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Honda’s CR-Z compact coupe is an outstanding hybrid vehicle, managing to fuse striking designs elements with a low-consumption hybrid powertrain.
Fans of the Japanese brand who hoped that it would be a spiritual successor to the iconic CRX have been a bit disappointed with the hybrid car’s performance, though. Now, it would appear, there could be fix to the CR-Z's rather average performance credentials.
Since the CR-Z was launched rumours have abounded of Mugen employing its substantial resources with the aim of developing a substantially more performance-focused version of the two-door Honda hybrid.
If there is one company capable of channelling some CRX performance heritage into the CR-Z driving experience it has to be Mugen, Honda’s "unofficial" factory tuner.
HOWLING HYBRID
Though set for an official reveal at England's 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, 2011 only conceptual sketches of the Mugen-tuned CR-Z's styling upgrades are available - and that has led many to doubt the project’s existence. Now Honda and Mugen have released images of the engine modifications and the details make very interesting reading if you're a Honda performance motoring fan.
Thanks to a bolt-on supercharger (despite the overall efficiency loss, Mugen’s preferred to use a mechanical blower instead of an exhaust-gas driven turbocharger) and some finessing of the engine control electronics, power and torque gains are substantial. Whereas the standard CR-Z produces 91kW/174Nm from its integrated motor-assisted, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, the Mugen project car is good for 144kW/245Nm.
OUTSTANDING NEWS
To balance the supercharged CR-Z’s dynamics, Mugen is said to be widening the car’s track (for improved stability), fitting larger wheels (and brake discs) and adding adjustable dampers to tame body-roll and sharpen turn-in characteristics.
If you are a Honda performance enthusiast the evidence of Mugen’s CR-Z project car actually being engineered is outstanding news.
Unfortunately, plans are to build only a single demonstration unit at this stage – the one to be revealed at Goodwood. If public reaction is favourable enough, a limited production run (with the supercharged engine package, sans the aerodynamic body kit) might be considered. Then again, there's always the option of Honda's own hot CR-Z...
Fans of the Japanese brand who hoped that it would be a spiritual successor to the iconic CRX have been a bit disappointed with the hybrid car’s performance, though. Now, it would appear, there could be fix to the CR-Z's rather average performance credentials.
Since the CR-Z was launched rumours have abounded of Mugen employing its substantial resources with the aim of developing a substantially more performance-focused version of the two-door Honda hybrid.
If there is one company capable of channelling some CRX performance heritage into the CR-Z driving experience it has to be Mugen, Honda’s "unofficial" factory tuner.
HOWLING HYBRID
Though set for an official reveal at England's 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, 2011 only conceptual sketches of the Mugen-tuned CR-Z's styling upgrades are available - and that has led many to doubt the project’s existence. Now Honda and Mugen have released images of the engine modifications and the details make very interesting reading if you're a Honda performance motoring fan.
Thanks to a bolt-on supercharger (despite the overall efficiency loss, Mugen’s preferred to use a mechanical blower instead of an exhaust-gas driven turbocharger) and some finessing of the engine control electronics, power and torque gains are substantial. Whereas the standard CR-Z produces 91kW/174Nm from its integrated motor-assisted, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, the Mugen project car is good for 144kW/245Nm.
OUTSTANDING NEWS
To balance the supercharged CR-Z’s dynamics, Mugen is said to be widening the car’s track (for improved stability), fitting larger wheels (and brake discs) and adding adjustable dampers to tame body-roll and sharpen turn-in characteristics.
If you are a Honda performance enthusiast the evidence of Mugen’s CR-Z project car actually being engineered is outstanding news.
Unfortunately, plans are to build only a single demonstration unit at this stage – the one to be revealed at Goodwood. If public reaction is favourable enough, a limited production run (with the supercharged engine package, sans the aerodynamic body kit) might be considered. Then again, there's always the option of Honda's own hot CR-Z...
