Photo: BBR
Established in the 1980s in Her Majesty's United Kingdom, BBR GTi is synonymous with Mazda tuning kits. Don't, however, believe that the British outfit is specialized in applying a spoiler here and a boombox there. BBR is all naturally aspirated grunt and the Mazda3 Super 185 upgrade is this story's spotlight.
As a powertrain development program, the Super 185 is as pure as it gets for Mazda3 owners. Courtesy of a stainless steel exhaust manifold that enhances the 2-liter SkyActiv-G naturally aspirated four-banger, the result is 185 BHP and 173 lb-ft (234 Nm) of torque. As with every respectable performance exhaust manifold, we are dealing with a killer 4-2-1- configuration.
But better exhalation isn't all there is to the Super 185 tuning kit from BBR. The OEM Mazda3 airbox has been replaced with a cold air induction system for breathing reasons as well. Vector in a K&N high flow air filter and this is how you gain an additional 4 BHP over the standard grunt of the atmospheric 2-liter motor.
Then there's the BBR Starchip ECU, a calibration that increases peak power to the previously mentioned 185 BHP. The grunt is available at 6,300 rpm, although "linear gains" can be sensed from as early as 3,250 rpm. As for the 175 lb-ft (234 Nm) of front-wheel drive twist, the torque is available between 3,000 and 6,500 rpm. The broad torque band is a tell-tale sign that this petrol-fed engine can pull in any gear at low speeds, making the BBR-tuned Mazda3 more user-friendly for city driving than the standard Japanese hatchback.
This package retails for £1,795 fitted, which is the equivalent of $2,743 or €2,455 at current exchange rates. 3.5-inch tailpipes are offered as optional extras for £395. If you're feeling brave, the peeps at BBR also offer sporty lowering springs with Koni adjustable dampers for £877 fitted. The suspension upgrade includes a full geometry set up at BBR's Brackley garage, which is a rather nice touch from our point of view.
If you own a third-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, BBR has got you covered with simple bolt-on parts.
But better exhalation isn't all there is to the Super 185 tuning kit from BBR. The OEM Mazda3 airbox has been replaced with a cold air induction system for breathing reasons as well. Vector in a K&N high flow air filter and this is how you gain an additional 4 BHP over the standard grunt of the atmospheric 2-liter motor.
Then there's the BBR Starchip ECU, a calibration that increases peak power to the previously mentioned 185 BHP. The grunt is available at 6,300 rpm, although "linear gains" can be sensed from as early as 3,250 rpm. As for the 175 lb-ft (234 Nm) of front-wheel drive twist, the torque is available between 3,000 and 6,500 rpm. The broad torque band is a tell-tale sign that this petrol-fed engine can pull in any gear at low speeds, making the BBR-tuned Mazda3 more user-friendly for city driving than the standard Japanese hatchback.
This package retails for £1,795 fitted, which is the equivalent of $2,743 or €2,455 at current exchange rates. 3.5-inch tailpipes are offered as optional extras for £395. If you're feeling brave, the peeps at BBR also offer sporty lowering springs with Koni adjustable dampers for £877 fitted. The suspension upgrade includes a full geometry set up at BBR's Brackley garage, which is a rather nice touch from our point of view.
If you own a third-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, BBR has got you covered with simple bolt-on parts.
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