Mazda showcases nine cars at SEMA

Mazda is showcasing nine cars at this year’s SEMA show, with most of them focused on track duty.

Let’s start with the Mazda2. Two of these have been brought to SEMA: the Mazda2 Evil Track and Mazda2 Street. The Evil Track is a track-focused version of the car, with a stripped-out interior, aerodynamic exterior, racing suspension and a race exhaust system. The Street on the other hand is more focused on road-legal performance, with lightweight wheels and upgraded tires. It also gets a custom paint job.

Then we have two MX-5s, the MX-5 Super20 and the MX-5 Cup. The Super20 is a high-performance version of the MX-5, designed as part of the car’s 20th anniversary celebrations, with a supercharged Cosworth engine, crazy flared arches, a hardtop roof, and a redesigned interior. It also gets a modified chassis, upgraded brakes and new wheels and tires.

As for the MX-5 Cup, chances are you’ve heard of this car before. This is nothing new and has been brought along to SEMA just for show. The Cup is a race-prepped MX-5 which runs in its own, Playboy-sponsored racing series (And before you ask, we haven’t got a clue what’s up with that sponsorship deal).

The racing theme is continued with the Grand-Am GT Mazda RX-8, an RX-8 fielded in Grand-Am GT by SpeedSource and Riley Technologies. This, like the MX-5 Cup, is no stranger to the racing world, running an exceptional season this year. It absolutely dominated, winning the drivers, team, and manufacturers championship.

Next up, we have two Mazda3s: the Mazda3 Redline Time Attack and the Turbo Sedan. The latter receives a custom paint job with bright black exterior details, tinted windows, and dark red taillights for an aggressive appearance. Underneath that though, there’s a turbocharged version of the standard engine, developing over 250 hp, as well as upgraded brakes and suspension.

The Redline Time Attack is yet another race car, participating in the Super Modified class of the Redline Time Attack series. It develops more than 500 horsepower at the wheels, with slick tires transferring that power to the ground.

The ninth car is a Mazda2 with “Carbon” written on it (Presumably called the Mazda2 Carbon), but nothing is mentioned about it in the press release. Nonetheless, we included it in the count, but we can’t tell you much about it.

Press Release

From the Track to the Street Mazda Showcases Aftermarket Prowess at the 2010 SEMA Show

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 2, 2010 – Mazda’s product lineup of sedans, sports cars and crossovers offers consumers and exciting choice for their transportation needs; a choice that offers the Soul of a Sports Car in every vehicle.  Showcasing the depth and breadth of the brand, Mazda will display a slew of products, each one demonstrating Mazda’s aftermarket capability and potential.

“The versatility of Mazda vehicles is extraordinary.  With just minor modifications to a stock Mazda, it can be ready for the track or a car show,” said Derek Jenkins, director design, MNAO.  “Our SEMA cars demonstrate this ability; taking a vehicle from the dealership and making it a truly unique piece.”

The newest member to the product lineup is the MAZDA2.  With great styling, superb fuel economy and an affordable price tag, the 2011 MAZDA2 subcompact sedan is Zoom-Zoom in its most concentrated form.  MAZDA2 is a car that only the engineers at Mazda could have created.  It was designed and engineered from scratch to be a pure Mazda, offering the sort of driving experience that could only come from the company that developed the timeless MX-5 two-seat roadster, and it brings a combination of athletic design and dynamic performance to the subcompact class.  Mazda Design Americas took two MAZDA2s and created a street car and a track car.

MAZDA Evil Track
The MAZDA2 Evil Track car was envisioned as a fully equipped car for series racing, and all required safety equipment to meet SCCA and NASA competition regulations.  This iteration was inspired by the MAZDA2 Evil concept which debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2009.  The MAZDA2 Evil Track car has an enhanced motorsport aesthetic achieved through Mazda race-inspired graphics and colors.

MAZDA2 Evil Track car is equipped with a Mazda Design aero body kit, including side skirts, front and rear air-dam and carbon fiber rear deck spoiler.  Modifications include H&R race suspension and coil over kit, AWR full custom safety cage, Sparco Circuit pro seat, steering wheel, safety harness and fire system, AIM MXL Pista data acquisition system, race-tuned Magna-flow exhaust, 949 6UL 15×9 lightweight wheels and 225/45/15 Hoosier race tires.

MAZDA2 Street
The Mazda2 Street is a streetwise, urban sport inspired version of the highly successful Mazda2.
This new tougher street version is reinforced visually by using smaller diameter light weight 949 6UL 15×9 wheels and wide profile Toyo Proxes RA-1 R-compound tires.  The aesthetic enhanced through the use of a light gray, superfine metallic body color and matte graphic accents.

MX-5 Super20
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the MX-5 has been re-imagined with a darker, edgier attitude in the MX5 Super20.  It’s a purposeful combination of street-tough style and motorsports-inspired attributes.  This third generation vehicle acknowledges the iconic first-gen iteration with modifications such as a supercharged Cosworth engine, small diameter wheels, more substantial tire profile and wider fenders.

A hardtop has replaced the soft-top and the interior stripped down and fitted with a roll-bar lending a GT-inspired look and feel. The seats have suede seat inserts and channel stitching, providing improved grip for the driver.  Orange contrast stitching highlights the sporty seat profile as well as providing a polished look throughout, coordinating with the exterior graphic treatment which plays off the black and Storm Gray exterior.

