Total MX-5 – July 2019

10 | TOTAL MX-5 |^ Summer 2019

[ NEWS ]

BBR has been at it again, rustling

up some more ponies to cram

beneath the bonnet of the mk

MX-5. This time around the

Brackley-based tuner has been

working its magic on the latest

2.0-litre Skyactiv-G motor, the

one with 181bhp as standard

and a revvier countenance than

its less powerful predecessor.

With a full suite of BBR mods,

including a set of high

performance cams, the Super

220 conversion gives 221bhp @

7800rpm, a hearty 40bhp up on

standard, together with a level

spread of torque that sits at

160lb ft between 3500rpm and

7500rpm. Minus the cams, the

Super 200 produces 202bhp at

7300rpm and 165lb ft of torque

at 3900rpm.

Both engine tuning packages

feature a BBR four-into-one

high-flow stainless steel

manifold, a cold air intake

system, a high-flow air filter and

a remap. In addition to the

racier cams the Super 220 has

uprated valve springs and

retainers. BBR’s managing

director, Neil McKay, reckons

that the more powerful model

really impresses between

4750rpm and 7800rpm, and he’s

also keen to point out that both

conversions retain the standard

car’s electronic safety features,

MOT emissions compliance,

and idle characteristics.

Fitted by BBR and with a

dyno validation, the Super 200

conversion costs £1734, while

the Super 220 is £3474: if you’re

handy with the spanners you

could save yourself a few quid

by buying a kit.

The engine bays of most modern cars, including MX-5s, look a

bit dull these days, but the lads at DaveFab have devised a

makeover for the mk3.

A stylish replacement for the car’s dull chunk of plastic, the

DaveFab engine cover attaches directly to the factory

mounting points and includes all the bits you need to fit it.

It’s fabricated from laser-cut, CNC-folded aluminium sheet

and 304-grade stainless steel, and TIG welded, and is smartly

capped off with the company’s trademark satin-black finish.

To give it some visual pizzazz, the cover has a distinctive

vented pattern, which also aids air circulation around the

delicate coil packs.

Hardtops for mk3s may not

be commonplace, but if you

do have one and want a really

rigid fit with your car’s

bodywork, Jass Performance

has the answer. Its mk

hardtop brackets are

available in pairs – one for

the front, the other for the

sides at the rear – and come

with the choice of either

black powder-coated 4mm

steel for heavy duty

applications, or for those

concerned about weight, in

5mm 6082 T6 hard

aluminium, which is black

anodised.

Based in Marsh Barton near

Exeter, T7 Design (a specialist in

‘thermal solutions’ apparently)

has just launched a radiator fan

mounting kit to cope with the

extra cooling demands of the

thicker radiators required when

you fit a turbocharger or

supercharger.

Although we’ve only seen

pictures so far, the mount

appears to be excellent quality

• it’s laser-cut from 3mm-thick
  aluminium which is precision
  folded and has threaded inserts
  pressed into place. It’s also
  powder-coated. Twin high
  performance SPAL radiator fans
  are part of the package, which
  retails at £180.

Anyone fancy a 221bhp mk4?

DaveFab adds style to mk3 engine bay

JUST CHILLIN’

MK3 HARDTOP

BRACKETS