Power to the People: BBR-Cosworth Supercharge Mazda MX-5 to 235HP

Owners of the latest generation MX-5 / Miata seeking more oomph from Mazda's best seller will be happy to know that BBR has joined forces with Cosworth Engineering to develop a supercharged conversion package for the 2.0-liter version. The BBR-Cosworth collaboration for the Mk3 2.0-litre MX-5 focuses around a fourth-generation Eaton MP62 supercharger mated to a Cosworth designed cast integral inlet manifold, which is said to be optimized for both performance and fuel economy - although we'd take the latter with a grain of salt.

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Classic Flashback: Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 and 2.5 16v Cosworth [with Video]

This is the tale of the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 16 and 2.5 16 sport sedans. Developed in collaboration with Cosworth initially for the rally scene of the 1980s, the flagship version of the 190E series eventually went on to dominate track-racing and ended up on the roads as well, putting up a good fight against BMW's iconic M3. Even though nine times out of ten, people would choose the Bimmer over the Merc, the 190E Cosworth's underdog status makes it an equally appealing car. As Richard Hammond put it: "it was Cinderella, but the coach never came".

But let's take it from the start. In the late '70s, the V8-powered 450SLC rally car started to show the signs of aging, so the Stuttgart automaker decided to replace it with a compact model. Jointly developed with Cosworth, the 190E never made to rallying though, as Audi took everyone by surprise with the Quattro, featuring four-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine. Mercedes' management didn't want to fight an battle it couldn't win so instead, they competed in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).

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