mugen

Latest Honda CR-Z Mugen concept is rated RR

I'd like to have a little fun while saving the planet--I'm sure that we all would--but this wave of hotted-up hybrids has me scratching my head. Some, like the Prius Plus Performance Package, appear to use the term "performance" a bit too liberally for my tastes Still others, like the Mugen CR-Z, seem to add a sporty pedigree to what was previously just sporty pretense. Building on the later of those concepts, Honda has just pulled the wraps off of an even more extreme variant of its sporty hybrid at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in … Read more

See the supercharged Honda CR-Z Mugen in action

Hey, do you remember that funky orange Honda CR-Z Mugen concept we showed you about a month ago? You know, the one with a supercharger that boosts power to 198 horsepower while keeping the IMA hybrid system intact? No? Well, take a minute and check the specs, then check out the freshly minted video below that showcases what's likely the coolest concept in Honda's current stable.

We could do without the massive wing spoiler, but for a nigh 200-pony sport compact offering Civic Type-R levels of performance, we think we'd be able to deal with it (or … Read more

Honda unveils 198-horsepower CR-Z Mugen concept

The 2011 Honda CR-Z found itself on the receiving end of much criticism from the automotive press and enthusiasts, ourselves included, when it launched last year. Greenies didn't like the hybrid's merely average fuel economy, and enthusiasts chided its less-than-hard-core performance. A few of these enthusiasts figured they could do better. This is where Mugen, Honda's sometimes-official tuning division comes into the picture with its CR-Z Mugen concept, set to debut in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Realizing that you can't please everyone, Mugen instead focuses on the needs and wants of … Read more

Honda goes CR-Z crazy at SEMA 2010

Rounding the corner leading to Honda's booth at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, I was a bit taken aback as I suddenly found myself confronted with the largest gathering of modified CR-Zs I'd ever seen, 12 in total. Heck, considering that the CR-Z has only been available for a handful of months, this was the largest gathering of any CR-Zs I'd ever seen. Most of these examples were built by third parties, but at the center of Honda's presentation was a trio of special compact hybrids built by Honda itself: a 2011 CR-Z equipped … Read more

For U.K.: Mugen's Honda Civic Type R

Here's a look at the new Type R, which comes equipped with a 2.0-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine. The car boasts 237 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque. It will be available in the U.K. this fall.

Photos: Honda's 2008 SEMA showings

While Honda didn't roll out any new models or concepts at SEMA 2008, it did introduce a few new trim levels and accessory packages to some old favorites. The Civic Honda Factory Performance Concept sedan represents Honda's quest to bring the performance of its Type-R and Si models in line with its green initiatives.

Along with the HFP Civic, there were tuned Fits by Mugen and Tjin, tuned Pilots and Ridgelines, and a rather hot Accord Coupe. These vehicles represent the broad range of directions that owners take when customizing their Honda vehicles and the degree to which … Read more