Product Release! CorkSport Cold Air Intake for the 2010+ Mazdaspeed 3

When CorkSport set out to develop a Cold Air Intake (CAI) we took several things into consideration. First and most obviously, we wanted the CAI to make more power over stock and allow for free-flowing air into the intake chamber. The factory intake overall on the Mazdaspeed 3 is chock-full of poor bends and choke points. Just by changing the filter section, you can get a large increase in horsepower and when coupled with an aftermarket turbo inlet pipe that runs between the intake section and the turbo, the increase is even greater.

Mazdaspeed intake system

The new Stage III CorkSport Power Series Cold Air Intake does just that by replacing the factory airbox with a cold pipe intake system to dramatically reduce intake restrictions and provide an impressive improvement in power throughout the entire engine’s RPM range. During initial testing the CorkSport Stage III Cold Air Intake for 2010+ Mazdaspeed 3 saw a 10-12% increase in power and torque when tested against the stock intake system.

Dyno of air intake

Next, we thought about the best intake system to run in all weather conditions and came up with a system that is convertible between a short ram intake and a cold air intake. This gives customers an optimal set-up for their intake system year-round. During the warmer months, a cold air intake can be run which will suck air from the fender liner instead of the hot engine bay where a short ram intake would be situated. While testing, we saw differences of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the moderate climate of the northwest. This could be higher in other parts of the country that hit much higher temperatures. While driving the engine bay is not much warmer than outside but while you sit the engine bay becomes very warm. Moving the intake to the fender liner pulls air that is not in the engine bay so the air is much cooler.

Then during the cooler rainy and snowy months, you can switch out your CAI with the Stage I or Stage II SRI intake just by quickly and easily removing a pipe and moving the filter location. With the SRI set-up the path to the turbo is greatly decreased and there is almost no chance of sucking up water during the wet months making it ideal for cold, rainy weather.

Mazdaspeed 3 Short Ram Intake System

Finally, we compared our product to the competition on the market. We purchased a popular competitor Cold Air intake and did a head-to-head test, of their intake against ours on the dyno. We also attempted to verify the competition’s claims of a 33hp gain. The below graph shows the results. The red line is the Stage III Corksport Cold Air Intake with Turbo Inlet Pipe, green line is the Corksport Cold Air Intake without turbo inlet pipe and the pink line is the popular competitors Cold Air Intake.

Dyno data for short ram intake system for the Mazdaspeed 3

Notice the peak power is almost the same between the CorkSport’s two intake set-up’s but there is a massive increase in mid-range power and torque with the optional turbo inlet pipe. If you look at the competitor’s results compared to the Corksport intake, you will notice the lines stay together for a while before diverging slightly in the mid-range and top-end. Both intakes show improvements over stock but the CorkSport Intake shows slightly more mid-range and upper rpm power and torque.

The Corksport Stage III Intake that comes with optional turbo inlet pipe shows the most gains overall being at some points 7% more efficient than the popular competitors. The turbo inlet pipe is also not offered by the competition making the upgrade to the full system a perfect choice for those that want the most efficient system posible. At no point could we duplicate the +33hp gain or roughly 15% improvement claimed by this competitor.

The CorkSport Cold Air Intake can be purchased as a standalone performance part and includes our precision machined MAF housing made from billet aluminum with included air straightener, durable dry flow air filter, mandrel bent aluminum cold pipe and custom reinforced silicone connectors. It is also available as an upgrade kit for current customers with a CorkSport Stage I or Stage II Short Ram Intake with included mandrel bent aluminum cold pipe and custom reinforced silicone connector and optional Turbo Inlet Pipe.

The kit is available to purchase in powder-coated black or polished aluminum with any combination of red, blue, or black fliter and silicone connectors and the choice of polished aluminum or stealth black T-bolt clamps to truly customize the look of your engine bay.

To find out more or purchase a CorkSport Cold Air Intake today, please visit the CorkSport catalog online today at www.corksport.com or call 360-260-CORK.

Product Release! CorkSport LED Hatch Light for the 2010-2013 Mazda 3

CorkSport released our Mazda 3 Sedan 3rd Brake Light in April and our many Mazda 3 hatchback customers wanted an LED option for their vehicle as well, so today CorkSport is pleased to provide an answer to that with release of the all new CorkSport LED Hatch Light for the 2010-2013 Mazda 3.

Now our Mazda 3 hatchback customers can enhance the look of their brake light with this direct replacement for the Mazda 3 hatch light. This premium quality light assembly includes ten LED lights in the lens and has been built for durability and reliability. Precision manufactured to match the OEM factory specifications, the CorkSport LED hatch light is easy to install and is the perfect addition to your Mazda 3 hatchback.

The CorkSport 2010+ Mazda 3 Hatchback Brake Light comes in clear or red for a customized look and can be purchased today at www.corksport.com

SkyActiv vs. The Traditional Fuel Injected Motor

After releasing the CorkSport Mazda 3 SkyActiv Power Series Intake, we received several questions about the differences between the SkyActiv and traditional motors. We are writing this technical post to provide some insights into the differences we have seen while testing and developing new parts for the SkyActiv engine.

