Skip advert
Advertisement

Tuned Honda CR-Z Mugen hybrid revealed

Hot Honda tuner Mugen tweaks the CR-Z hybrid sports coupe. Looks cool, but will it make production?

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.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Honda CR-Z v VW Scirocco TSI v SEAT Ibiza FR

Join evo's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1
GMSV S1 LM and Le Mans GTR
News

Gordon Murray has built two new supercars, and one of them looks just like a McLaren F1

Gordon Murray has announced the Le Mans GTR and S1 LM – a pair of track-oriented spin-off supercars from a new Special Vehicles division
15 Aug 2025
Ferrari Roma Spider v Aston Martin Vantage Roadster – car pictures of the week
Ferrari Roma Spider v Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Features

Ferrari Roma Spider v Aston Martin Vantage Roadster – car pictures of the week

In the latest issue of evo magazine, we pit Aston Martin’s new Vantage Roadster against its chief rival from Maranello – these are our favourite shots
16 Aug 2025
This Aston Martin Restomod is named after a Skoda for some reason
Aston Martin DBS Ringbrothers Octavia – front
News

This Aston Martin Restomod is named after a Skoda for some reason

The Ringbrothers Octavia might sound like a Skoda saloon that’s received a V8 heart transplant in time for SEMA, but it’s actually an Aston Martin…
15 Aug 2025