One Lap Mazdaspeed5

I didn't see any other threads covering this so forgive me if it's a repost. Given how often the Speed3 swap comes up when talking about the Mazda5, this should be rather encouraging.

From "The Rise of the Giant-Killers" "2010 Mazdaspeed5 One Lap has some history with fast minivans. A few years ago, a group of Honda employees were regular attendees with a built, turbocharged Odyssey. Honda canceled the program last year, but a Mazda dealer is continuing the trend.

The Mazdaspeed5 is a creation of Autobahn Mazda of Countryside. The technicians there removed the drivetrain from a wrecked 2008 Mazdaspeed3 and implanted it into a new Mazda5 with the requisite go-fast modifications. Team members Richard Fisher and Jason Saini tell us it's a surprisingly easy bolt-in process. Out the van went everything past the front seats; it's stripped and caged and very fast.

The Mazda5 competes in an SUV and truck class against a F-150 Lightning, a Ram SRT-10, and a stock X6 M driven by BMW driving instructor Mike Renner. Understandably, the Mazda is the fastest of that group, but today at Mid-America it was eighth fastest in the first round, 13th in the second. That's on par with one Corvette Z06 and an Ultima GTR. "

Didnt one of the magazines attempt to do the swap?

Car and Driver built one but had problems with the electronics

One of the drivers on that entry is Mazda pilot extraordinaire Jason Saini. He had to catch a red-eye flight after the Mitty to catch up with the team. He was also on the cover of our "Pros vs. Schmoes" issue back in June 2008.

Find the Yeti in this photo...

That's cool stuff. Especially funny to see the window sticker still in the car, based on the photo Tom linked.

cghstang wrote: The Mazda5 competes in an SUV and truck class against a F-150 Lightning, a Ram SRT-10, and a stock X6 M driven by BMW driving instructor Mike Renner. Understandably, the Mazda is the fastest of that group, but today at Mid-America it was eighth fastest in the first round, 13th in the second. That's on par with one Corvette Z06 and an Ultima GTR. "

Without knowing the Mazda5 build specs, I'm curious about this statement. Is it really safe to assume the built Mazda5 is the fastest car of the group above? The X6 M seems to be an incredible rocketship, based on all the reviews thus far.

The suspension is identical between a 5 and a 3. The 5 doesn't really weigh any more than a 3 even with the extra seats. Once you gut it I'm sure the shell is pretty light.

I didn't hear any more about the C&D MS5 after the build article came out, but it didn't seem totally finished. I'll bet they sold it off.

Cool to be that fast in a minivan!

I'd love to swap a speed3 motor in our 5 once it's paid off, assuming it was a little more plug'n'play at that point.

Yep, that's my only real complaint about our 5 is that it's under-powered. Re: the weight though, they are quite portly. Close to 3500 lbs for ours with all the bells and whistles. I think that's likely 400-500 lbs more than a 3.

My MS3 weighs between 3100-3200lb, so doc_speeder is right, at least for a bone-stock Mazda5.

Here's the C&D article on their MS5 build:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q2/return_of_the_boss_wagon_mazdaspeed_5-project_car

BTW, I don't doubt the MS5 being so fast for a second. There's quite a few YouTube videos of MS3s on the racetrack doing quite well against more purebred sports cars.

It's sick that I'd rather have that than just a plain old MS3, right?

You're asking the wrong people. Ive wanted a mazdaspeed5 ever since the mazdaspeed3 came out

Luckily, i do have a 3000 lb turbocharged 4 cylinder 5 spd minivan anyway.. but the styling's nowhere near as good

My ms3 kept up with a prepped 78 911 rs around msr Houston. He'd gain ground in the corners but I'd pull on him down the straights. This was with stock tires and suspension aside from the cobb rear sway.

That car also ran a 13.8 quarter with a 2.2 short time, also on stock tires so it could have gone much quicker with slicks.

PS: I think it was CD that said the stock ms3 was fastest they ever tested 60-90. Faster than a 911 turbo.

in summary, I don't doubt that a Mazda supported ms5 can hang with the big dogs.

Pro Street, DEAD.

Pro Touring DEAD.

Pro Grocery, RULES.

In regards to the weights:

My regular 3 hatchback 5-speed 2.3 weighs 2900

I havent weighed mine but id put money on my sedan being within a few lbs of 2750.

My ms3 weighed between 3200 and 3300 on the dragstrip scales. The 6speed box, turbo stuff and extra bracing likely make the difference.

I have no doubt that a loaded hatch with power accessories and turbo pieces on it (ms3) is not much lighter than a mazda5... which of course is all the more reason to do a mazda5 somday for me

Just an update. The Mazdaspeed5 came in 15th out of 68! It also beat some other impressive cars. Makes me wish I bought that for a family vehicle!

A link to the results: http://www.onelapofamerica.com/history/2010/results/showResults.shtml?y=2010&res=OVL_CUM

That is great for the MS5.

But I'd love to see a feature article on this car! 5th place for an e30 325is???

Mazda really needed to make a factory MS5. It blows my mind that no one has made a hot rod minivan yet.

They should also let you buy a 5 grand touring with a stick. I'd like to shift and have all the bells and whistles (although that puts me in a small minority around here...).

dyintorace wrote: That is great for the MS5. But I'd love to see a feature article on this car! 5th place for an e30 325is???

Here's their One Lap web site: http://www.dtronelap.com The driver's an accomplished BMW club racer and IIRC a member of my local region, though I haven't met him. Someone who publishes a magazine about regular guys going racing ought to contact him and the car owner/builder about a story...

pigeon wrote:

dyintorace wrote: That is great for the MS5. But I'd love to see a feature article on this car! 5th place for an e30 325is???

Here's their One Lap web site: http://www.dtronelap.com The driver's an accomplished BMW club racer and IIRC a member of my local region, though I haven't met him. Someone who publishes a magazine about regular guys going racing ought to contact him and the car owner/builder about a story...

Argh, I hate when sites auto load music with no shutoff option. Unless I'm blind and couldn't find the Off switch.

Damn! When I opened this thread I was hoping to see news that Mazda was releasing a factory Mazdaspeed5. I would still take the Mazdaspeed3 over the 5, but I think it would be a pretty cool car. My only complaint with the MS3 is that they did not make it AWD. I would probably own one if they were...