MazdaSpeed 3 | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

December 10, 2015

Everything A Noob Should Know About The Catback Exhaust

There you are, sitting behind the computer screen trying to decide which type of catback exhaust you want to purchase. It’s a stressful time considering you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible quality exhaust system.

So, what are some key factors that come into play when trying to make a decision? Is it the diameter of the exhaust that persuades you? How about the type of steel used? Do you care about perfect fitment? These are all things to consider when making a decision on an exhaust.

Here at CorkSport, we make it our number one priority to meet the expectations of our customers. Whether you drive a Mazdaspeed 3 or a regular Mazda 3, we’ve made sure to engineer a perfect fitting exhaust that maximizes engine performance.

Take the Mazdaspeed 3 for example: When you purchase a CorkSport Catback Exhaust, you’re getting T304 stainless steel piping that has been polished to a mirror-like finish.

You’re also getting true 80mm piping, which is slightly bigger than three inches, making our exhaust one of the biggest bolt on catback systems.

Fitment is also a big concern to us. We make sure our exhaust systems are mandrel bent and TIG welded to make a perfect bolt on fitment.

Now that you know our exhaust is 80mm piping, polished to perfection, and made to be a direct fitment, you can bet this exhaust will increase performance and sound. By installing our catback exhaust, you’re removing the secondary unmonitored catalyst making the exhaust flow much faster out of the motor. By increasing velocity of exhaust gases out of the motor, you increase power and make your turbo spool up a little bit faster.

Among the power gains you’ll see from installing the CorkSport Catback Exhaust, you’ll also have a car with a deep growl to it. Our exhaust has one of the best sounding tones on the market. With a quality made exhaust, comes quality sound.

When you’re ready for a catback exhaust, make sure to check out what CorkSport has to offer to ensure you get the highest quality parts.

November 19, 2015June 20, 2017

2017 Mazdaspeed 3 Engine Rumors

At the LA Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the next CX-9 with one notable power aspect: a turbocharged 2.5 SkyActiv motor. Naturally, we couldn’t help but speculate about what this means for the new 2017 Mazdaspeed 3. What makes this motor special is that Mazda has officially tipped its hat at a factory turbo motor, which could be the basis for the next Mazdaspeed 3 motor.

It doesn’t look like much on the front side, but there are some promising aspects. With a center mounted throttle body, getting even airflow to all of the cylinders is an easier task compared to the last turbocharged motor Mazda offered in the Mazdaspeed 3/6 and CX-7.

The official power numbers are 250 HP on premium fuel and 310 torque. Mazda said you could run the engine on lower grade fuel resulting in only a decrease in HP (not torque) due to the design of the dynamic pressure turbocharger, which is used on this new motor.

Looking back at the CX-7, Mazda offered it with a smaller turbocharger to generate more torque at the expense of top end power. I expect to see a larger turbocharger fitted to the 2017 Mazdaspeed 3, which will get the stock power levels over 300 to start with.

October 21, 2015

2017 Mazdaspeed Engine

I noticed something interesting today while checking out the “Spy Shot” Cx9, which has been driving around for road testing here in the U.S. Check out the intercooler parked in the front end of the vehicle.

What will the new Mazdaspeed engine look like and what can we expect from Mazda? — Photo Credit: caradvice.com.au

This can mean one of two things. The first, which is massively unlikely courtesy of VW, is a 2.2 SkyActiv diesel engine. The second, is that we’re looking at a 2.5 turbo engine out in the wild, which means all those rumors of the future Mazdaspeed 3 are looking better and better for next year.

October 15, 2015September 13, 2018

The CorkSport Night Ride Sweepstakes

You’ve heard about our Night Ride Sweepstakes, right?

Upload one little photo of your Mazda at night, and you’ll be entered to win our LED light kit for the 2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazda 3?

We thought so, because we’ve seen almost 150 of your rides at night, most of them in the first 24 hours of the sweepstakes. We’re thrilled, because we love seeing Mazdas lit up on the road after dark — and we know you like taking night pics, because we’ve been seeing them tagged with #CorkSport for years.

Well, now’s the time to take advantage of all that photography, and enter your night ride to win if you haven’t yet! The winner’s chosen at random, so you’ll have as good a chance as anyone if you enter today.

Just remember to hurry up. We’re picking a winner from one of these gorgeous entries on Monday, October 19:

And hey: Don’t worry about those votes. If you missed the rules and didn’t catch that random part, they won’t affect your chances of winning, just of being featured at the tip top of the contest page.

Cheers,

CorkSport

September 19, 2015December 18, 2017

The Benefits of Driving a Hatchback

What’s not to love about a hatchback?

We’ve written before about how most Americans prefer sedans to a hatch, a phenomenon we don’t entirely understand. Part of us feels like to each his own. You fill your garage with sedans; I’ll enjoy my Mazdaspeed 3 — and also my Mazdaspeed 6, because we get it: sedans can be great too. Live and let live. On the other hand, the fact that people overwhelmingly prefer sedans is part of the reason we haven’t seen the new Mazda 2 in this country. We can sit and stew about this, or we can tell you the benefits of driving a hatchback. If you’re already on board, tell us in the comments what perks we missed.

1. More storage room

Want to drive your mountain bike up to the cabin you just rented for the weekend? No problem! If you drive a hatchback, that is. You can compare just about any two models of the same car, and the hatchback beats the sedan for storage space every time. Without that extra room taken up by the barrier between the back seat and the trunk, you can fill your hatch with boxes, a dog crate, or any piece of recreational equipment you want. If you need more space, add a luggage rack — but 99.9% of the time, if you drive a hatchback, you won’t need more.

2. More headroom

A lot of sedans are made with average heights in mind. That’s fine if you’re 5’10” on the dot or anything below, but if you’re even slightly taller, you’re gonna feel cramped. The solution: A hatchback. Hatches tend to have a lot more clearance, so no more bumping your head when you step in and out of the driver’s seat. It’s downright roomy in there.

3. Better resale value

This can change from car to car, but as topyaps pointed out, “Hatchbacks have the highest resale value and significantly much better than that of a sedan.” Of course, few of us can see ourselves parting with our dear Mazdaspeed 3s anytime soon, but we all know that one day we’ll have to trade our baby in — if only because the new 2017 Mazdaspeed 3 is finally released. If you want to get the most bang for your buck and recuperate some of the initial cost, buy a hatchback, not a sedan.

4. Same mileage

What’s that, you say? All of these benefits without a higher cost at the gas pump? It’s true, usually. Hatchbacks tend to have around the same gas mileage as their sedan counterparts, so you don’t have to fork over more money as the years pass. They’re great cars; they’re practical; and they’re as efficient as any sedan. Are you sold yet? If not, take a ride in your buddy’s MS3. If the other benefits of driving a hatchback don’t sway you, that will.

Cheers,

CorkSport