Mugens Honda CR-Z - Beginning Of Eco Tuning

Honda has made some pretty harsh decisions lately. Dropping out of F1 and abandoning development of the potential replacement for the legendary NSX has been met with gross resentment by brand enthusiasts. But in the current state of the world economy, manufacturers have been forced to cut their losses and focus on more profitable products.

Honda's latest creation, however, has been met with much anticipation. The CR-Z offers fun in a cheap and economical package, something that hasn't been done since the CR-X. On top of this, the CR-Z is the first hybrid car to offer the option of a manual transmission, making it a very interesting proposition. The car has been on sale in Japan since late February, but even before deliveries started, MUGEN already had something up its sleeve to tantalize the enthusiasts. We were kindly invited to the M-Tec headquarters in Wako city to take a closer look at the MUGEN'ized version of what's set to become the "little sports car that could" of 2010.

Honda isn't the type of company to stay away from new technologies and has been at the forefront of hybrid and fuel cell vehicle development for close to two decades. Nevertheless, Honda hasn't forgotten how to make cars fun and sporty to drive - this time going back to the old original recipe of keeping cars light. The CR-Z's small dimensions and 2+2 seating arrangement helps it stay light - it has a curb weight of 2,490 lbs, making the 126 hp that propels it (113 hp from the gasoline engine and 13 hp from the electric motor) enough for a fun drive. The instant torque response of the electric motor helps boost low-rpm pull, giving a very liner power delivery; it's the key to this new sports car concept. But a little tuning always helps to make things more interesting, which is where the guys at MUGEN come in.

Exterior MUGEN front under-spoiler, front sports grille w/ LED DRL, side skirts, rear bumper under-spoiler, rear spoiler, carbon-fiber number plate mount, badges
Exterior MUGEN front under-spoiler, front sports grille w/ LED DRL, side skirts, rear bump
Engine Modifications MUGEN carbon airbox, upgraded filter, sports exhaust, oil filter cap, oil filter, REV-S oil, brake reservoir cover
Engine Modifications MUGEN carbon airbox, upgraded filter, sports exhaust, oil filter cap,

Thanks to a thoroughly designed lineup of products, the CR-Z can be transformed into the car you see in these pages: a more performance-oriented vehicle that allows drivers to get the most out of this futuristic sports car. The most obvious changes have been carried out on the exterior with a complete MUGEN bodykit that provides a more focused appearance. Front and rear bumper spoilers have been added to help bring the body closer to the ground, joined by more aesthetically pleasing side skirts. The front end also benefits from a MUGEN grille, which on the demo car is fitted with the optional LED daytime running lights. Because plenty of attention was given to guarantee good visibility through the high-set rear hatch, MUGEN wasn't going to just drop a spoiler on top, causing a blind spot. That's why the rear spoiler sits so high, giving a very aggressive stance to the CR-Z.

MUGEN offers a selection of wheels for this new hybrid sports car, and the demo car has been fitted with the more performance-oriented GP forged lightweight choice. Sticky Bridgestone RE-11 tires in 205/45RZR17 size provide the traction. Braking is addressed with special sport-oriented, higher-friction brake pads and slotted discs that keep the pads clean and functional, perfect for those occasional track day outings that we've already seen in Japan.