Trust Mugen to build the CR-Z that Honda fans have been calling for. Revealed ahead of its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the team at Mugen Euro has bolted on a supercharger to the car’s 1.5-liter engine while retaining the factory Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system to produce 200-hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. That’s up significantly from the 122-hp and 128 lb-ft of torque in the stock car.
Called a disappointment by Honda fanboys, the Mugen CR-Z should wipe clean any doubts with acceleration times that the Japanese tuner says are on par with the Civic Type R – somewhere around the mid 6 second range. Helping to achieve that time (and make the Mugen CR-Z a more notable track threat) is a weight reduction program that results in 110 lbs being shed. Light weight replacement parts include some featherweight Mugen alloy
wheels and a carbon fiber hood. In addition, the Mugen CR-Z gets a reworked suspension, upgraded brakes and plenty of new aero bits.
Mugen also claims the car’s
fuel economy has not been significantly compromised, with the three factory drive modes retained and the supercharger only really coming into its own in a “Mugen mode.”
Build by Mugen’s European division in the U.K., sadly this car is just a one off, but there is a strong possibility the supercharger system and many of the other parts could be offered. We’ll find our more when the car is officially revealed at Goodwood.
