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
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.
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
Huge props to you guys working through the pandemic and all this chaos. If this becomes a reality, then holy cow xD
If you’re allowed to say, what has been the biggest hurdle so far?
Tuning by far
Will the Turbo Kit work on the 2.5 Automatic Transmissions?
We haven’t done any testing yet in regards to the auto, at the moment it is designed for the manual.
What kinda price can we expect? Maybe a ballpark figure or a range so i know how much to set aside. 😛
Hi I have a 2018 Mazda 3 automatic 2.5 skyactiv engine.
Im in the process of finding performance parts exhaust headers etc body kits was wondering what is available for my car ? Having a hard time finding the right connection finding the right direction. Thank you.
That makes my heart happy.
Do you guys think you will eventually make a turbo kit for the Automatic 2.5L Transmission?
ou en somme nous pour le kit et le développement pour la mazda 3 gt 2014 ????
Eventually, but the Manual transmission will take precedent first.
en développement pour le moment
Awesome to see activity still going on this post. Is the turbo kit slated to work on the 2018 Mazda6 Manual ? Looking forward to future updates.
Is this turbo really happening? Has it happened? Someone please let me know!!
Is there any more info on this? Is it still in development? Will we get one for the 2.0l? It’s hard to find performance parts for this car, it would help it come to life so much!
Will there be a turbo kit for the 2014 2.0L sky active engine with an automatic transmission?
Not at first, unfortunately.
Hi!
Will this Turbo Kit be able to fit the 2018 Mazda 3 Sport (2.0L) with a MT once it is ready? Or is it only for the 2.5L engine variants?
lots of us are waiting excitedly for this!
What might be the timeline for the Automatic?
I’m in Seattle area with ’16 AT if you need guinea pig 🙂
Same, i volunteer to test it.
Hey, I Have a 2014 Mazda 6 GT it has auto trans (daily driver). I was a little upset i couldn’t use the custom header you guys made because of clearance issues with the auto trans. Here’s to hoping the 2.5G turbo kit will work for auto and completely clear the trans? Iv been talking about working together with a local race shop that specializes in building tuning mazdas. Mostly rotary, but I know the owner well and he’s confident in tuning a turbo setup for the sky activity-G NA motor 2.5, with the right turbo setup (hopefully provided by you).are you guys planning on rolling this out with remote tuning through your own sources? Very interested in starting this project as soon as you have an available kit. Appreciate you guys and your work. -Brayton K.
hey guys,
been following this for years, really happy to see it’s still happening. i’m running a 2018 2.5MT – if there is anything i can do to help you guys or get on some kind of pre-order list please let me know! thank you all for your efforts here
It’s really exiting that the turbo kit is still happening.I have a 2016 2.5 MT mazda 3 with a tune from DR racing which increases the redline a bit, will the versa tune do the same thing?
How are you guys planning to overcome the compression ratio issue? I have an sp25 myself and dreamed a custom build but feel i’d have to resort to decompression plates.
Will this push the whp to 280-300 or does it add that much to the horsepower we have now??
Will this fit the mazda 6 touring 2015 2.5L
Do you guys think the turbo kit you’re going to release for the 2.0L Mazda 3, after you release it for the 2.5L, is going to fit in the 2012-2014 “2.0L” Mazda 6 models (available in the Euro – Asia) ?
I have a 2016 madza3 S GT 6 speed and I’m a track junkie I needs that kit I’ll be a test mule also.
I was reading ur commit and I wanted to respond I’ve been waiting for this kit myself I spoke to one the techs at CS and they told me that the turbo kit isn’t going to hit till early next year I’m building my 2016 mazda3 S GT hatch for street and track.
If one is made for the auto, I will definitely purchase on release. I’m sure most drivers have an auto transmission .. I think it would make be better financially for the company to Designer for auto transmissions. I feel sale ration would be 4-1 verses manual.
Any update on this project? I’ve been following it ever since you posted this article and I’ve been eagerly waiting.
Hopefully, the silence means that the next update will be the release!…but, seriously would love to know what kinds of kinks are being worked on to get this kit ready to ship. All of the info will be helpful down the road for us future kit owners!
It’s May of 2021…anything new CS?
2014 GT owner here. I love my car and I hope to god this is still in development.- there’s such a lack of support for the Gen 3 models, you guys are the only company i’ve heard of that does as much work as you do on them. Im saving up for you guy’s axleback exhaust system and some other things, hopefully i can add this to the list too.
It’s June of 2021…anything new CS?
And add another request for automatic version.
It is in dev, a year and 1.2 of racing the kit on a 3, 1 year of street driving in another car. It is getting really close.
It is close. Really close. Noted on the Auto version, we will update people on dev work for other models/fitments
How’s the turbo for the 2.5L manual coming along?
We have 3 cars testing the kit currently, It is very close.
This seems to be a never ending wait, is this happening?? Any estimation of time frame is it still being worked on
It is being worked on. We are testing our TC car this weekend with some revisions to finalize the kit.
Hey just wondering for a little update on the 6 kit, said on the 8th you were finalizing it with some revisions that weekend. Any idea when its done and how long it’ll take to be put up for sale when it is done?
We do not have a launch date yet. The 2.5 MT model will be the first variant available and other combos of engines/transmissions will be released after that.
For the 2.5 MT, will your software updates include shift indicator changes? What are you using to control the engine or are you changing the factory ECU directly?
The shifter is mechanical in nature, there is no computer controls for it so there are no changes made to it. Or are we misunderstanding your question. You re-use your original Factory ECU which will have a new calibration supplied with the kit.
Any quick number we can expect for whp with this kit?
Can i get on a list to purchase a kit for my 2017 mazda 6 manual transmission?
Can I get on a list to purchase the kit for my 2017 mazda 6 manual transmission? Been talking to you guys on and off since this post started. Is it happening or am I moving platforms?!
Final numbers are getting close, we can say for now it will be over 270 at the wheels.
We do not have a list running yet. Not far off.
So happy to see there’s still development happening I’ve been checking this forum for years. Will buy a kit the second they’re available for an auto. Only trans that was available to us in Australia sadly.