Just this morning some images of the next generation, or ND, MX-5 were posted to the internet. There are some interested aspects that can be seen through the camouflage cover it is wearing. Most noticeable is that large backend! We also notice the front seems to slope significantly more than the current generation, and of course, that it’s a soft top. We assume there will be plenty of room in that giant bottom though to fit a PRHT (Power Retractable Hard Top) as an option. It certainly appears to be bigger, and smaller, all at the same time.
I could speculate more on the shape and style, but I’ll just leave these photos here for you to see:
Though the lines are hard to tell thanks to the camo wrap, we also had a teaser from Mazda of the car hidden under a blanket cover. You can see some of the lines more distinctly, though they only give a rear shot.
I think it’s looking good so far, and can’t wait to see it for real! Stay tuned for more info and the official release on September 3rd!
-Spencer@CorkSport
P.S. If you missed this sneak peak video, you might want to check it out!
2016 Mazda Miata MX5 Spy Shots December 18th, 2017CorkSport
What does it all mean? The above picture gave us some great views into what the car is going to be like from a performance standpoint.
The obvious thing is the motor,a 2.0 Skyactiv engine with a decent looking header(ala the rest of the skyactiv models which have the cool looking scavenging headers). There are more subtle details like how compact Mazda made the alternator/A/C compressor and throttle body location. Mazda really hugged the block with them which makes me wonder how tight the engine bay will be in the production car.
You can see that Mazda is going with electric power steering which is built into the rack which is great, it keeps the weight low in the chassis and there is no power steering pump or lines to mess with. If Mazda has the feedback setup like they do in the Mazda 2 which also uses electric assist this will be an incredible car with feedback through the steering.
If you look at the current MX5 chassis below you can see one of the similarities from the one above.
2014 MX5 Chassis
The rear suspension looks similar to the current MX5 but there are several subtle changes to make things better. #1 look how the rear shock mounts to the new upper arm compared to the lower location on the older model. This makes for a smaller/lighter shock and a stronger control arm. The 4 bolt hubs and brake rotors are a move obvious difference which is saving weight too. The last piece that come across as different is the PPF (power plant frame), the current generation is pretty narrow and the new version is much wider, much like the older FD Rx7s where is wraps around the transmission and differential more. I’m sure Mazda spent the equivalent of months testing out the design difference in that piece alone to meet the requirements of the Skyactiv chassis.
I am still excited for the new chassis but I am bummed there is no turbocharger sitting on the motor but if Mazda can get us 200 wheel HP I will be happy! We shall see.
Since starting here at CorkSport HQ, I find myself searching the lanes of traffic for Mazdas. I can’t deny that it gets my heart pumping a little bit when I see a Speed3, but that’s merely because I have a preference for them and the “zoom-zoom” effect.
What keeps me looking is that I don’t always see Mazdas of what I’ll call the “proper persuasion”. It may just be a Pacific Northwest thing, but there are a lot of sexy performance cars roaming the streets disguised as family vehicles. Now don’t get me wrong, a family car is always necessary, but after seeing what the enthusiasts are capable of, I get a little disappointed when I don’t see a CorkSport branded vehicle behind every Mazda emblem.
Over Labor Day weekend I was driving home from camping and having a conversation with a fellow car enthusiast (he’s into Mitsubishis, yuck) about how often we see cars “repping” their favorite performance brand. He was actually doing a great job of making me defensive, saying that he’d never seen a good looking performance Mazda. He said it was a rare occurrence out here to see a clean/stance one and then for it to also be repping CorkSport, “like seeking unicorn’s”. I was disagreeing with all that I had, and yes I mean that in reference to volume control.
We were in a deep, what I’ll refer to as an, “elevated and passionate” conversation, when low and behold, there in the lane just left of us, was a tiny 6” decal on the back right of a very clean Speed3 (Gen2). A perfectly pitched screech of “TOLD YOU SO” bellowed from my mouth, followed by a quick cell phone pic and a good long laugh at how “I (Kim) am always right, get used to it.”
So, this is the question I pose to you, our readers: “Where do you think is the perfect spot to rep your favorite performance brand?” I prefer them to go along with the elegant lines of the car, but others say that having them stand against those brings a slick look as well. What do you think?
Here are some of the pictures that we have seen the in past, please feel free to post yours so we can check it out!
Can’t wait to see what you all show us!
Sincerely yours,
The very passionate and boisterous CorkSport Customer Service Representative,
Kim
Representing CorkSport Mazda Performance September 16th, 2013CorkSport
After months of testing and making sure it couldn’t be broken, we are finally ready to release the CorkSport Mazdaspeed 6 Rear Differential Mount!
With all the testing we have done on this part, we know it is the strongest available on the market, but don’t take our word for it. To quote Dennis Gardener, who tested this part on his Mazdaspeed 6 equipped with a GT35 turbo: “I threw everything I had at this mount and my engine blew up long before I could even make a dent in it.”
Machined from lightweight billet aluminum and anodized black, the Rear Differential Mount from CorkSport is durable and built to last. Priced below the cost of replacing the stock mount, the CorkSport Rear Differential Mount is ideal for all Mazdaspeed 6 owners, especially when you start turning up the boost!
The CorkSport Shift Knob provides smooth throwing shifts, and clean style to complement your Mazda.
Weighing in at 320 grams, the CorkSport Shift Knob provides easy weighted throws that improve response and feel. Shift smoother and let gravity help with extra weight in the palm of your hand. With soft leather, and baseball style embroidery the CorkSport shift knob will complement your interior and feel good in your hand. Works great with your Mazda or Mazdaspeed.
Around this time of the year everyone is looking for a good deal on some parts to make their money stretch just a little further. If you are a Mazda enthusiast you may naturally take a look at CorkSport to see what we have to offer in the way of deals this holiday season.
This year CorkSport has a large range of parts on clearance for Mazda enthusiasts across the spectrum, from 90-94 Protege parts all the way up to the 2010+ Mazdaspeed 3.
Many of the items we have on clearance are parts which will no longer be available once we sell out so this could be your last chance to get them. This is especially true for parts that we have listed for the older car models like the 90-94 Protégé.
Now here comes the really fun part. Beginning today until the end of the month, we are giving you a chance to make an offer on any of the clearance items we have listed! If a price is just out of reach, but you REALLY want that product, you can email me Derrick@corksport.com with the part you are interested in and your best offer. There are rules to this so please read the rest of this post before you go crazy and start sending over your offers.
RULES:
We are not accepting offers on regularly priced items. This only applies to clearance items.
Email is the only way we will accept an offer on a clearance part.
Do not call up to make an offer, I will not be able to help you on the phone about it.
Do not post up on this blog with an offer.
Do not post up on Facebook or in a forum either. I will not be looking there and we will not answer you.
Do not send us a contact us email through our webpage with an offer on a clearance part, we will delete it.
If a part is no longer in the clearance section then it is sold out or no longer available at the clearance price.
This is a first come, first serve deal, so please no whining or complaining if the part is no longer available or
on clearance.
Happy Shopping!
Derrick-
P.S. We will be adding more parts to the clearance section as the week goes on (no, not top mount intercoolers, intakes, or exhaust systems…or any other CorkSport parts that have been released in the last two years) so feel free to check back throughout the next week to see if a part you want comes up.
