is reaching 21PSI at 3200RPM with the CS EBCS running in bleed setup, and that’s on the prototype turbo without the billet compressor wheel.

Question: Will you be doing more products for Miata?

Questioner: Steve Linnehan
Answer: We are very excited about the new MX-5 Miata hitting our shores in the near future. The CorkSport sales manager is going to buy one as soon as possible. We plan to produce a respectable lineup of performance products for the new MX-5 Miata. From suspension to power, we will help you put some more pep in the Miata’s step, so stay tuned!

Question: What do I need to put more HP on my 2012 Mazda 3 2.0i SkyActiv?

Questioner: Brayam Calo
Answer: CorkSport has a couple options for your dilemma, Brayam. Combining our SRI, Cold Air Box, and Power Series Catback Exhaust System showed impressive gains for the little 2.0. On our dyno, the stock 2.0 made 118hp/110lbft, but when we added the components above, we saw power increase to 135hp/123lbft. This is a respectable increase in power for a naturally aspirated engine.

Question: What is an approximated max horsepower output that can be produced in an MS3 without upgrading turbo back?

Questioner: Christopher DeCaro
Answer: This is a difficult question to answer accurately as there are so many factors that play into the maximum power of an engine. The OEM downpipe is extremely restrictive on the MS3 and is commonly recommended as one of the first upgrades. Our dyno testing showed a 50hp increase over stock with only a Stage 2 intake, downpipe and racepipe installed. So as you add more components and eventually go with a larger turbocharger, the loss in power from the OEM downpipe will only increase.

Question: Is there a way to have the engine RPM drop faster while shifting or revving from an idle?

Questioner: Matt Zoomin Brown
Answer: The rate at which an engine can rev up or down comes down to simple physics: “Force = Mass x Acceleration”. You often hear of people upgrading their flywheel from the OEM steel piece to a lightweight steel or aluminum/steel two-piece flywheel. By reducing the weight of the flywheel and the rest of the rotating mass of the engine, you effectively reduce the amount of energy needed to make the engine rev up. The opposite works for revving down. The greater the mass of the rotating assembly, the more resistance need to stop the rotation—or the longer it takes to spin down. This is a result of the “Moment of Inertia” of the rotating mass.

Question: I would like to turbo my 2010 2.5 N/A Mazda 3, what do I need to know?

Questioner: Cynthia Senger
Answer: Like everyone else I’m going to recommend you sell your car and buy a car that was turbocharged from the factory, but for the sake of argument and fueling the fire I can point you in the right direction. The 2.5 N/A engine and the 2.3 turbo engine are very similar in design. I would start with buying a blown turbo engine, removing the exterior components, and then modifying them to work on your engine. Now the easy part is done… Next, you will need some way to tune the vehicle because turbocharging an engine that was not designed to be turbocharged is not a simple bolt-on affair. If you get past these two major hurdles, then bravo! Unfortunately, unless you improved the engine internals to handle this power, the engine will probably not live long with the added stress of its newfound power. Back to the first option: Buying a Mazdaspeed 3 makes a lot more sense in many aspects. Reliability, durability, and aftermarket support make big power much easier to achieve. Granted, a Mazdaspeed 3 may be more expensive to buy upfront, but I am almost certain it will be cheaper in the long run and will come with far fewer headaches and days without a car. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you for your questions and keep them coming. We’ll have a Q&A every month for your Mazda performance questions.

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February 17, 2015March 16, 2021

So You Want to Go Racing in a Family Sedan?

Not too often do you get a chance to cage up your family sedan and “run what you brung,” but that’s exactly what Mazda and Robert Davis Racing (RDR) did in the 2013 NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Mazda took three brand new Mazda 6 Skyactiv diesel sedans out to the track and ran them. There were a few on-track incidents in the 2013 race but nothing too serious. Mazda was lining up to run the cars again in 2014, and several things fell into place that allowed CorkSport to provide some additional power improvements to the cars. We outfitted them with a downpipe and exhaust made from 80mm stainless steel, a high flow intake system, an upgraded intercooler and piping, and some ECU tuning. This gave the cars more power to stand a shot at the podium in E1 with better fuel economy than the other class cars and more power than the previous year.

Inside the group of three Mazda Sedans was a rivalry of the Mazdaspeed Guys (comprised of Mazdaspeed Motorsports employees) and the Dealers CEB (Crayon Eating Bastards), a group of Mazda dealership owners/employees. The dealers controlled cars #55 and #56, and the Factory Guys (Mazda Employees) had #70, all fighting it out for bragging rights. Before the race got going #70 hit a snag where a coolant line came loose and overheated a motor, which prompted a Thursday motor change.

By Friday the cars were all in good shape for qualifying. This went down trouble-free despite a giant rainstorm, as if it wasn’t hard enough trying to run a fast lap with 58 other cars out on the track in six classes— all of which had different speeds.

Thankfully, by Saturday morning the weather had cleared up, and the forecast predicted dry racing for the full 25 hours. This prompted us to get the three cars ready to run on slicks which were mounted up on the wheels and installed on the cars.

Right at 11 am the flag dropped and started the longest race in North America. This was, needless to say, an adventure for the whole team. Several hours into the race, the driver of #70 reported that the car would not shift into all of the gears. It turns out the extra power was a little harder on the drive train in the higher gears, which removed the 5th gear from being functional. The driver decided to stay out and run the race in 6th gear until the fuel stop came up. That turned out to be hours later courtesy of the excellent fuel economy of the Skyactiv engine. The pit area was prepped for a transmission swap with a spare gearbox the team had brought with them. Unfortunately, this took the car out of any chance of being on the podium, but with endurance racing you never know what will happen! So the transmission change went ahead as planned.

At the first extended yellow flag session #55 and #56 reported a power loss in the cars. This resulted in a massive jam session to diagnose and fix what was going on with the cars. Since these specific cars live their lives on the track they did not get a chance to be tested with the new modifications at low speeds (AKA street driving speeds) which brought up an exciting challenge with the fire control systems in the cars. It took ~about 2 hours to sort out the problem, and we had the #55 and #56 back at full speed heading into the night.

The #70 was getting its final work completed with the transmission change and ready to head out onto the track again well behind the Mazda dealers in the #55 and #56 cars. Late into the night, after a driver change, we got a call in on the radio #55 had an on-track incident with another car in the E2 class, and sadly both cars had to retire from the race. This E2 class car happened to be leading the class which RDR was also fielding “Kermit,” the green RX8, in. Though the incident was unfortunate, as a result Kermit moved to the leader position of the E2 class.

Several hours later we got a call in from #56 of an off-track situation which required the car to retire from the race too. This put the #70 Mazda 6 in position to finish ahead of the #55 and #56 for total laps if its drivers could finish the race trouble-free. As the sun came up, the #70 car was running without a hitch, as was Kermit.

From sunrise until noon, the race for the two remaining cars was uneventful. At the noon finale of the race Kermit secured the win in E2 for the first time! Like in any race, there were things you learn and adjustments for the next time on the track. I want to give a huge thanks to RDR, Mazda, Mazdaspeed, the volunteer crew peeps , and Weldon for the guidance on my first time being a crew chief for an endurance race. Lastly, a big thanks to Ruandy from Pacific Northwest Life for the great camera shots—and to my family for letting me miss an entire weekend at another race.

-Derrick

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