For enthusiasts, customization is a means to improve a vehicle’s performance from stock and to make their cars stand out and be their own.
Unfortunately, if your car is relatively new, you’ll have to worry about most aftermarket parts voiding your factory warranty. Here, most official brands offer cosmetic parts or little to no performance parts. However, if you own a Mazda, you’re in luck as Mazda Philippines has the AutoExe brand of performance parts for you to choose from.
AutoExe is a Japanese tuning shop founded back in 1997 by Yojiro Terada, also known as Japan’s “Mr. Le Mans”, as he has been present in Mazda’s multiple attempts at the prestigious race. The brand specializes in Mazdas that aim to optimize a vehicle’s characteristics and offer a balance that complements the jinba ittai ‘s driving character.
This Mazda 3 is one of the first three models supported, aside from the CX-60 and MX-5. Compared to the other two, the 3 has a smaller parts catalog, but these still make meaningful differences to the driving experience, and we’re hopeful that more parts will be introduced down the line.
The AutoExe front grille (P59,519), the carbon door mirror cover (P24,665), and a wheel nut set (P9,908) will help you distinguish your Mazda 3 from others on the road with a sportier touch.
If you have a variant with i-Activsense, installing the grille will carry over the front emblem and sensors, otherwise, you must source an emblem if your 3 lacks the sensors. Also, the front splitter and side skirts installed on this car are not part of the AutoExe catalog.
Hood dampers (P18,498) add luxury making the hood easier to open, and it differentiates itself from other dampers by being mounted far back to not obstruct access to anything when deployed. Aside from this, a battery clamp (P5,552) adds some visual flair.
As for performance, a front strut tower bar (P19,027) and rear floor crossbar (P14,094) noticeably improve chassis rigidity and handling over a stock car. It’s a must if you want to improve the confidence of the car in corners, even at the cost of making the ride a little bit harsher over bumps and undulations.
One modification that is both visual and performance-oriented is the Fastback sports muffler (P115,684). You must get it with the Sports muffler garnish (P19,732) and is only compatible with the Fastback variant (the hatchback) and a stock rear diffuser.
Functional quad exhaust tips are eye candy, and the exhaust note is noticeably bassier and louder, especially at low RPMs. This may not be for everyone as it can get drony and permeate into the cabin during city and expressway driving. Pair this with the Intake suction kit (P11,275), and there is a noticeable improvement to the low-end powerband of this naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine.
The best thing about these parts is that they all come with a one-year warranty, and they won’t void the factory warranty if you have an existing car, but customers can also order their new vehicles with these factory-installed parts. You can view these parts at AutoExe Performance Parts Centers at Mazda Makati and Mazda C-5 Pasig, or the Mazda Philippines website for other models.
