Tag: Mazda Performance

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RX-9 Rotary Engine Puzzle: Confirmed?

Mazda hasn’t done anything to squash the rotary engine rumors flying around the possible new RX-9. In fact,  as of a few days ago,  an executive from Mazda confirmed in more or less words: Yes we are working on it, and it is moving along to a more advanced stage.

Let’s review what we have seen so far.

Hybrid Drive Train Patent dated September 2016

Mazda basically penned out a drivetrain setup for the next generation of Rotary vehicle. There was also a rotary specific i-stop type patent entered as well. The only problem is we have seen something contrary to this in the next topic which makes this puzzle interesting.

Rotary Turbo Patent dated August 2015

This patent got everyone (including myself) really excited. Top exhaust ports, a turbo mounted to the top, rear wheel drive, and it is screaming for a huge upgraded turbo to be sticking out of the hood….

One can dream right? I digress with that path but looking at this patent Mazda was working on a different variant of the engine and thought it was important enough to file a patent on it. It should be noted once again this patent was from 2014.

Dorr Support Structure January 2017

The last patent popped up recently and it suggests a lower slung sports car as it moves the door up at a 15% angle and uses a torsion rod to hold it open. The only use a car would have for this is if it is low and you don’t want to hit your doors on curbs when you open them.

Looking back further we can see other patents from Mazda which point towards the continued research of the next rotary with laser ignition, different configurations of the engine, the 16x, etc.

Recently at the Mazda tech forum in Germany, Mitsuo Hitomi from Mazda confirmed that the development is in the advanced stage.

It looks like Mazda is willing to say they are still working on it, but not willing to say, “Yes you will have an Rx-whatever on this specific date.”

Adding to the fire, several Japanese magazines have been saying the Tokyo Auto Show will have the next car at it as well.

With more and more pieces to the puzzle being revealed, perhaps this will be the year we get to see the next RX. My money is on the strategy that it will be teased much like the RX-Evolve and the RX-Vision were, and we will get a real car and one heck of a surprise at the Tokyo Auto Show.

A guy can dream right?!

-Derrick

 

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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

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Mazdaspeed by Another Name

In the past, Mazda has said the new motors will be used across all the models.

For the past few months, Mazda has been hinting at the homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) motors, but the idea goes back to 2008 when Mazda started working on their Skyactiv technology and brand. The original plan was laid out to introduce the Skyactiv I technology, and then offer a Skyactiv II phase in the future, which was to be the next step up in efficiency and performance.

Recently, Mazda officially announced the Skyactiv X after Robert Davis gave a speech announcing there is more to be given from internal combustion engine (ICE). This has been Mazda’s plan all along and they are sticking to it.

So where does the Mazdaspeed by another name come into this conversation, you ask? Mazda needs to meet its corporate goals of improving fuel economy while also ensuring performance. Right now, Mazda has the 2.5 turbo motor used in the CX9 and the 2.2 turbo diesel motors as the go-to for horsepower.

In the past, Mazda has said the new motors will be used across all the models.

I found three references where the term “supercharged” has been discussed with the new Skyactiv X engines. The term has been used in the past for both belt-driven blowers and exhaust-driven blowers.  Give Mazda’s familiarity with the turbo motors on the Skyactiv technology, my money is already on the turbocharger for gas engines.

In the past, Mazda has said the new motors will be used across all the models.

In the past, Mazda has said the new motors will be used across all the models, which means that, yes, we should see a turbocharged Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 again in the future. I know the Mazdaspeed name and Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazdaspeed 6 models are dead, but we will once again be able to play with boost in our favorite manufacturer’s cars.

Cheers,

Derrick @ CS

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Mazda Shows Us Some Forced Induction Fun

A recently submitted patent popped up from Mazda, which gives all of us boost lovers a serious case of envy.
PC: _._hay.hay_._

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A recently submitted patent popped up from Mazda, which gives all of us boost lovers a serious case of envy; a motor with 2 turbochargers and a supercharger. Text from the patent reads, “The supercharging device according to the embodiment schematic includes first and second exhaust turbochargers 11 and 15 to be driven by exhaust energy of the engine 1, an electric supercharger 18 to be driven by electrical energy, and intercooler 16 which cools intake air discharged from the first and second exhaust turbochargers 11 and 15 and from the electric supercharger 18, and an intake manifold 10 which communicates between the downstream end of the intercooler 16 in the intake air flow direction and the intake ports 3 of the engine 1.”

A recently submitted patent popped up from Mazda, which gives all of us boost lovers a serious case of envy.

This sounds like a party to me and looking at the pictures and further in the text, this motor is designed to be in a rear wheel drive car. Currently the only rear wheel drive model Mazda offers is the Mx5/Miata. Could we be seeing a future Mazdaspeed hotrod in the making?

A recently submitted patent popped up from Mazda, which gives all of us boost lovers a serious case of envy.

Knowing that the Mazdaspeed name is dead, if this new motor comes to life, it would be under the Skyactiv X name and could explain where the future of the Mazdaspeed name was headed. Mazda says “driving matters” and with the boundaries they are pushing with the internal combustion engine in development, this could be another forward-looking motor to make the retired Mazdaspeed name proud.

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The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Modding Your 2017 Mazda 6

If you just bought a 2017 Mazda 6, these are the mods you need to upgrade your ride.
Time to take this 2017 Mazda 6 to the next level.

