Proving Possibilities:  A Mazda3 Journey

Photos and Story by Josh Mackey

This car is for sale. See bottom of page for a full modification list, and hit the contact page to inquire.

When I launched NWMotiv over 14 years ago, an automotive community designed for the Pacific Northwest enthusiast, I needed to find a project car that would help me connect with our followers through engaging content and at events. When you think of our little corner, you’re likely thinking Subaru or even maybe a truck because of our great landscape, but I went the opposite direction and landed with Mazda.

Mazda had just released their 2nd generation Mazda3, which included significant design and performance updates in five different models. Those ranged from base model I-Sport (2.0l NA), to Touring/SV/GT (2.3/2.5 NA) and Speed3 (2.3 Turbo) variants. I tend to go against the grain and do things that people tell you can’t be done and decided on a 2010 Mazda3i Sedan with a base package and 2.0l Duratec motor. I’ll admit, this variant wasn’t the most attractive option, but my conviction told me otherwise. As the official project car of NWMotiv and then into my next venture, DailyDriven.com, the Project3 has gone through several iterations, has won dozens of awards, been featured in several different magazines around the world and is still to this day one of the most popular Mazda builds on the internet through its heavy online documentation.

“Why didn’t you just get a Mazdaspeed3?”

Well, for starters, at the time I couldn’t afford it, and secondly, I didn’t want a hatch.  My vision for this build is what I call “OEM+,” combining contrasting tasteful aesthetics with reliable street power and performance without sacrificing any function: the very definition of form and function. I am the sole owner of this project and it has only been touched by industry professionals throughout my fourteen years of ownership. It receives regular maintenance and has only 70,196 miles.

This car has been so well kept, it still boasts the same stock Graphite Mica paint (the front end and trunk were repainted in the process of modification) that rolled off the lot. While this car is classified as grey, it contains both purple and green metallic pigments, which pending the light, can completely change the look of the car. Sticking with the “OEM+” theme, the plastic trim was upgraded to gloss black to give a very glossy contrast. An AutoExe front bumper, Mazda factory accessory side skirts, with M’z style lip kit give the car a more aggressive look.

The factory hood was customized with proprietary designed 3D metal printed vents, the trunk was shaved and includes a Mazda factory GT trunk lip. To make servicing easier, the front bumper is equipped with color matched Quik-Latch quick release buttons. The front bumper and headlights feature full wrap protection and the rest of the car is Ceramic Pro coated courtesy of APC Auto Spa.

The lighting package on the Project3 is from another world.

I had a vision (pun intended) to build a set of headlights that not only looked like they came out of the factory, but has the same design elements and functional performance that matched the car. In conjunction with TheRetrofitSource.com, each headlight boasts a pair of both Mini H1 7.0 Prototype projectors and custom bi-xenon projectors with a custom diamond pattern etching. The housing features custom black and metallic yellow paint and the inside also includes carbon covered trim with Mazda3 GT Tech Package clear corner lens markers.

Exterior lighting continues with Mazda factory fog lights with Diamond Lighting HID 3K fog lights, platinum corner LED bulbs, reverse and brake LEDs and custom Diamond LED puddle lights. The rear lights have been custom painted with a 3-stage candy red and smoke paint to get away from the trend of clear lenses while the rear bumper has been fitted with Corksport LED bumper lenses.

The Mazda3 platform is built to be agile, so we took it to another level with a plethora of suspension upgrades. The goal for this project was to have reliable street performance and before focusing on power, we wanted good suspension to handle whatever we threw at it. BC Racing BR coilover suspension is first on the list, but is combined with an entire suite of suspension products from Corksport. A front strut bar, front and rear sway bars, front and rear end links, and rear camber and toe arms give us the ultimate customization and grip. In addition, our suspension features Whiteline Performance front and rear bushing sets and a bump steer corrector to enhance our feel and response. The suspension is accompanied by Corksport’s front big brake kit that includes EBC front slotter rotors, Red Stuff pads, stainless steel brake lines with Motul 5.1 brake fluid. Additionally, the rear brakes have been upgraded to EBC slotted rotors with Red Stuff pads. Finally, suspension isn’t everything without a good set of wheels and tires!

The Project3 features the very first set in the United States of authentic WedsSport RN-0RM 18” x 8” +35 wheels in gloss black, wrapped in classic Yokohama S-Drive 215/35/18 Tires with locking Muteki titanium spline drive lug nuts (1 set per wheel for premium security).

 This Project3 factory engine is the Ford-produced Duratec model, in the base model 2.0 variant with a factory 5-Speed ATX transmission. This stock motor and automatic transmission were always part of the plan (again, doing what I was told couldn’t be done), carefully crafting the car at each stage to do a big engine and transmission upgrade in two different phases. Phase 1 of this process has been completed. From the factory, this motor produces around 140 horsepower, which simply won’t even break the tuned suspension loose. Significant power upgrades were not readily available, so we had to be resourceful and find a creative way to get the power we wanted. In participation with Tam-Tech Auto and DRTuned Racing, we sourced and built a custom turbo kit of remnant parts from an older, very rare Reactive Racing turbo kit.

