COBB Tuning Blog

COBB Tuning has just released 2012 Subaru STI Stage1, Stage2 and Non-Performance maps for COBB Tuning SF and AEM intakes. Stage1+Intake results in gains of 28%HP and 37%TQ while Stage2+Intake results in gains of 31%HP and 48%TQ! In addition, Stage1 and Stage2 Fuel Economy maps are available for both intakes.

Please visit the COBB AccessPORT Subaru Map Database to download these new Stage1 and Stage2 maps for the COBB SF Intake and AEM Intake.

For instructions on how to download and install maps, please see our Step-By-Step AccessPORT Map Download and Install Guide.

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COBB Tuning is excited to share the news that CP-E has chosen the AccessPORT as their primary tuning solution for MAZDASPEED and BMW platforms. CP-E MAZDASPEED and BMW customers will now be able to acquire the most powerful and easiest to use handheld ECU flashing device, the AccessPORT, direct from CP-E. In addition, CP-E joins the extensive network of COBB Pro-Tuners, using our AccessTUNER Pro tuning software for custom dyno tuning services as well as creating their own line-up of CP-E Off-The-Shelf maps to complement their performance products.

More information regarding this announcement is available on CP-E’s Blog.

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Take a ride with us as we show you what the COBB Tuning Gen 1 Mazdaspeed turbo-back exhaust sounds like inside and outside of the car. This downpipe and cat-back exhaust combination is great way to add power and make you car sound great! Visit COBBtuning.com for more information or call 866-922-3059.

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COBB Tuning has just released a firmware update for all AP-MAZ-002 AccessPORTs (07-12 MAZDASPEED3 and 06-07 MAZDASPEED6) that fixes a communications issue between the AccessPORT and the ECU, which can cause the AccessPORT to go into Recovery Mode prematurely. Once this occurs, the AccessPORT must be shipped to COBB Tuning for service. Firmware 1.6.5.0-3154 fixes this issue. We recommend updating to this latest firmware to prevent the AccessPORT from entering into Recovery Mode prematurely, which will cause several days of downtime due to shipping time and service time.

If you are unfamiliar with updating the firmware on your AccessPORT, please follow this link for Step-By-Step Firmware Update Instructions. Please feel free to contact us at 866-922-3059 or at tech@cobbtuning.com if you have any questions regarding this firmware update.

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The COBB Tuning Ford Focus Project started as a collaboration with Ford Motor Company to demonstrate what could be done with the current Ford Focus SE. In Part 1, you’ll hear about how we were chosen by Ford to build a Modified Class Time Attack vehicle, why we are excited for the new Focus ST, and how the project is coming to life. Don’t forget to stay tuned for updates on tuning, testing, and potential future race dates! If you want to know more details about the build, check out our earlier COBB Tuning Ford Focus Revealed posting and don’t forget to leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

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A brand-new motor, a rain-slick track, and rivals running quicker lap times are not the best elements to make for a successful racing weekend. The LIC Motorsports and their Subaru STi were facing an uphill battle for Global Time Attack’s 2011 Finals at Infineon Raceway, but with the hard work of the LIC Motorsports crew, and some help from COBB Tuning’s Gary Sheehan and Tim Bailey, everything came together perfectly. Not only did LIC Motorsports take home 1st Place, but they set a new class record utilizing an impressive chassis and AccessPORT Alpha Speed Density Tuning.

Adam and Noah Levy of LIC Motorsports needed a motor to match the chassis development from the previous seasons of racing. The motor build was completed using a sleeved block, pistons, bearings, a GTX turbo, and a higher capacity oil pan. LIC Motorsports also decided to eliminate the BPV to increase turbo and throttle input response. Everything was buttoned up only 10 hours before hitting the track. The outcome? “Power delivery is awesome!” Gary Sheehan was also impressed with the driveability of the car compared to previous years. “The car is now very stable and predictable on corner-exit, allowing me to accelerate out of the corners hard.”

Tim Bailey of COBB Tuning took advantage of the new AccessPORT Speed Density tuning, currently in Alpha testing, to ensure the LIC Motorsports STi could optimize the upgraded engine internals. COBB Tuning’s AccessPORT Alpha Speed Density is able to eliminate the mass airflow sensor and use a comprehensive volumetric efficiency model to calculate airflow and load based upon manifold pressure and temperature. This combination offers a simple solution for tuning high horsepower vehicles. An experienced tuner like Tim Bailey can take advantage of any tuning software to create a great running vehicle, but his response to the AccessPORT Alpha Speed Density software was telling: “In a word, it is nothing short of elegant.”

