Mugen CR-Z powertrain info

[webby]

The Honda CR-Z is an interesting little hybrid that has mostly disappointed us with a dire need for more power if it ever hopes to live up to its promise as a sports coupe. The tuners at Mugen have promised to change all that with a souped-up version of the unique little hatch, and CAR reports the result is a 50-percent power increase via forced injection.

The British mag says the Mugen Euro will feature a supercharger mated to the standard 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which bumps the power output to 197 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. That's a far cry from the stock 113 ponies and 107 lb-ft, yet the engineers at Mugen reportedly managed to find a way to sync Honda's integrated hybrid assist system. That should make for a fairly efficient little screamer, and Mugen is reportedly hoping induction and exhaust upgrades will help its hot hatch improve upon the CRZ's 38 miles per gallon. Not if you're using all 197 of those ponies on a regular basis.

Additional upgrades reported by CAR are a host of weight-saving tech including 17-inch forged Mugen GP wheels, front and rear adjustable dampers and upgraded brakes. Expected visual updates include Mugen-spec front and rear bumpers, a massive rear wing and side skirts.

When the Mugen Euro CR-Z makes its official debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, we're told to expect Type-R levels of performance. Sadly, we won't be holding our breath for a U.S. launch any time soon.

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pretty impressive hp/tq jump right there.
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[iluvmycsx]

Mugen at it again they make the average car into a amazing piece of machinery

 

[SOLO8thGenSi]

dope!! love the drawing on the first post!!!

 

[Nomar06]

real life pics on the Ocho....

 

[webby]

 

[Nomar06]

I like that one better than the Mugen....

 

[webby]

Remove spoiler

 

[SOLO8thGenSi]

real life pics on the Ocho....

ocho what? that's a dirty word here Santiago

 

[SOLO8thGenSi]

Remove spoiler

agreed... too large. WAAAY too large!! don't like the plain-ish wheels either to be perfectly honest. LOVE the dual-tip center exhaust though.

that's one of 12 CR-Zs that were brought out to Vegas' SEMA 2010 show last year. some nice, some rice, and some were just like WTF??!!

 

[Nomar06]

Needs a duck bill, BMW CSL style spoiler. I think that would look nice.

 

[SOLO8thGenSi]

truth! i 2nd!!

 

[webby]

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.

Press Release:
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CR-Z MUGEN to be supercharged and deliver around 200PS

MUGEN Euro's tuned Honda CR-Z remains on course for its world debut at Goodwood in July.

MUGEN has revealed that the high-performance CR-Z hybrid will use a supercharger to deliver over 50 per cent more power and torque from the Honda's petrol-electric drivetrain.

The tuned version of the hybrid coupe is expected to produce around 200PS, and 181lb.ft of torque, with significantly enhanced performance throughout the rev range. The car retains the Honda IMA electric motor and the original 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, which has been rebuilt to MUGEN specification with bespoke upgraded and strengthened internal components.

In order to give a fully integrated and smooth power delivery, MUGEN Euro has developed the MUGEN iCF system, which allows all the elements of the electro-mechanical system to work in harmony.

"The idea was to use the significant advantage of the early torque provided by the Honda IMA electric motor, then increase the torque available from the petrol engine gradually, to first maintain and then increase this," says Colin Whittamore from MUGEN Euro. "A supercharger and complementary electronics allow us to very neatly map the IMA to the extra power and torque of the engine in a unique package, giving a smooth, integrated and powerful driving experience."

As well as improvements under the bonnet, MUGEN has used its extensive motorsport and Honda tuning experience to further develop the chassis dynamics, with 5-step adjustable dampers fitted front and rear, an increase in track width and a large reduction in overall weight.

Bigger brake discs and 4-pot monobloc callipers help stop the more powerful car, while 17-inch forged alloy MUGEN GP wheels reduce unsprung mass.

Elsewhere, the CR-Z gets some cosmetic enhancements in the form of MUGEN body parts, including front and rear under spoilers, side skirts and a rear wing.

The Honda CR-Z MUGEN makes its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

It is a joint project between Honda (UK) and MUGEN Euro - the Northampton-based subsidiary of Honda's long standing tuning partner MUGEN. In 2009, MUGEN Euro produced the Civic Type R MUGEN, an extreme, 240PS version of Honda popular hot hatch.

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

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