Thursday 21st April 2011

Hot Mugen Honda CR-Z Spec Revealed

198bhp courtesy of supercharging for Mugen-Honda hybrid coupe

---

Honda tuner Mugen is set to finally deliver a properly hot version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July - and it has today revealed that the new car will be supercharged.

The tuned version of the hybrid coupe is expected to produce around 198bhp (Civic Type R levels), and 181lb ft of torque (significantly more than Civic Type R levels). The car retains the Honda IMA electric motor and the original 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, which has been rebuilt to Mugen spec by Northamptonshire-based Mugen Euro with bespoke upgraded and strengthened internal components.

"The idea was to use the significant advantage of the early torque provided by the Honda IMA electric motor, then increase the torque available from the petrol engine gradually, to first maintain and then increase this," says Colin Whittamore from Mugen Euro. "A supercharger and complementary electronics allow us to very neatly map the IMA to the extra power and torque of the engine in a unique package, giving a smooth, integrated and powerful driving experience."

Plenty of work has also gone on with the Chassis and body, too: there are five-step adjustable dampers fitted front and rear, an increase in track width and a large reduction in overall weight, as well as bigger brake discs and four-pot monobloc calipers.

 

 

[Hellbound]

All that work and kit...for such 'average' power levels (ok, good for a 1.5 but it's supercharged AND has an electric motor). Where are Mugen's fuel consumption figures to justify the electric motor in the first place?

On the positive side, erm...good effort considering what they started with. If this ever made production, it would probably be north of £35k and they'll sell 8, in Europe.

Edited by Hellbound on Thursday 21st April 15:46

[Hellbound]

MarJay said:

Its still a FWD Hybrid. It is stretching the bounds of credulity to call this a PH car, even in Mugen spec.

Now, that Toyota RWD coupe. If we could have that with a 200bhp engine.... yes please!

TRD will probably add some tasty goodies to that mid-way into the models life cycle. Far more appealing prospect.

And then we have STI with Subaru's version.

Sort of feeling sorry for the Mugen boys now. No NSX...no S2000.

[Hellbound]

doogz said:

black pipebandit said:

XitUp said:

I'd agree with that.


People moaning about it being a hybrid need to stop being so boring.
.

Hybrids that adds 11 bhp and 22 torques, is it really worth it in this case for a 'sports car'..I think it is more brand marketing over actual technology, that maybe people like you, lap up , like cats to cream..

Surprised it isn't called the iCR-Z mugan

Edited by black pipebandit on Thursday 21st April 16:13

Is it worth it? Depends really, on what you use your car for. If you don't like paying road tax, paying the congestion charge, and like getting plenty of miles to the gallon, whilst still driving something that looks pretty good, is pretty fun to drive, and where the hybrid drive doesn't really have any adverse affects on the cars performance, then yeah, it probably is.

I'd agree with most of what you're saying (apart from the mpg - which remains unknown), however it all depends on the RRP IF it goes into production. With so many manufacturers readying their hybrid vehicles, this car, as new and at a suspected high sticker price, is not going to have a long shelf life.