Wednesday 31st August 2016

BBR Super 200 MX-5 upgrades

Want more from your Mazda? BBR's latest upgrade takes 2.0-litre MX-5 to 200hp and beyond...

---

Not enough zoom-zoom in the new MX-5 to inspire you? Maybe news that BBR's latest Super 200 tuning package can unlock as much as 225hp from the 2.0-litre version will make you prick up your ears...

In standard 160hp/148lb ft form the 2.0 Skyactiv-G powered MX-5 is perfectly brisk enough, especially when it's got a few miles under its belt to loosen up if experience on our recent comparison test against the Fiat 124 Spider is anything to go by. The turbocharged Fiat has less power at 140hp but more torque with 177lb ft. Given how ... chuckable the MX-5 can be with just this entry level power output just imagine how much more fun it could be with rather more...

BBR has vast experience tuning up both the previous shape NC MX-5 and now the new ND - indeed it started work on the latter's engine long before the car was on sale, using a Mazda 3 with the same engine as its development hack. That investment is now paying off handsomely.

We've driven the Super 190 package, which improves breathing via a new cold air intake system, exhaust manifold and 2.5-inch exhaust system. Complete with BBR's Starchip ECU upgrades it beefs up the mid-range with 176lb ft of torque (up from the standard 148lb ft) from 1,400rpm sooner than the stock engine and increases overall power to 190hp. Want more? Hopefully you'll have seen the note on BBR's release that mentioned the stainless steel four-into-one exhaust manifold that gives you another 2hp and provides a basis for the Super 200 package...

Available as a standalone package for £2,795 fitted (or £2,295 DIY) Super 200 comprises that manifold, the ECU upgrade, cold air intake and new billet cams for 205hp and 180lb ft by BBR's graphs. Add the 2.5-inch centre section and backbox from the Super 190 kit - £495 and £395 respectively - and you're up to 214hp and 183lb ft. Go the whole hog and get the head ported and you're looking at 225hp - substantial upgrades from the stock package while expanding on the MX-5's revvy, naturally-aspirated character. To keep that all under control there are various chassis upgrades too, including a Koni-damped suspension kit for £995 fitted and a couple of Willwood four-pot brake options costing from £695 fitted. All prices are quoted less VAT.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it! We'll be driving the car next week to see how it all comes together too so stay tuned to find out if the numbers add up...

[Derek Chevalier]

Any idea how much the capacity is increased by, as 183lbft from NA 2 litres sounds ambitious?

[cib24]

There is no mention of a stroker kit to increase displacement. Higher performance cams, ported heads and a full exhaust system are the primary culprits for the major gains. The 2.0L engine is underpowered quite a bit from the factory and with such a high compression ratio as standard it is no wonder the engine responds so well when it is allowed to breathe properly.

The 2.5L Skyactiv unit in the Mazda 3 and 6 in the States must be making amazing power by now thanks to the afermarket given the higher displacement.

[1Addicted]

"Want more? Hopefully you'll have seen the note on BBR's release that mentioned the stainless steel four-into-one exhaust manifold that gives you another 2hp and provides a basis for the Super 200 package..."


A whole 2bhp? Surely typo.

Edited by 1Addicted on Wednesday 31st August 11:34

[stevesingo]

Derek Chevalier said:

Any idea how much the capacity is increased by, as 183lbft from NA 2 litres sounds ambitious?

Quite.

190 package comprising of Intake, exhaust and map gives same torque per litre (88lbft) as the best NA engine you can buy in a supercar; 458 Speciale 88lbft/ lt.

Add to that a manifold an set of cams and we have torque per litre approaching the levels of the V8 era F1 engines.

I smell something...,

[xRIEx]

article said:

The turbocharged Fiat has 177hp though, not to mention more torque.

That's not what the linked article said:

previous article said:

based around Fiat's 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged engine with 140hp and 177lb ft of torque,

It seems this article has bypassed the quality checking process.

[knitware]

I get huge smiles from my Mk3, I thought BBR would have cracked the turbo for the new NX5 by now, still WIP I believe.





Mr. Trent, fancy doing a comparison, new vs old?