Additional modifications include a DPTune reflashed ECU, Racing Beat 304-stainless steel header and exhaust, ACT organic street clutch, MAZDASPEED coil overs, Racing Beat hollow front and rear anti-roll bars, MAZDASPEED shock tower brace, Power Slot slotted brake rotors, StopTech DOT-compliant stainless steel brake lines and street performance brake pads, SpeedSource front brake ducts, 16×9 Enkei RPF1 wheels wrapped with 245/45-R16 Toyo Proxes RA-1 R-compound tires, 20mm H&R Trak+ hubcentric bolt-on wheel spacers in the rear and 15mm Sparco hubcentric wheel spacers up front.

MAZDA3 Redline Time Attack
The Redline Time Attack Super Modified series is where you see the fastest road racing tuner cars in the country. Full use of carbon/composite body panels, big wings, tires and lots of power are common.  The fastest Super Modified class cars can run lap times faster than World Challenge GT cars and are close to surpassing American Le Mans Series GT2 lap times – top speeds at some tracks will surpass 180 mph.

The MAZDA3 Reline Time Attack car is a Super Modified (unlimited rules) class car with more than 500 horsepower at the wheels from a highly modified 2.5-liter turbocharged MZR engine.  It features 280/650/18 Yokohama Advan Racing slick tires on 18×10.5 Volk Racing TE-37 wheels.

MAZDA3 Turbo Sedan
A small team of designers and engineers at Mazda R&D in Irvine, Calif., decided to have a little fun with a MAZDA3.  The team took its knowledge of the Mazda parts bin and its close relationships with MAZDASPEED Motorsports suppliers, looked in the mirror, and decided to build a tuner car that shows its own vision of the MAZDA3.

The car is painted to mimic the MAZDA3 Time Attack race car, but in a more subdued Crystal White Pearl base coat with soft gray tone graphics.  The scheme is a modern twist on the famous Renown graphics used on the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991.  Exterior details, including grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, the roof panel, and the formerly chrome interior of the front lamps are all given a bright black paint treatment.  Combined with tinted windows, and dark red taillight lenses, the dark details tighten the car visually, emphasizing the MAZDA3’s taught, muscular shape much like a tailored black suit on an athlete.  Wheels are forged aluminum 19×8-inch with 225/40-19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires straight off the RX-8 R3.

The sedan was sent to Tri-Point Engineering for a boost in power, so they installed a turbo kit utilizing a rugged cast iron turbo manifold feeding a high-efficiency Garrett GT2871R ball bearing turbo. At a mild 10 psi of boost, the 2.5-liter MZR engine is making well over 250 horsepower at the wheels.  To handle this extra power, the front brakes were replaced with rotors and calipers from a MAZDASPEED3, while the rear rotors and calipers were sourced from a MAZDA5.  Double-adjustable coil-overs from KW Suspension, paired with a Tri-Point adjustable rear stabilizer bar bring the handling back into harmony with the engine’s higher output.

Grand-Am GT Mazda RX-8
The SpeedSource Grand Am GT Mazda RX-8 is based on a tube-frame chassis jointly developed by SpeedSource and Riley Technologies, and powered by Mazda’s three-rotor 20B Renesis rotary engine.  The 20B three-rotor engine is the cornerstone of Mazda’s Grand Am GT RX-8 program, and based on the engine used in the RX-8 street car.  With its compact size and light weight, the rotary engine brings with it a vast history in sprint and endurance racing.  Revving to over 9,000 rpm, the distinctive 20B rotary engine sounds like no other engine on the Grand Am ROLEX GT grid.

The Mazda RX-8 dominated the 2010 Grand-AM GT season winning six of 12 races, and winning the drivers, team, and manufacturers championship.

MX-5 Cup Car
The most road-raced car in the world — as well as being the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world – the MX-5 Miata is no stranger to the track.  The MX-5 Cup is a series that pits similarly modified MX-5s together on the track.  The MX-5 Cup car weighs just under 2,600 pounds and features an authoritative 195-horsepower motor.  The series was launched in 2006 and has since enjoyed strong fields and close competition.

Engine Modifications: A MAZDASPEED cold air intake system is required.
Chassis Modifications: The only modification is the addition of the 3-piece front strut tower brace that comes with the sport package.

Transmission/Final Drive Modifications: The stock six-speed gearbox is used by all cars.
Suspension/Steering Modifications: The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development MX-5 Cup kit is comprised of double adjustable shocks, specified springs and threaded-perch coil-overs.  All cars also run identical anti-roll bars and end links.

Brake System Modifications: Brakes must maintain stock brake rotor specifications.
Wheels: All cars run their choice of the stock alloy 17×7” wheels available on MX-5 Miatas.
Tires: The series spec tire is the BFGoodrich g-Force R1, size: 225/45/17.
Body Modifications: None
Safety Modifications: All MX-5 Cup cars run with full safety equipment, including an eight-point rollcage that must be welded into the car.  Other safety equipment includes a racing seat, head/neck restraint, an electrical shut-off switch and an incorporated fire-extinguishing system.

Source: Mazda

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