Monday 15th February 2010

Civic Type R MUGEN 200

Honda UK and MUGEN Euro create a new limited edition

---

This limited edition Civic Type R featuring MUGEN equipment will go on sale through Honda dealers in the UK in April.

Inspired by MUGEN Euro's high-performance Type R, the MUGEN 200 is fitted with unique body parts, wheels and badging. As its name suggests, only 200 of the special Type R models will be made, says Honda UK.

On top of the standard features of the Swindon-built Type R (which include Honda's 198hp, i-VTEC engine) the MUGEN 200 will boast MUGEN front and rear bumpers with skirts, 19-inch alloy wheels in 'Lightning' design, MUGEN rear badge, MUGEN Limited Edition number plaque, Limited Slip Differential, Championship White exterior paint and Gloss black door mirrors. A range of tuning parts to further enhance the chassis dynamics of the Type R will also be available as dealer fit options, according to an announcement today.

The order bank for the MUGEN 200 opens in March, when prices will also be announced. Additionally, from April, a network of Honda dealers will offer an exclusive range of original MUGEN tuning parts for Type R owners to modify their own cars - both used and new. The range of tuning and cosmetic parts will include sports suspension upgrades, lightweight wheels and interior trim.

The new limited edition car also celebrates the launch of Honda's BTCC team for 2010, continuing the company's long-standing relationship with Team Dynamics. The team will compete in two Civics - which will feature a similar White and Black colour scheme to the MUGEN 200 cars.

[buellboy]

WTF is the wing on the back of that? Do they intend it to fly?

[glazbagun]

I really don't know why people buy these- didn't they do the same with the NSX-R, too? Same power, but with lighter body and massively inflated price tag?

[900T-R]

No, this is one with a heavier body and an inflated price tag.

[glazbagun]

Dos this version still have torsion bar rear suspension?

[Buzzkill]

It all reads form over function then they have chucked in a lsd... Still, be mad to buy one considering the price of the DC5 and facelift EP3's.

Edited by Buzzkill on Sunday 14th February 09:26

[David87]

I quite like that. Improvement over the standard car, but the spoiler's quite massive! Not surprising they're only making 200 - I've only seen one or two of the Championship White editions and even the standard car's quite rare.

[dotty]

Interesting..

[10 Pence Short]

When the EP3 was current, people were crying out for this kind of 'official' modifying. Typical Honda UK that they do it when the hairdressers are buying Civics.

[MrTappets]

How does the price compare to the original Mugan Type-R, cos that was about £40k (!), if I remember correctly.

[bencollins]

haunted by the memories of DOOM

[Alex]

So it's just a bodykit special? It seems Honda are debasing the Mugen brand in the UK before it has even got started.

[Animal]

I like the idea of the LSD, and also that you'll be able to walk into a Honda dealer (well, some of them) and buy Honda-approved performance parts. However, we don't yet know if they're going to be VFM and I'll bet that Mugen 'styling' parts such as the subtle wing fitted to this car are more prevalent than anything useful.

Will there be a range of Mugen parts for older Hondas? EP3? DC5? Will there be Mugen parts for S2000s?

[Ian974]

Buzzkill said:

It all reads form over function then they have chucked in a lsd... Still, be mad to buy one considering the price of the DC5 and facelift EP3's.

Another EP3 is definitely the next thing on my shopping list!

[CatherineJ]

So this one, is really just the Type R CW with 19 inch wheels as standard and some (not all) of the bodykit from the Mugen.

Edited by CatherineJ on Sunday 14th February 11:15

[Mr. Potato Head]

10 Pence Short said:

When the EP3 was current, people were crying out for this kind of 'official' modifying. Typical Honda UK that they do it when the hairdressers are buying Civics.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[CatherineJ]

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/mugen/36981-civic-mug...

Scroll down the 1st page and there are some lap times of Bedford, showing the times for the proper Mugen, the Mugen 200 and a standard Type R. Along with times for some other hot hatches.

Edited by CatherineJ on Sunday 14th February 11:33

[soad]

CatherineJ said:

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/mugen/36981-civic-mug...

Thanks for the link, some good photos there. Fast thing too, isn't it.

[CatherineJ]

soad said:

CatherineJ said:

http://www.civinfo.com/forum/mugen/36981-civic-mug...

Thanks for the link, some good photos there. Fast thing too, isn't it.

Surprisingly by purely adding the diff to the CW/200 it makes it a reasonable contender with some of the more powerful hatches.

[Uncle Fester]

Each time I go into my Honda dealership for a service I end up with a Civic courtesy car. Every time I give it back we have the same conversation; when is a new Civic coming out. The dealer admits he has many customers who feel the same. I don’t think even the dealer likes the current model as much.

I won’t trade my EP3 for the current model and every time they give me a current Civic it reminds me why. The dealership gives me the best customer service I’ve ever known from any motor dealer and I’d be genuinely reluctant to by another brand because of this.

But I just won’t buy the current turkey, even if they dress it up in fancy Mugen frock. The thought that I might pay the asking price of £38599 for any Civic is laughable.

Honda need to get a totally new model of Civic out with a return to the core values that made the EP3 a winner. I’m very tall and the EP3 had room inside like the TARDIS. The Suspension wasn’t some cheap and nasty compromise. The fit and finish of the new model screams ‘cheap and nasty’ from the moment you grab the door handle. Design flaws mean it can’t be fixed and must be replaced.

I love the character of my 2 litre engine and regard it as one of the all time great engines; the thought of another 40bhp plus 10% torque that Mugen have found appeals.

That said, the opposition are pulling ahead and even 240bhp isn’t going to recapture the class leadership. Honda needs to take everything they learned from this engine and build a new, better version. It needs to keep the character but gain power and economy to compete with other manufacturers.

[jonm01]

38.5K !!!??? Having a laugh.