This kit includes a custom turbo manifold, utilizing a Borg Warner Airwerks Turbo, with a custom intake pipe, downpipe, oil feed lines, intercooler piping and front mount intercooler. In addition to the custom parts, we installed a TurboSmart blowoff valve and an external wastegate with a 7psi spring, Bosch injectors, and a Haltech Sport 1000 ECU. A standard cold-air intake and Corksport Power Series exhaust are included in our standard bolt-ons to provide additional power. To keep the engine cool, we utilize our custom hood vents with a Koyorad Racing aluminum radiator, turbo heat shield cover and wrapped piping.  Powering the car is an XS Power battery hidden inside a Corksport battery relocation box that is hydrodipped in carbon. To spruce up the bay, we had the engine cover hydrodipped in the same carbon texture, installed Password JDM real carbon engine shrouds, and installed mint and rainbow chrome titanium bolts and washers.

This custom turbo installation isn’t just a simple bolt-on kit, everything is 100% custom, from the custom fabrication, intensive wiring integrated with the stock ECU, to the meticulous tuning provided by DRTuned Racing. In its current phase, the Project3 still utilizes the stock 5-speed ATX transmission, which limits our boost to 7PSI. All in, the car produces approximately 225hp to the wheels -- a 60% increase in power. Phase 2 of the engine and transmission development can be found below.

One of my favorite interiors ever is from the first-generation Acura NSX that looks and feels like a comfortable cockpit. I used that as inspiration by integrating color, texture, function, and performance in the front, back, and trunk of the car.

The interior is leveled up with anthracite colored suede across the front, side, and rear pillars, as well as the headliner and door cards. I didn’t want the standard driver side pillar gauge cluster – so I worked with Ortiz Custom Pods to develop custom, factory-looking gauge pods that hold a series of Defi and AEM gauges in front of the custom carbon dipped Corksport Racing Steering Wheel and on top of the center console dash. The steering wheel, gauge pods, along with the center console, door, and other interior trim pieces are hydrodipped in the same carbon as the engine pieces to stay consistent in design.

Continuing with the cockpit theme, the Project3 reps a set of Braum Racing Elite Racing seats in black and carbon, mounted with Planted Seat brackets. The seats are complimented with a Braum Racing harness bar and a pair of black harnesses. The rear seats have been upgraded with a combination of leather and perforated suede courtesy of Katzkin. The interior includes a few more accessories including Napa leather e-brake and shift boots, SRP Racing aluminum pedals, a Joyfactory carbon iPad arm & mount and a very rare, Raceseng x DailyDriven Mint Ashiko shift knob.

The same form and function translate into the entertainment and electronics of the Project3. Firstly, the entire car was stripped down, and multiple layers of ballistic sound dampening were applied from the front seats down through into the trunk. This layer of dampening keeps outside sounds out, keeps sound in, and reduces panel vibration. The audio and in-car entertainment is powered by a Kenwood DDX-9902S touchscreen head unit that also utilizes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. From here, the rest of the audio is discreetly hidden throughout the car to maintain the stock paneling and keep the car 100% functional. Diamond Audio D6 components are installed in both the front and rear doors and a suspended trunk amp rack holds the component crossovers, a Diamond Audio D600 4-channel and D400 Mono subwoofer amp. A Diamond Audio 12” HEX subwoofer is installed in a custom fiberglass and MDF enclosure in the spare tire well. This enclosure is wrapped in the same anthracite suede, hidden underneath a padded trunk liner, which is topped with a Mazda3 factory accessory carpet. The car is protected with Compustar DroneMobile Security system and sensors and will be supplied with an upgraded X1 module upon purchase. The subscription plan will be at the cost of the new owner if they want it. The Project3 has never been in any accidents and has been maintained to the highest standards.

Overall, the goal of this Project3 was to make a version of what I would consider the best of the car in my style of design, function and performance and I am extremely proud and happy of where it sits today. I am moving on from the car to focus on more important aspects of my life and hopefully find it a new home where the new buyer can either complete it, enjoy it or make it their own.

Modification List

Acknowledgments & Thank Yous

Special thank you to my wife and son for putting up with a car that rarely gets driven. Tam Le of Tam-Tech Auto and Daniel Routley of DRTuned Racing for helping me do what most considered impossible for a Mazda3. Armin, Alan, James and Chris for always helping me when I need it. There have been many others over the past decade who helped me form and shape this car to what it is today, and for all of you, I appreciate and thank you.

Sponsorship acknowledgments

Josh from TAJ Collision Center for his excellent craftsmanship, Seth & Heather from APC Auto Spa, Matt @ The Retrofit Source, Corksport #RIPJoel, Lawrence @ Intec Racing x Diamond Lighting, Braum Racing, Jarrett @ Raceseng for the collab, Ortiz Custom Pods, Paul @ Wise Concepts, Tex @ Speedy Sign Center, Cody & Garrett from BC Racing NA, Tom @ Whiteline, Brendan @ EBC Brakes, Jim @ Weds Wheels NA, Matt @ Yokohama Tires, Diamond Audio, Defi Gauges, Jeremy for all the interior work, James for his work on the audio, NWMotiv x DailyDriven.

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