You’re the proud owner of a new Mazda 6, so we know you’re a discerning customer when it comes to cars. Off to a good start. And while modding a new vehicle might not be something you’ve considered (“It’s brand new, what could it need?“), there are loads of benefits that your ride can achieve with some simple modification. That’s where CorkSport comes in. Or, if you’ve upgraded your ride to something that looks a bit more professional in the parking lot of your new job, but you still want to tear up the road to and from the office, well … that’s where CorkSport comes in, too.

In the past, we’ve shown you how to take a 2014 Mazda 6 and upgrade it to your liking. We’ve even showcased some great customer success stories when it comes to modding the Mazda 6. Our commitment to our CorkSport family — that’s you guys — doesn’t stop there. We wanted to create the ultimate starter kit for folks that may be new to our family. So here’s where to start if you’re a Mazda 6 beginner looking to mod your new 2017 Mazda 6.

Mazda 6 power mods

Power mods like our 2014+ Mazda 6 SkyActiv Power Series Short Ram Intake are a great place to start.
Our 2014+ Mazda 6 SkyActiv Power Series Short Ram Intake is a great, efficient power mod for your Mazda 6.

Let’s start with speed. You’re not taking your Mazda 6 out racing, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to have a little fun from time to time. CorkSport’s power mods for the Mazda 6 add impressive improvements in RPMs, throttle response, and other performance aspects of your new ride. That means you get speed, but you’re also getting efficiency from your vehicle. We’ll get into handling next, but let’s get you set up with some power that requires handling adjustments first.

  1. 2014+ Mazda 6 SkyActiv Power Series Short Ram Intake 2.5 Engine: Reduce your ride’s intake restrictions for some dramatic power improvements throughout the entire RPM range. Bonus: This mod improves your gas mileage, too!
  2. 2014+ Mazda 3/6/Cx5 Short Shift Plate Kit: Reduce shifting throw by 33 percent and get more control over the weight of the knob to hone in on the perfect shifting experience.
  3. 2014+ Mazda 3 And 6 Crankshaft Pulley:  This part reduces the weight of the engine’s rotating assembly to increase throttle response, horsepower, and torque.
  4. Rear Motor Mount for 2014+ Mazda 3 and 6, 2013 Mazda CX-5: This part works with many Mazdas, but for your Mazda 6 it decreases engine movement to boost power transfer from engine to tire. In short, better throttle response, gear-shifting, and driver feedback.
  5. Mazda 6 2014+ Power Series Exhaust: If you’re looking for something a bit more intense, you can give your ride some aggressive sound and power with this part that also adds some nice style.

Mazda 6 handling mods

See how CorkSport handling mods can increase your Mazda 6's drivability.
Drive quality is something that handling mods can boost on a daily basis.

Maybe you needed a more family-friendly ride than your souped-up Mazdaspeed. Maybe you just wanted some of that Mazda kick in your new daily driver. Regardless, CorkSport handling mods are going to make driving your new Mazda 6 a joy. Whether you’re on the morning commute or picking up the kids from soccer practice, we know the urge to accelerate into that turn is strong. Here’s how you can get the handling you crave.

  1. Mazda 6 Adjustable Struts and Shocks: Let’s kick things off with our newest part! With 15 adjustable positions, these shocks and struts reduce rebound up to 70 percent so you can achieve the smooth ride you want. Easy to install and adjust!
  2. 2014+ Mazda 6 Lowering Spring Set: Not only will this part give your car a sleeker look, but by lowering your ride you get faster turn response — great for ride quality and responsive, safe driving.
  3. 2014+ Mazda 3/6/CX5 Big Brake Kit:  Not only does this mod reduce your vehicle weight for better handling, it adds brake power as well. Pretty nice when you can get a mod that improves drivability and boosts safety at the same time. That’s an easy one to talk your wife into!
  4. 2014+ Mazda 6 Rear Sway Bar: Crank that handling up a notch and fine-tune to your heart’s content with our sway bar. Take those corners exactly how you want, no holding back.

Mazda 6 style mods

CorkSport style mods, like our headlight level adjuster, are a great addition to your Mazda 6.
Style and safety come together in our Mazda headlight level adjuster.

If you’re already set on power and handling, or maybe you just want to tweak the look of your vehicle, CorkSport style mods are the next thing on the list — because you want to look at a car you’re happy to drive. From interior improvements to external upgrades, adding a little style and luxury is a nice way to treat yo’self. Here are a few ways to get started.

  1. Mazda Headlight Level Adjuster: A good call (especially if you’ve added our lowering springs) is making sure your headlights are illuminating the road properly. It’s safe, it’s functional, and it gives you the ability to make quick strut and shock adjustments.
  2. Leather Shift Knob for 2014+ Mazda3/6 and Cx5: Let people know you’re part of the CorkSport family and pick up this smooth-as-butter black leather shift knob.
  3. Fog Light Kit: Powerful LEDs that look good while brightening your way, uniting function and style in one mod.

These mods should get you started, but the CorkSport fam knows that there’s always more you can add. Check out the rest of our Mazda 6 parts and, if you plan to mod on the regular, make sure to check out 7th Gear, our new exclusive membership club.

If you’ve got questions as you’re modding your 2017 Mazda 6, give us a call. And follow the CorkSport blog for regular news, modification advice, Mazda tips, Mazda lifestyle talk, and much more!