SkyActiv engine is a phrase from Mazda that denotes their direct injected, high-compression motors. This is a technology similar to how diesel engines run, in that it is direct injected and one of the many reasons the SkyActiv engine is able to get such high gas mileage.

Your average fuel injected motor runs 10.0:1 compression and fuel pressures of around 45psi whereas the SkyActiv engine runs a very high-compression of 14.0:1 and extremely high fuel pressure of up to 3000psi. Most people will think 3000psi is a typo, but I assure you it is not.

The piston pictured to the right shows how different SkyActiv pistons are compared to a conventional motor. It is a much more complex piston shape that includes a cavity in the center where the spark plug fires to provide a heat-loss reduction. Fuel is sprayed at the piston in order to prevent detonation or “knock”, allowing the engine to run leaner while making more power.

Another big difference is that the fuel is dispersed into the air inside the cylinder. A conventional fuel injected motor will mix the fuel and air in the intake manifold or in the intake manifold runners. Because fuel normally acts as a cleaning agent for the valves, this could be seen as a negative for the SkyActiv engine design.

We have all seen the commercials about how the gas cleans your engine. This is true, but when we move the fuel out of the intake manifold and into the cylinders, this benefit no longer exists making it more critical to maintain the engine. Adding a CorkSport SkyActiv intake will help with this by keeping the engine clean of dust and pollutants and the filter can be reused time and time again.

There are many great benefits to both the design and functionality of Mazda’s new SkyActiv engines. In initial testing our CX-5 saw increased torque and almost 40mpg.

We are looking forward to developing many more aftermarket performance parts to support this new technology!

Brydon-

Related SkyActive Parts

Product Release! CorkSport Mazda CX-5 LED Lighting Kit

CorkSport is pleased to add the new Mazda CX-5 LED Lighting Kit to our growing list of products designed to enhance the look and performance of the new Mazda CX5 models!

This kit expands CorkSport’s line of LED light kits specifically designed for Mazda and Mazdaspeed model vehicles by adding a lighting kit that has been customized for the CX5 and designed to replace the standard yellowish lights with cool white/blue ambient light for an enhanced look in the interior of the vehicle and license plate lighting.

“We are the only Mazda Performance Company on the market right now that supports the new Mazda CX-5 models and SkyActiv technology,” said Rich Harris, President of CorkSport Mazda Performance, “The CorkSport Skyactiv Short Ram Intake, Skyactiv Exhaust for Mazda 3, and our new lighting kit represent just the beginning of what will be a full line of performance products to support the SkyActiv brand.”

The CorkSport Mazda CX5 LED Lighting Kit includes replacements for your dome light, map light, rear hatch and license plate bulbs and retains the interior dimming feature in the Mazda CX5. The bulbs emit a very white color with just a hint of blue that resides in the 6000-7000k color range.

This practical and attractive addition to the vehicle improves the look of the interior and generates less heat, will have a longer lifespan than the standard bulbs, and resists shocks and vibrations better.

This CorkSport Mazda CX5 LED Light Kit is an easy to install accessory that includes vehicle specific installation instructions and is at https://www.corksport.com/corksport-mazda-cx5-led-light-kit.html

Product Release! Corksport Stage One Power Series Short Ram Intake for Mazdaspeed 3

Many of you already have our top-selling CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intake with Turbo Inlet Pipe (that will now be known as the CorkSport Stage Two Power Series Short Ram Intake) in which case you have already made a wise investment, but for those of you that have been saving up for the CorkSport intake, we have just made your lives a little easier!

Today, we are releasing our all-new CorkSport Stage One Power Series Short Ram Intake! Developed as an introductory package, the stage one intake replaces the factory airbox with an open intake system while maintaining the use of the factory turbo inlet pipe.

Unlike our classic CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intake, this kit does not include an upgraded turbo inlet pipe allowing us to provide this introductory package for your Mazdaspeed. This affordable option for upgrading the Mazdaspeed 3 intake system includes our precision machined MAF housing made from billet aluminum with included air straightener, durable dry flow air filter, and custom-reinforced silicone connector.

This easy-to-install short ram intake forces volumes of air to your engine through the dry flow air filter and MAF housing and down the silicone connector providing a noticeable improvement in power along with improved fuel economy. Initially testing the CorkSport Stage One Mazdaspeed 3 Short Ram Intake netted peak gains of +12 HP and + 17 lb torque.

Choose from a red, blue or black air filter and MAF housing to customize the look of your engine bay, and polished T-bolt clamps to tailor the look of your intake system.

This was developed as an affordable alternative to CorkSport’s number one selling Mazdaspeed 3 Power Series Intake System with included turbo inlet pipe. By adding the CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 Turbo Inlet Pipe, customers can expect to see an additional 14% improvement in airflow over the stock pipe and significantly decreased airflow turbulence by removing the restrictive nature of the stock pipe with the sweeping curves associated with the mandrel-bent aluminum 60mm piping used in the CorkSport pipe.

As a kit, the intake and turbo inlet pipe can be purchased together or purchase the intake separately and add the turbo inlet pipe when you’re ready. We carry a variety of Mazdaspeed short ram intakes to choose from so check out our shop and get the SRI right for you.

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