The final piece of the puzzle came together with the race weekend management from LIC Motorsports. After putting together a great car, it only took a long Friday night and a few alignment adjustments to get the car where it needed to be. The result was an almost perfect Saturday! Gary Sheehan was able to push the team in to 1st place with a Limited AWD class track record of 1:41.888 and a giant gap of 1.3 seconds to 2nd place. But, “The Underdogs” know one win doesn’t warrant gloating. Noah says “It’s doing it consistently and systematically…time proves if we are a force to be reckoned with. If we have the means to continue down this path, we will ensure this becomes the norm for our team.” This success also helps emphasize to their customers that “standalone ECUs are not necessary when there is a product like the COBB AccessPORT.”

To learn more about LIC Motorsports, visit www.LICmotorsports.com. To learn more about COBB Tuning and the AccessPORT, visit www.COBBTuning.com.

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The COBB Tuning Ford Focus race car was finally revealed at the 2011 SEMA Show on November 1st in Las Vegas, NV. This is COBB Tuning’s first build project using a domestic sport compact car and we are excited to show everyone what we have done and what we plan to do with this new Ford Focus. In addition, the COBB Tuning Ford Focus race car represents our official entry into the Ford Focus ST market. This is the next vehicle platform, and family of performance enthusiasts, that COBB Tuning will be supporting in 2012!

Where We Are Going

The 2012 Ford Focus ST is an exciting new car that will be making its way to the U.S. in early 2012 with a turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost engine producing 248hp and 250lb/ft of torque. Upon its arrival, the Ford Focus ST will be getting the full COBB Tuning treatment, similar to the turbocharged Subarus, GT-Rs, Mazdas and Mitsubishis that came before it. This includes the popular AccessPORT hand-held flashing device, AccessTUNER tuning software, supporting power bolt-on upgrades to the intake and exhaust systems and more. We are still waiting for the first Ford Focus ST to arrive, along with everyone else, so we have quite a bit of development ahead of us once this hot new compact hits our shores.

Since the Focus ST has not arrived, you might be wondering why we went ahead and built a race car out of the Ford Focus SE. Well, any time you take a street car and turn it into a race car, you can’t help but learn quite a bit about how the car is built and what makes it tick. So, while the Ford Focus ST will be the vehicle to get COBB Tuning product support in 2012, the Ford Focus SE was used as the starting point for this race car and gives us a head start on understanding the powertrain, chassis and control systems used in this platform.

The new Ford Focus is a World Car, meaning that it will essentially be the same car from region to region around the globe. While we expect the ST to have the additional power of the EcoBoost turbo 2.0L engine and more aggressive running gear to match, many critical components in the car will stay the same. Our engineers have leveraged a great opportunity to see how the Focus is constructed, which pieces go where, and how new COBB Tuning products might be designed to best fit the new Focus ST.

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The Start of the Journey

When Ford announced this year’s SEMA Project Car Program for 2011, we jumped at the opportunity to get our hands on the new model Focus. Our race car was one of the most comprehensive builds involved in this program. The COBB Tuning Ford Focus looked great at SEMA and received a lot of very nice compliments from Ford Motor Company and SEMA spectators. Just a few steps away from our spot, Ken Block, Vaughn Gitten Jr., Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan whipped their crazy-fast cars around the Ford Out Front drift pen.

The COBB Tuning Focus was very well received by Ford execs and show attendees alike. The compliments we received on the build quality of the car and how cool people thought it looked made all of the hard work and attention to detail worth it. But most exciting was the feedback from Ford Focus fans about how happy they were that COBB Tuning was going to be supporting the Focus ST. Many were previous COBB Tuning customers that had owned Subarus, Mazdas or Mitsubishis and they were looking forward to the same level of products to be available for the Ford Focus ST!

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Next Steps

The 2011 SEMA Show is just the beginning of what we have planned for the COBB Tuning Ford Focus. Once the build is final and the car has been tuned and fully tested, we will be campaigning the car in select events that include Time Attack and potentially Wheel-to-Wheel races. We will also be bringing the COBB Tuning Ford Focus out to a few popular Ford meets, as well as showing the car off at a few of our retail stores during First Thursday car meets.

Due to the need to get the Focus ready for presentation at the 2011 SEMA Show, we had to “focus” on getting the appearance of the car up to show-level quality. While most of the car is race ready, there are a few items that need to be addressed before the car hits the track for testing. The Focus will get 60mm wider with a custom carbon fiber wide-body kit to accommodate the 18” x 9.5” HRE R43 wheels shod with 275mm wide Hankook racing tires. We will also be swapping out the stock Focus SE front knuckles with those from the UK Focus RS for the improved steering geometry and larger wheel-bearing package. Then, once the final engine tuning is completed on our in-house Mustang AWD dyno and our initial power target of 400whp is achieved, we will be headed out to the track for some real world testing experience to prepare for the 2012 racing season!

