eyesoreracing

Yea, well, sorta...



Here's the convoluted justification for the title: This Ford Fiesta rallycross car (that made 875 hp in Pikes Peak trim, and somewhere around 500 in X-Games trim) is powered by what Ford likes to call a Duratec engine, which Mazda likes to call an MZR, and which is what's in an NC Miata.

Yea, it's a stretch, but I've been on this site enough (that pink abortion on the front page is mine) to know you guys like engine ****.

Anyway, I interviewed the engine builder (Andreas Ericsson, 4-time Swedish Rallycross champ), and wrote it up here: Inside the 800-hp Olsbergs Fiestas - update 1 > MotoIQ > Magazine Articles

I'll be getting more info on the engine in some follow-up interviews, so if you've got some geeky questions, ask them and I'll dig for deets.

-Dave Coleman

gospeed81

iTrader: (51)

Great article...who was guy with weeman syndrome?

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

Link to so called pink abortion? Not seeing a "pink" car.

eyesoreracing

Go to the front page, here: Miata Turbo Forum - Discuss how to turbo your Mazda Miata

The pink one with whitewalls is largely my fault...

-Dave

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

Oooh. That one. I thought he was saying the pink one was on the MotoIQ site. My bad.

NAshowdown95

iTrader: (-2)

thought the MZR was the 2.3L disi-turbo

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

^ same basic family, no?

eyesoreracing

The DISI turbo is just one variation of the MZR family. Every current Mazda 4cyl engine (in this country) is an MZR. Most Ford Duratec 4-cyls are also MZRs. Both companies are less than rigorous in their naming, though. Duratec is used for Ford-designed V6 engines, Volvo-designed 5-cylinders, Mazda-designed 4-cylinders, and a few more. Mazda also puts the MZR name on a smaller famliy of 1.3-1.6-liter engines that are unrelated to the 2.0-2.5 family.

Marketing people should not be allowed to name engines...

-Dave

spapida

^^^ Word up dave

The DISI is a duratec/MZR bottom-end (same as a ford ranger!) with a DISI head... the Formula Atlantics motor you mention is the bullet proof Cosworth YDX. 300+ hp NA

The anti lag system is so sick!!

eyesoreracing

Hmmm, never noticed them call it a YDX before. It's an MZR. I've been in Cosoworth's engine build shop and seen them. There is no doubt what kind of engine they are. Wonder if that's another marketing fuckup?

-Dave

eyesoreracing

Ah, yeah, here we go:

Jensen Motorsport - Engine Specifications

look familiar?

spapida

Almost...the only major difference i see at first glance is the valve cover, its a stressed member for Formula Atlantics

Cosworth - Formula Atlantic - Powertrain Package that Performs

Im pretty sure Cosworth named it

NAshowdown95

iTrader: (-2)

My apologies then.

Miatamaniac92

Missed this topic before, thanks for the link Dave.

I always enjoy your writing.

Chris

spapida

Dave, I just realized I am familiar with your writing as well, Ive spent many nights as a young kid sweating over your tech articles in SCC! At one point i felt like SCC was the only mag I would buy, mostly because of the additional tech it offered over the other newsstand mags...which lead into a career BTW!

Boy have you taught me a thing or two...Thank you.

BTW does your pink miata run in the 24 hours of lemons... what a fantastic event!

Enough bro-mance... keep it up man!!

spapida

BTW I didnt see the picture you noted, so by chance its not the miata Im thinking of...Im not saying your miata belongs in a lemons race LOL

eyesoreracing

Oh, it belongs...



(from here: IL Track Tested: '93-'94 Mazda Miata LeMons Racer)

Thanks for the web-hugs. Always good to know people liked our ****.

-Dave

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

I recall a few members beating me up when I was a newb suggesting to put an MZR motor in a first gen miata.

eyesoreracing

Beating you up because it would be hard, or because they thought it wasn't a good engine?

It would be exceptionally hard to do, and turbocharging a 1.6 is so damn easy it doesn't seem like it would be the most efficient use of time and money. Still, the result could be quite good.

-Dave

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

Some thought it was not a good engine for a swap. Everyone thought that an LS1 engine would be better. My reasoning was that some classes of drag racing (my competition of choice) would not allow engine swaps from other automotive manufacturers, or changing the number of cylinders. They would however, allow engines from the same manufacture or car model as long as it has the same number of cylinders.

The MZR has a greater potential for cubic inches and greater power potential than the BP. To beat up on the Honda boys, you better be packing some power. I think the MZR in a Miata could do it.