Page 2 - Monthly Archives: October 2015

If you read our blog, you'll remember a short while ago that we did a quick dyno test on a brand-new, fully stock 2016 Miata ND. That's not all we had planned for this little roadster. We put our Engineers to work on upgraded intake. Take a look behind the scenes and follow our progress as we bring our intake design to life.

Mazda has pulled out all the stops for this brand-new MX-5. Auto manufacturers rarely make the next generation in a specific vehicle line lighter in weight. With the rapid increase in advances in technology and the demand for more safety features in new vehicles, there is little doubt that the next generation of a model will be heavier. Not the case here! The current US-released version of this 2016 Miata ND has a curb weight of around 2,332 lb. Compared to the previous-generation NC that weighed around 2,498 lb, this model has shed

Interested in purchasing our new ND Miata direct-fit oil cooler kit? Check out our product page linked below!

Mishimoto Mazda Miata Oil Cooler Kit!

It's hard to doubt the upcoming success of the new Miata. Previous generations have provided enthusiasts with an amazing chassis that continues to dominate the racing world and bring smiles to the faces of owners around the globe. With the new model comes some weight shedding and a new power plant. Reviews from a variety of sources have revealed that Mazda did things right, just as we all figured they would. The only issue is that this model was not released sooner!

We've had our test vehicle in the shop for a few weeks now, with some exciting new product development underway. A big thank you to the vehicle owner for letting us borrow her Miata! Our intake design is coming along nicely, we have a direct-fit catch can in the works, and

We have been hard at work developing our 2013 Ford Focus ST intake system. When the stock intake system was removed, there was room to get creative for improving airflow. Right off the bat, you can see how Ford designed its intake to grab as much cold air as possible by using the two tubes that both conjoin at the front grille and connect into different points on the box. We know it will be important to retain this feature and include it in our airbox design for the Focus ST intake.

Fabricating the Prototype

With the removal of the stock Focus ST intake leaving a good amount of space, we wanted to design an airbox that uses that space effectively. After the space was carefully and thoroughly surveyed, we got to work fabricating and welding together a working prototype!

Interested in purchasing one of our new shift knob designs? Check out more product details at the link below!

Mishimoto Shift Knobs

We promised there would be more! Our first design presented Wednesday was pretty slick, and this next design is all about ergonomics and comfort. Not only did the design team work on the aesthetics, but we also spent some time ensuring that the feel of this knob would be ideal for slamming into gears while keeping your eyes pinned to the road.

Initial Design Rendering

As with our other weighted shift knob, this one also started in the 3D world. Check out a couple SolidWorks models showing the initial shape.

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Interested in picking up our Fiesta ST aluminum radiator? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below.

Mishimoto 2014+ Ford Fiesta ST Aluminum Radiator Pre-Sale!

Now that we have a solid direction for our design plans, this project is moving right along. Last time we started the fabrication process for our fan shroud design. This unique setup would utilize the stock fan motor and blade, but we would relocate it in a space that would allow our thicker Ford Fiesta radiator to fit properly.

Fabrication Continued

With our shroud completed to its basic shape, our final portion of the design required mounting the fan to the shroud, creating a fan-blade cage, and creating appropriate mounts for the stock fan controller.

We started with the cage, as this piece would determine the location and design of the other components on the list.

Interested in purchasing one of our new shift knob designs? Check out more product details at the link below!

Mishimoto Shift Knobs

Not all our projects involve in-depth data, heat-transfer calculations, or metal fabrication. From time to time our engineering team collaborates with our talented creative team to develop awesome accessories for your ride. These upgrades might not add power or drop temperatures, but they can surely improve the driving experience and offer an improvement in styling.

In addition to the collaboration work, each design was created by a different member of our team. If you know any of these people, you might see where the designs reflect their personalities quite a bit.

Weighted Shift Knob

Our first unique design is likely to find its way into the vehicle of someone seeking a bolder look. This design started life

Interested in picking up our Fiesta ST aluminum radiator? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below.

Mishimoto 2014+ Ford Fiesta ST Aluminum Radiator Pre-Sale!

It's been a few months since our last major update, and for good reason. Our team has been quite busy. As a quick recap, last time we test fitted our first Ford Fiesta ST (FIST) radiator prototype, only to find that the core thickness was larger than the vehicle would allow. Once the radiator was bolted to the fan shroud, the shroud made contact with numerous components on the engine, prompting us to pull out our markers and take a second look at the drawing board.

Now, keep in mind the FIST has some serious cooling issues. Any pleasures on the track are normally negated after a lap or two causes coolant temperatures to reach the stratosphere, prompting a quick dart to the paddock. To improve the chances

Some exciting things are happening at Mishimoto.

We have a brand new 2016 ND Miata in for Product Development and wanted to give you a quick look into what's to come.

One important part of any testing is to get a proper baseline. For this project, that meant hooking up the car to the dyno and seeing how much power it would make. Since this is a brand new car, and the first ND many of us had seen in person, we decided to capture the occasion on video and share it with the community.

Now, what you've been waiting for:

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoyed the video/images.

Interested in picking up this awesome E46 fan setup? Check out our discounted pre-sale linked below!

Mishimoto BMW E46 Non-M Performance Fan Shroud Kit Pre-Sale

Functional Prototype

In a short timespan we were able to turn our 3D models into an actual functional prototype. Check out a couple images of our first BMW E46 fan shroud!

Mishimoto prototype E46 parts

Chassis rigidity is extremely important for on-track handling, response, and feel. Ford provides a well-designed chassis with the Fiesta; however, as you can imagine, there is always room for improvement. Within the short time that this car has been available, the aftermarket has provided some great options, including better dampers, stiffer springs, and thicker sway bars, to enhance handling.

Our company will not likely dip into struts or springs, but we are certainly interested in helping stiffen the chassis. Our Mustang EcoBoost front strut tower brace is underway, and we recently launched development of a Fiesta ST rear strut brace. Time to get started!

What's The Plan?

Our goal here is to link one side of the rear trunk area to the other. You may wonder why this is needed. Doesn't the floor/body connect the two sides? Yes, but keep in mind, the floor is not made from a thick material. During aggressive cornering, the floor will see some pretty