Build Specifications

Base Vehicle:

• 2012 Ford Focus SE 5-Door
• 2.0L Ti-VCT Direct-Injection I-4 Engine
• 5-speed manual transmission

Engine:

• COBB Tuning customized Cosworth forged pistons
• BorgWarner EFR-6758 turbocharger
• COBB Tuning equal length tubular exhaust header
• COBB Tuning 3” straight-through turbo-back exhaust
• COBB Tuning front-mount intercooler
• COBB Tuning boost tubes
• COBB Tuning SF Intake
• COBB Tuning Turbo Inlet
• COBB Tuning oil cooler system
• COBB Tuning aluminum oil catch can
• COBB Tuning aluminum radiator reservoir
• Koyorad aluminum racing radiator

Drivetrain:

• Mazda MAZDASPEED3 6-speed manual transmission
• COBB Tuning Double-Adjustable Short Shifter
• COBB Tuning COBB Knob
• Cusco limited slip differential
• Ford Focus/Mazda Mazdaspeed3 hybrid axles
• ACT racing clutch and lightweight flywheel

Chassis:

• StopTech Trophy Kit 355mm big brake kit
• StopTech stainless steel brake lines
• Cobalt XR2 Brake pads
• Eibach Multi-Pro-R2 coilover suspension
• Eibach adjustable front and rear sway bars
• COBB Tuning suspension bushings

Wheels & Tires:

• HRE Performance R43 Monoblok 18” x 9.5” wheels
• Hankook Z214 D.O.T. R- Compound 275/35R18 racing tires

Exterior:

• COBB Tuning carbon fiber splitter
• COBB Tuning carbon fiber side skirts
• COBB Tuning carbon fiber diffuser
• COBB Tuning carbon fiber vented extractor hood
• COBB Tuning lexan windows
• Aeromotions R2.Two active wing
• Aerocatch front and rear pin latching system
• Full circuit board graphics wrap
• Amber tinted headlights
• Ford Racing tow hooks

Interior:

• Pectel Direct Injection SQ7Di ECU engine management
• Motec PDM15 power distribution module
• Cosworth ECPro digital dash
• Ford GT Start Button
• COBB Tuning roll cage
• Racetech 4009HR racing seats
• Racetech 6-Point HANS harnesses
• Safequip window nets
• Safecraft shoulder nets
• Safecraft net quick releases
• Sparco steering wheel
• Splash quick release steering wheel hub
• FireSense fire suppression system
• Painless battery/engine kill switch
• Gutted interior
• Gutted door structure
• COBB Tuning wiring harness
• COBB Tuning door cards
• Braille racing battery
• COBB Tuning battery tie-down

Stay tuned for episode 1 of the COBB Tuning Ford Focus video documentary covering the initial build up of the race car and our trip to SEMA, expected to release at the end of November. In the meantime, keep an eye out for additional blog posts as we dig deeper into the building of the COBB Tuning Ford Focus!
 

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COBB Tuning is proud to announce the Official Grand Opening of its latest retail facility, COBB Tuning SOCAL. COBB Tuning SOCAL brings customer focus, professionalism, and attention to detail to Southern California in this freshly outfitted 10,000sq/ft facility. The new location features an open and inviting floorplan, a comfortable customer lounge, accessible product displays and private sales offices. COBB Tuning SOCAL is equipped as a one-stop-shop for nearly all of an auto enthusiast’s needs, including retail sales, a Mustang AWD dyno and professional dyno tuning, four service bays, product installation, project build planning, custom fabrication and vehicle maintenance services.

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11 second quarter miles times usually come with names like GT-R, Z06, Viper, or 911. But now there’s a new one: Mazdaspeed3. Anthony in Idaho is the first MS3 owner to run an 11 second 1/4 mile time, a feat even more impressive noting that he is 3000 ft above sea level. Using an ATP GTX3071 stock location turbo, 25” Toyo slicks, and tuning via the AccessPORT, he hopes to get these times even lower.

Anthony started drag racing in high school with a ’59 Short Bed Ford truck with a 251 Cleveland. At the time, he thought his 15.9 was insanely fast. Over a span of 12 years, he’s accrued 3 track championships in bracket racing, raced his 2005 Evolution, and now pulls 1.7 60ft times in his MS3. His tricks of the trade? “60ft time are the key to good E.T.s. Though a high trap speed is always more fun!”

The base tune on the car was done by Tim Bailey at COBB Tuning Surgeline in Portland, OR. Since then, Anthony has used AccessTUNER Race to adjust for his various modifications. Using the AccessPORT, Anthony can monitor live data, take logs taking advantage of the factory wideband O2 sensor, and switch maps quickly to go from his daily driver tune to his all out racing maps. Future plans include an aftermarket intake manifold and a nice set of cams, but first on his list is upgrading the brakes. “All that extra power needs to be kept in check!”

Congratulations to Anthony and his very impressive Mazdaspeed3 ¼ mile times! You can keep up to date on his progress on the mazdaspeedforums.org forums and learn more about the AccessPORT at COBBtuning.com.

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