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  1. Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 3 - Production Sample

    Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 3 - Production Sample

    Our newly designed radiator is now available! Make sure to get yours today, or continue reading to find out more:

    Performance Aluminum Radiator, fits Mazda NC MX-5 Miata (Manual) 2006-2015

    Mazda designed the NC Miata for the utilization of all 170 equipped horsepower. This budget sports car's idea is to show the automotive world that you don't need 1,000 horsepower and enough torque to shift the earth off its axis to have fun behind the wheel. Let's be honest, in most situations, you can really only use a fraction of that power unless you're at the track or drag strip. On the other hand, you can use all the Miata's available power and still have your driver's license at the end of the day.

    However, a car designed to live at the limit will be more prone to cooling issues. Our new radiator design is tailor-made to ensure that your NC can keep its cool, even when it's running at the limit.

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  2. Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans

    Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans

    It's true what they say, failing to plan is planning to fail, especially when it comes to pushing your vehicle to the limits. As we covered in the first post, the MX-5 Miata is designed for being pushed to the ragged edge, and driving so close to a vehicle's limit requires some preparation. Surely, Mazda put some extensive engineering behind the Miata's cooling system, but even still, it can have some trouble keeping up once you put the hammer down. When it comes to our radiator design, we plan to improve the NC's endurance.

    Our plan is straightforward and parallels the sports car formula's simplicity that makes the Miata so successful. We start by ditching the plastic end tanks. This means

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  3. Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    Live on the Limit - Performance Radiator R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    When it comes to sports cars, sometimes the real joy doesn't come from a monstrous motor with oodles of power, but rather something small and nimble. A car that lets you utilize every horsepower and push it to the absolute limit. The NC MX-5 Miata defines that category. Sure, it might only have 170 hp, but you can use every single one, and effectively too. Thanks to its double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension setups, the NC is more than capable of transporting you to the ragged edge with the wind in your hair and a grin on your face matching the Miata's front fascia.

    But, there's always a downside, and in the case of the NC Miata, it comes as heat. Like any car, the Miata was designed to be driven. The spirit of the Miata lends itself to being driven hard, which makes it even more likely to experience high temperatures. Luckily, we here at Mishimoto are hard at work devising a better means of coolant temperature regulation.

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  4. Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 2 - Blow-By Verified

    Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 2 - Blow-By Verified

    It's been a long time since we saw the first iteration of Mazda's return to hot hatches, over a decade in fact. A lot has changed since then. The first difference you might notice is that the Mazdaspeed division is nowhere to be found, and instead, the MZR Turbo lives on as the Ford EcoBoost. For the MS3's that are still on the road racking up the miles, they might be seeing all sorts of replacement parts, but also a decade's worth of carbon buildup.

    110617_NLT_MS3_BCC_WEB_2

    If you recall from our last installment, the Speed 3 challenged the seasoned hatchback veteran, VW, with their own version of the turbocharged, direct-injected 4-cylinder that boasts more power and equipment than just about all  its competitors. However, if you are knowledgeable on the first wave of this combination of

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  5. Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    The Europeans have dominated the hot-hatchback market for decades. In fact, the term "hot hatchback" was coined to describe Volkswagen's Mk1 Golf GTI, which was responsible for the leadup to the hot-hatch fever throughout Europe and Asia. Just about every manufacturer began producing hatchbacks with stiff suspensions and a few extra horses under the hood. Even our very own Ford produced cars like the Escort Cosworth, and previous generations of the Focus ST and RS, but then left us here in the States, out to dry, when it came to having fun in a sub-compact. That was up until Mazda had their say.

    The combination of comfort, practicality, and speed help the popularity of Mazda's newest fast hatch.
    The combination of comfort, practicality, and speed
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  6. No One Likes a Leaking Cap - Washer Fluid Reservoir R&D, Part 2: Improving on OEM

    No One Likes a Leaking Cap - Washer Fluid Reservoir R&D, Part 2: Improving on OEM

    When we began work on our 2016+ Miata washer fluid reservoir, our primary goal was to improve the aesthetics; we designed the tank to look killer, make your engine bay a little cleaner, and we also reduced the volume of the reservoir, saving a few pounds versus stock if you're comparing a full Mishimoto tank to a full stock tank.

    One of the major benefits of sharing our R&D process among enthusiast communities is the opportunity to learn even more about what we can do to make the best possible product. Once I revealed our reservoir to the forums, I was quickly made aware that there is an annoying flaw with the stock tank: a leaking cap!

    Preparing our new solution for testing
    Preparing our new solution for testing
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  7. Simplify, Then Add Washer Fluid - Washer Reservoir R&D: Test-fit, Prototype, Pre-Sale!

    Simplify, Then Add Washer Fluid - Washer Reservoir R&D: Test-fit, Prototype, Pre-Sale!

    Mishimoto 2016+ Miata Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir Pre-Sale

    At Mishimoto, we know how passionate the enthusiast community is about the fact that Miata Is Always The Answer, and we share that passion!

    But by the same logic, we also feel strongly that Washer-fluid Always Sloshes Heavily Everywhere, Rendering FR-layout Legends Unnecessarily In-Direct. Always up for a way to improve on an already wonderful car, we are here to change that by bringing you a 2016+ ND Miata windshield washer fluid reservoir that embodies the true spirit of the car not only by being attractive, but also by shaving some pounds and

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  8. Final Prototype Installed - ND Miata Intake, Part 5

    Final Prototype Installed - ND Miata Intake, Part 5

    As we finally round the end of the long and arduous testing and data collection process, it's time to test the fitment of the final prototype to ensure there are no issues before we kick off full-scale production. A lot of effort has gone into designing and engineering this kit, and it has been rewarding to see this project finally come together.

    There were some minor changes and cool feature additions that will make this kit unique. Take a look at some images below.

    IMG_8627r
    Prototype Miata intake box

    After we pieced together the rest of the box, we cleaned it up with some fresh paint and added a neat feature that will help with cooling. Right underneath the front of the box, you can see an angled plate that has been attached. This plate acts as

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  9. Testing and Results - ND Miata Intake, Part 4

    Testing and Results - ND Miata Intake, Part 4

    We finally have an update for the Miata intake project!

    With our prototype now in working order, we were finally able to hook up our ND Miata to our dynamometer and get some pulls underway. At this point in the process, we knew we'd want to play around with some other design ideas while the car was hooked up to the Dynapack. AFRs, power output, and sound clips were all on the agenda for the evaluation of this prototype system.

    Results

    Capture
    Miata intake dynamometer results results

    We did gain some decent performance in the low end of the power band, but the upper end of the curve follows the path of the

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  10. Mazda Miata NB Oil Cooler R&D, Part 4: On-Road Testing

    Mazda Miata NB Oil Cooler R&D, Part 4: On-Road Testing

    Interested in picking up our NB Miata oil cooler kit? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below.

    Mishimoto 1999-2005 Mazda Miata Oil Cooler Kit Pre-Sale!

    Our idle warmup provided a nice baseline test to evaluate the benefit of the stock liquid-to-liquid oil cooler. From what we saw in the conditions of our first test, warmup is not greatly affected by this component. In this second portion of product testing, we will be evaluating the impact of this heat exchanger on cooling performance. More importantly, we will be evaluating the cooling benefits of our liquid-to-air cooler.

    Testing Plans

    Variations

    • Stock liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger
    • Mishimoto oil cooler setup
    • Mishimoto oil cooler setup plus stock liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger

    By testing the Mishimoto oil cooler both with and without the stock heat exchanger, we

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