Mazdaspeed: Difference between revisions
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'''Mazdaspeed''' is [[Mazda]]'s in-house race and street car tuning arm. It began in 1968 as "Mazda Sports Corner", a tuning and racing operation run by Takayoshi Ohashi, who also ran Mazda's [[Tokyo]] distributor. They competed in numerous events at home and abroad, and they were also competitive at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] races in the early 1980s with the [[Mazda 717|717]], [[Mazda 727|727]], and [[Mazda 737|737]] before Mazda brought the group to Hiroshima in 1990. In 1991, Mazdaspeed's [[Mazda 787|787]] won at Le Mans, a feat no other Japanese team has managed. |
'''Mazdaspeed''' is [[Mazda]]'s in-house race and street car tuning arm. It began in 1968 as "Mazda Sports Corner", a tuning and racing operation run by Takayoshi Ohashi, who also ran Mazda's [[Tokyo]] distributor. They competed in numerous events at home and abroad, and they were also competitive at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] races in the early 1980s with the [[Mazda 717|717]], [[Mazda 727|727]], and [[Mazda 737|737]] before Mazda brought the group to Hiroshima in 1990. In 1991, Mazdaspeed's [[Mazda 787|787]] won at Le Mans, a feat no other Japanese team has managed. |
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After the [[FIA]] effectively outlawed the [[Wankel engine]] the next year <ref>http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/C5F0793AC322A70CC125732900339466/$FILE/04F1_TECHNICAL_REGULATIONS.pdf?Openelement</ref>, the Mazdaspeed team turned away from professional racing and focused instead on enabling third-party competition of Mazda vehicles. Mazda assumed control of Mazdaspeed in 1999 as a tuning and performance parts operation within the company. In 2003, Mazda debuted its first consumer offered Mazdaspeed vehicle, the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protegé. It was only released to the North American market as an upgrade to the Protegé MP3 and it offered more power — from the MP3's {{Auto bhp|140|0}} to {{Auto bhp|170|0}} — by using a T25 Callaway-Garrett turbocharger and an intercooler. It is also worth noting that a 2003.5 model year was produced with a new range of colours and a new, more stylish exterior. Some modifications included new front air dam and a new spoiler. A year after, in 2004, another Mazdaspeed model was offered, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata; it too was released only in the North American market. It featured an IHI single-scroll turbocharger producing 8.5 psi of boost to further increase power, from {{Auto bhp|142|0}} to {{Auto bhp|178|0}} and torque from {{Auto ft.lbf|125|0}} to {{Auto ft.lbf|166|0}}. Mazda soon realized that these high performance models could be successful outside of North America and would make the next vehicles available worldwide. |
After the [[FIA]] effectively outlawed the [[Wankel engine]] the next year <ref>[http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/C5F0793AC322A70CC125732900339466/$FILE/04F1_TECHNICAL_REGULATIONS.pdf?Openelement 2009 FORMULA ONE TECHNICAL REGULATIONS]</ref>, the Mazdaspeed team turned away from professional racing and focused instead on enabling third-party competition of Mazda vehicles. Mazda assumed control of Mazdaspeed in 1999 as a tuning and performance parts operation within the company. In 2003, Mazda debuted its first consumer offered Mazdaspeed vehicle, the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protegé. It was only released to the North American market as an upgrade to the Protegé MP3 and it offered more power — from the MP3's {{Auto bhp|140|0}} to {{Auto bhp|170|0}} — by using a T25 Callaway-Garrett turbocharger and an intercooler. It is also worth noting that a 2003.5 model year was produced with a new range of colours and a new, more stylish exterior. Some modifications included new front air dam and a new spoiler. A year after, in 2004, another Mazdaspeed model was offered, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata; it too was released only in the North American market. It featured an IHI single-scroll turbocharger producing 8.5 psi of boost to further increase power, from {{Auto bhp|142|0}} to {{Auto bhp|178|0}} and torque from {{Auto ft.lbf|125|0}} to {{Auto ft.lbf|166|0}}. Mazda soon realized that these high performance models could be successful outside of North America and would make the next vehicles available worldwide. |
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In 2006 the [[Mazdaspeed 6]] was released globally; it featured the most powerful piston engine ever produced by Mazda at {{Auto bhp|274|0}} and all-wheel drive. A 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 model joined a new vehicle, the [[Mazdaspeed 3]] — which, with {{Auto bhp|264|0}} and {{Auto ft.lbf|280|0}} of torque, was the most powerful vehicle in its class. |
In 2006 the [[Mazdaspeed 6]] was released globally; it featured the most powerful piston engine ever produced by Mazda at {{Auto bhp|274|0}} and all-wheel drive. A 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 model joined a new vehicle, the [[Mazdaspeed 3]] — which, with {{Auto bhp|264|0}} and {{Auto ft.lbf|280|0}} of torque, was the most powerful vehicle in its class. |
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Revision as of 02:45, 12 October 2008
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 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (December 2007) |
Mazdaspeed is Mazda's in-house race and street car tuning arm. It began in 1968 as "Mazda Sports Corner", a tuning and racing operation run by Takayoshi Ohashi, who also ran Mazda's Tokyo distributor. They competed in numerous events at home and abroad, and they were also competitive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans races in the early 1980s with the 717, 727, and 737 before Mazda brought the group to Hiroshima in 1990. In 1991, Mazdaspeed's 787 won at Le Mans, a feat no other Japanese team has managed.
After the FIA effectively outlawed the Wankel engine the next year [1], the Mazdaspeed team turned away from professional racing and focused instead on enabling third-party competition of Mazda vehicles. Mazda assumed control of Mazdaspeed in 1999 as a tuning and performance parts operation within the company. In 2003, Mazda debuted its first consumer offered Mazdaspeed vehicle, the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protegé. It was only released to the North American market as an upgrade to the Protegé MP3 and it offered more power — from the MP3's Template:Auto bhp to Template:Auto bhp — by using a T25 Callaway-Garrett turbocharger and an intercooler. It is also worth noting that a 2003.5 model year was produced with a new range of colours and a new, more stylish exterior. Some modifications included new front air dam and a new spoiler. A year after, in 2004, another Mazdaspeed model was offered, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata; it too was released only in the North American market. It featured an IHI single-scroll turbocharger producing 8.5 psi of boost to further increase power, from Template:Auto bhp to Template:Auto bhp and torque from Template:Auto ft.lbf to Template:Auto ft.lbf. Mazda soon realized that these high performance models could be successful outside of North America and would make the next vehicles available worldwide.
In 2006 the Mazdaspeed 6 was released globally; it featured the most powerful piston engine ever produced by Mazda at Template:Auto bhp and all-wheel drive. A 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 model joined a new vehicle, the Mazdaspeed 3 — which, with Template:Auto bhp and Template:Auto ft.lbf of torque, was the most powerful vehicle in its class.
External links
- Articles lacking sources from July 2008
- Articles with a promotional tone from December 2007
- Mazda
- Auto parts suppliers
- Automotive companies of Japan
- Companies established in 1967
- Official motorsport and performance division of automakers
- Japanese auto racing teams
- 24 Hours of Le Mans entrants
- World Sportscar Championship entrants