If it’s too early to start drinking, crack open a cold one anyway. You’re gonna need a beer to cry into. Top Gear reports that Honda has no plans to produce the CR-Z Mugen RR Hybrid Concept. Zero. None. While we saw this coming a mile off, some deeply-oppressed optimistic shard of our psyche clung to the hope that Honda would awaken from its performance coma. Alas, no. The world will be denied the CR-Z it deserves.

We probably don’t need to remind you that the CR-Z Mugen RR Hybrid Concept makes heavy use of carbon fiber. The doors, hood and front fenders are all formed from the lightweight material, as is a complete underbody tray. With 197 horsepower on tap, the concept clicks off a 0-60 dash in 6.6 seconds, and if you’re restrained enough to run it in Eco mode, it can return somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 mpg.

Honda CR-Z Mugen RR production hopes dashed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

That Honda could have done more with the CR-Z than the lukewarm hybrid sport-hatch that resulted is no big news. But Mugen is here to highlight the point.

After teasing us with some initial details, a rendering and a shot of the engine bay, the pseudo-works Honda tuner has released the first photos of the modified CR-Z it is preparing to unveil at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Performance figures haven’t been finalized just yet, but earlier, Mugen pegged combined output from the supercharged 1.5-liter four and electric assist at 197 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Combined with the 110 pounds of weight shaved off the chassis, Mugen figures that ought to be enough to make the custom CR-Z match the acceleration times of the Civic Type R.

Unfortunately, this is strictly a concept car for the time being, but there’s no telling what could result from enough positive response. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the trio of images in the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Mugen releases first photos of its supercharged Honda CR-Z

Mugen releases first photos of its supercharged Honda CR-Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

Call it anticipation or call it wishful thinking, but reports of a hotter version of the Honda CR-Z have been circulating pretty much ever since the hybrid hatchback hit the market. The CR-Z may be sportier than most hybrids, but when the faithful were expecting a spiritual successor to the iconic CRX with an added jolt of electricity, many were left disappointed.

Along those lines, we have good news, and we have bad news. The good news is that some new details on the hotly anticipated Mugen version of the CR-Z have dropped. The bad news is that it’s still strictly a one-off show car, at least for the time being.

The concept car will be revealed in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And when it is, it won’t be turbocharged as earlier speculated, but it will be supercharged. With the added benefit of forced induction, the output from the 1.5-liter i-VTEC four that forms the internal combustion part of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system will be increased by 50 percent, and when coupled with the electric component will serve up 200 metric horsepower (197 on our scale) and 181 pound-feet of torque.

To go with the added power, the pseudo-works Honda tuner is also fitting adjustable dampers, a wider track, upgraded brakes and rolling stock, an enhanced aero kit and a weight-reduction regimen. Although Mugen insists it holds no plans for producing its breathed-on hybrid, there’s no telling what sufficient demand might yield. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the two engine shots released to join the renderings released previously in the gallery below.

Continue reading Honda CR-Z Mugen show car to pack 197 horsepower for Goodwood debut

Honda CR-Z Mugen show car to pack 197 horsepower for Goodwood debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

Not to be a total buzzkill, but before we tell you about Mugen and its plans to create a hotter Honda CR-Z hatchback, there’s one little line in the automaker’s press release that needs to be noted in italicized type:

At this stage, the CR-Z Mugen is being developed purely as a one-off prototype, with no plans for a production version.

Drat.

Honda may call its 2011 CR-Z a “sport hybrid,” but ever since our first time behind the wheel, we’ve felt more than a little disappointed. It’s an enjoyable enough steer, but remains in dire need of some more oomph, and even with the automaker’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system on board, the resulting fuel economy isn’t as great as one might expect for a car of its size and utility.

Honda tuning house Mugen Euro is set to rectify the need for a CR-Z with more spice – in concept form, anyway – with a hotted-up hatch that will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Mugen will offer enhancements for the CR-Z’s 1.5-liter engine and IMA system to boost both horsepower and torque – creating “Type R-like performance” – while new brakes and suspension geometry will better communicate the added power to the driver. Mugen even says that these changes could result in improved fuel economy, though no official statistics have been divulged as of this writing.

So what if there aren’t any plans for production (just yet). At least we know Honda has heard our cries. Follow the jump for the full press blast.

Live images copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Mugen Euro]

Continue reading Mugen promises “Type R-like” performance from hotted-up Honda CR-Z

Mugen promises “Type R-like” performance from hotted-up Honda CR-Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

No related posts.