Looking like the kind of car a Manga superhero would drive, this is an early sketch of the Honda CR-Z currently in development by MUGEN Euro. With the Civic Type-R consigned to the scrapheap in the sky, the CR-Z MUGEN could be the replacement we’ve all been waiting for. Indeed, Honda is promising “Type R-like” performance from this tweaked CRZ. The new car will keep the hybrid petrol-electric powertrain and interestingly Honda claims the new car may even offer better fuel economy. Honda is not detailing the engine tweaks at this stage, other than that both the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and the Honda IMA system will be ‘enhanced’ as will the exhaust and induction systems. However, bespoke brakes and suspension will be fitted as will lightweight components including a carbonfibre bonnet. Lighter MUGEN alloy wheels should reduce unsprung mass. “We wanted to extend the performance of the CR-Z,” says Hiro Toyoda of MUGEN Euro. “It is already a fun car to drive, with an excellent chassis, but we thought that with more power and enhanced torque delivery it could be even more exciting.” Here’s the bad news. After all this teasing Honda follow up the above comment with: “the CR-Z MUGEN is being developed purely as a one-off prototype, with no plans for a production version.” Boo. See the car, perhaps for the only time, at this years’ Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Honda CR-Z v VW Scirocco TSI v SEAT Ibiza FR
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