Automotive Engineering - September 2024 - 16
TECHNOLOGY REPORT
PERFORMANCE AFTERMARKET
Mazda Motorsports keeps the MX-5
cool with a new differential plate
Mazda Motorsports, the company's North American-based
racing program, serves as a support network for thousands of
professional and amateur racers at road courses around the
United States. In addition to contingency programs, discounted
OEM parts and a ladder system into the professional ranks,
the program also maintains a catalog of competition parts
designed specifically for the rigors of racing.
One of the recent additions to Mazda's competition parts
A driver uses a mouse-like operating device to steer a Hitachi Astemo
technology demonstration vehicle.
catalog is a differential cooling plate. The unit is intended for
racers piloting the third-generation MX-5 roadster (known by
its model code, NC). The unit reportedly provides a significant
upgrade in the cooling performance and improves longevity
of the vehicle's rear differential.
According to Mazda, the oil temperatures in a stock NC differential
can become very hot during competition use. Mazda
states that they have data showing operating temperatures of
over 325 F (163 C) on multiple occasions, which is too high for
the fluid to work effectively.
To mitigate this issue, Mazda Motorsports has developed a
plate that sits between the factory differential housing and cover.
It features strategically positioned ports for fluid circulation,
including in/out oil lines and a dedicated temperature sensor
port. The plate has fins on all sides that serve as heat sinks.
Dowel pins are included to ensure correct alignment during
installation and a reusable steel/rubber-coated gasket simplifies
rear cover plate removal for routine maintenance.
" The plate by itself is all most sprint racers are going to
Close-up view of Hitachi Astemo's console-located steering device.
and their distance from the demonstration vehicle.
" Stereoscopic vision provides accurate information versus a
mono-camera system that gives you distance estimation, "
Badarinarayan said. Precise vision information is crucial for
SAE Level 3 automated driving technology development. " For
example, in a roundabout driving scenario, the vision system
needs to determine when it's safe to enter the roundabout,
how to maneuver around the roundabout, and how to exit the
roundabout, " said Badarinarayan. The vision system also
needs to detect lanes, curb height, and other obstacles.
Hitachi Astemo's stereo camera system provides automatic
calibration during driving to maintain measurement accuracy as
well as high-density 3D point cloud generation from disparity
information (via artificial intelligence) of each camera pair. " We
offer the stereo cameras and the IP (intellectual property) for the
perception stack, " said Badarinarayan.
Kami Buchholz
16 September 2024
need, " Josh Smith, business development manager, Mazda
Motorsports, said in an interview with SAE Media. " But if
you're running an NC in an endurance environment, it's set up
to attach additional coolers. We made sure (the plate) was
spraying fluid on parts that need cooling by directing it where
you want it to be on the gear stack. "
According to Mazda, the oil temperatures in a stock NC differential can
reach over 325 F during competition use.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
FROM TOP: HITACHI ASTEMO; HITACHI ASTEMO; MAZDA MOTORSPORTS
Automotive Engineering - September 2024
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