MUGEN CRZ
FULL-BLOWN HONDA HYBRID CHARGING ON
CR-Z
MUGEN to be supercharged and deliver around 200PS
MUGEN Euro's 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 capacity 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 complementing each other.
"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 and integrated 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.