Edited by knitware on Wednesday 31st August 12:11

Edited by knitware on Wednesday 31st August 12:12

[xRIEx]

1Addicted said:

"Want more? Hopefully you'll have seen the note on BBR's release that mentioned the stainless steel four-into-one exhaust manifold that gives you another 2hp and provides a basis for the Super 200 package..."


A whole 2bhp? Surely typo.

Edited by 1Addicted on Wednesday 31st August 11:34

That is what the BBR website says.

[Dan Trent]

xRIEx said:

It seems this article has bypassed the quality checking process.

Yep, sorry, I got my mucking figures fuddled but this has now been amended.

And as per the article, the stainless manifold adds 2hp to the Super 190 and is necessary if you wanted to upgrade from that to Super 200. But included in the latter if you're starting from scratch.

Hope that makes sense!

Dan

Edited by Dan Trent on Wednesday 31st August 12:57

[chrislloyd81]

Presumably you could get 300bhp if bored out to 2.5 litres + throttle bodies like they do with the MGB Abingdon edition

[Krikkit]

chrislloyd81 said:

Presumably you could get 300bhp if bored out to 2.5 litres + throttle bodies like they do with the MGB Abingdon edition

Completely different engine, this is the new SkyActiv engine with the higher compression ratio than the Mk.3 engine which was fettled for the Abingdon.

[3yardy3]

knitware said:

I get huge smiles from my Mk3, I thought BBR would have cracked the turbo for the new NX5 by now, still WIP I believe.



Mr. Trent, fancy doing a comparison, new vs old?

Edited by knitware on Wednesday 31st August 12:11

Edited by knitware on Wednesday 31st August 12:12

I'm more interested in what the Rx8 was in for? Mods or a Re-build...

[stevesingo]

chrislloyd81 said:

Presumably you could get 300bhp if bored out to 2.5 litres + throttle bodies like they do with the MGB Abingdon edition

Ah, another dubious claim for a NA engine tuner. 241lbft from s 2.5NA. 96lbft/lt is better than V8 era F1 engines!

With all these tuners trying to outdo each other I do wonder when they will stop bullstting.

[Mannginger]

3yardy3 said:

I'm more interested in what the Rx8 was in for? Mods or a Re-build...

I think it's an old development car although from reading on the for sale post on their FB page they only did limited work on it (improved fuel efficiency etc). IIRC they;re selling it for about £4k

[underphil]

would be good to see a full dyno for the 225bhp version, I imagine it must be making peak power right at the rev limiter which wouldn't be ideal

[Gandahar]

stevesingo said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Any idea how much the capacity is increased by, as 183lbft from NA 2 litres sounds ambitious?

Quite.

190 package comprising of Intake, exhaust and map gives same torque per litre (88lbft) as the best NA engine you can buy in a supercar; 458 Speciale 88lbft/ lt.

Add to that a manifold an set of cams and we have torque per litre approaching the levels of the V8 era F1 engines.

I smell something...,

It would be good to see someone who has a BBR dyno v a dyno from somewhere else afterwards for a NA engine upgrade if anyone has done this.

I think the BBR dyno might be a bit media friendly. More than happy to be proved wrong though.

[cib24]

Decent points about potentially inflated figures being quoted. The one thing the 458 Speciale and the MX-5 2.0L have in common are that they both use a 14:1 compression ratio! lol.

Still, 225bhp isn't that crazy from a 2.0L engine N/A. The Honda S2000 made 240bhp from the factory and the K20 engines have been pushed to as much as 300bhp N/A with wild enough cams and heads.

[edpratt]

Doesn't seem too unlikely...
188lb.ft = 255ish n.m
For a 2Ltr engine that's an MEP of roughly 16bar.
Certainly doable for a tuned 4stroke petrol engine.

[buggalugs]

Very big gains for an intake/zaust/chip on a 2.0NA!

[cib24]

New cams and heads play a big role in getting beyond 190.

[cptsideways]

I'm not sure if many are aware just "How Special" that Skyactiv engine is in the first place.

Think well specced top spec race engine that's downtuned for a road car, and reliable too. They have a mapped (restricted) throttle body as standard.