Honda is apparently working on a performance Mugen version of the Jazz, according to a leaked brochure out of Japan. Now the Jazz is a very component car but trying to make a hot hatch out of it just seems bizarre. You can already buy an RS version in Japan, with a racy body kit and mighty 120hp from its 1.5-litre engine.
That got us thinking. Which other cars should have never have been thrust into the hands of the car maker's performance division?
Special editions created to celebrate race participation is always a good one. Cars that stand out in our eyes include the Chevrolet Lacetti WTCC R+. It was impressively lifted from mundanity by race prep specialists RML, but a supercharger and a new suspension couldn't save it.
The Fiat Seicento Schumacher on the other hand was almost a very good joke, particularly with just 55hp.
People carriers don't make good performance cars. Witness the Vauxhall Meriva VXR, even though 7.5 seconds to 62mph might sound like fun.
Both Abarth and Schumacher tarnished here!
At the other extreme is the six-seat Mercedes R63 AMG. Nice that it exists with its 510hp V8, but that one must have sorely tested relations within the Mercedes divisions. It's so rare we couldn't find an example in the classifieds.
We're unsure about performance SUVs as well, but admit that cars like the BMW X5M do have a market and are genuinely amusing to drive.
So what performance versions should have remained a gleam in the eye of the marketing department in your view? Tell us below and we especially want to hear from those willing to defend them. Anyone brave enough to admit to owning that Seicento Schumacher?