Mugen VS Mugen

We drive tuned versions of Honda CR-Z and the Ariel Atom back to back in this exclusive videoBy Jack Rix June 2011

Mugen is a company that doesn’t do things by half – and lately Honda’s tuning arm has been extremely busy.

The world’s most skeletal car, the Ariel Atom has been given a power boost without the need for a supercharger. The result is a 270bhp output from its 2.0-litre Honda-sourced engine that makes it just about the fastest thing on four wheels.

Other tweaks to the £50,000 road-legal track car include firmer suspension taken from the Atom V8 and a unique colour scheme for the chassis.

Alongside the Atom Mugen we drove the CR-Z Mugen – currently a one-off tuned version of the hybrid coupe. Now kicking out 200bhp it promises Civic Type R-beating pace with excellent Fuel Economy – and as we discovered its exhaust and styling aren’t for the faint-hearted.

Watch as we take both cars outside their comfort zones – testing the CR-Z on track and unleashing the Atom on public roads.

Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/videoreviews/269185/mugen_vs_mugen_review.html#ixzz1S0GVAUF3

Honda Insight Hybrid racer banned - it's too fast

Modified, previous-generation Honda Insight has blown away a field of conventional rally cars.
Technically, the car you see here is a hybrid capable of some pretty impressive consumption, yet it's been banned from rallying for being too fast.

Yes, the world's greenest rally car has been kicked out of its championship because it's too quick.

The petrol-electric (previous shape) Honda Insight hybrid, which competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship in the UK, has been asked to withdraw following concerns from rival competitors that it has an unfair advantage, after dominating the 2011 series with two wins and a second place from the first three rounds.

The car, which uses a tuned petrol-electric hybrid system to give it more power and better fuel efficiency, has been developed by the Oaktec team from Lancaster over a six-year period using the low emission Honda car as a base.

The developments of the green technology have been so successful that the eco car, which can return an amazing 2.4 litres per 100km when driven slowly, has blown away a field of conventional rally cars to gain a 19 point championship lead after just three rallies.

The championship organisers phoned the Oaktec team to request that they stand down from the series and compete the car in a higher class to appease rival competitors. The team has agreed to the demand and will now look to race in other classes.

Oaktec boss Paul Andrews commented: “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers.”

Source;
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/motorsport/hybrid-racer-banned-it-s-too-fast-1.1090243

What If? What would you like to see on the Next Generation Honda Prelude?

Well, I would have to class this one as a big 'wish' on my part. Honda has been pretty adamant about leaving the Prelude retired. Whenever I have asked a higher up in Honda why they aren't bringing the Prelude back I get the 'that's basically what the new Civic Si is' or 'that's what the new Accord Coupe is'. I could definately make a case for the 06' Civic and up as a spiritual successor, but c'mon, at least have a special 'Prelude edition' or something.

Anyways, I digress, if Honda (and that's a big IF) were to ever think about bringing back the Honda Prelude, what do you think it should have?

Post your ideas in the comments section, and let's see what comes up, who knows, maybe Honda's listening....

I'll start it off....
-NO hybrid!
-6 speed manual is a must, with a base model Automatic available.
-SH-AWD
-a high performance 4cyl, say a tweeked 2000 S2000 2.0litre variant, raw, with 250hp.
-dual exhaust
-panoramic moonroof
-low to the ground with a sports tuned double wishbone suspension
-18" alloys with HP rubber

Honda's Next Sportscar?

Stumbled across this in a recent S2000 fan site forum, interesting, they say that they found it in Road & Track; "According to R&T, this will be a 3.5 liter V6 based on the JDM Accord. The speculation is that the car will have 200 - 250 bhp and will sell in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. They say the car will hit dealers next year!" hmmm, wouldn't be too excited about seeing this car next year.... Source; http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/850960-s2000-replacement/

VW, Honda and Hyundai could enter F1 in 2013

Jean-Francois Caubet, CEO of Renault Sport F1, says more manufacturers could appear when turbo engines are reintroduced Chief Executive Officer of Renault Sport F1 has revealed that a further three car manufacturers could enter Formula One in 2013 when engine rules changes come into effect. Jean-Francois Caubet revealed that Volkswagen, Honda and Hyndai could start competing for motorsport’s biggest prize in the not so distant future. F1 ENGINES Caubet revealed that "Volkswagen, Honda, and Hyundai" would be interested in joining the sport once 1.6 litre 4 cylinder turbocharged engines replace the current 2.4 litre V8s. The move, initiated by President and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration Bernie Ecclestone, is aimed at increasing fuel efficiency by up to 50 percent while keep total power output at around 750bhp. Increasingly it seems, several car manufacturers have expressed renewed interest in the sport after a new generation of fuel restricted 'green' engines will make their debut in 2013. Currently, Renault Sport F1 supplies engines to Renault, Team Lotus, and Red Bull - who won the inaugural race of the 2011 Formula One season at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, under the expert guidance of its RB7 car by reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel. Source; http://www.manufacturingdigital.com/tags/honda/vw-honda-and-hyundai-could-enter-f1-2013

Honda unit to stop hosting Indy car racing in Japan from 2012

That high yen strikes again....
TOKYO —
A motor racing unit of Honda Motor Co said Wednesday that it will stop holding IndyCar Series racing in Japan from 2012. Mobilityland Corp, a wholly owned motor racing unit of Honda, said it has become quite difficult to continue Indy car racing in Japan due to recent economic developments.

Mobilityland has hosted Indy car racing at Twin Ring Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture since 2003 and will hold the last event at the circuit in September.

Source;

http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/honda-unit-to-stop-hosting-indy-car-racing-in-japan-from-2012

SEMA 2010: Honda HPD CR-Z Racer Gets a Turbo and Push-to-Pass Hybrid Boost

Technically the SEMA Show doesn’t start until tomorrow but thanks to our spies inside we have these snap shots of just what potential Honda's new CR-Z has. The Honda Performance Development CR-Z Racer looks like a true racing machine and likely is with a fully stripped-down body, a lowered suspension, functional aero and some big 17-inch wheels with meaty racing slicks.

But the truly exciting mods are found under the hood, where Honda strapped a Borg Warner turbo to the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder to pump out 175-hp and 155 ft-lbs of torque. But that’s not all, Honda also rejigged the Integrated Motor Assist hybrid setup to produce added power that’s available with a Indy Car styled push-to-pass button. When pressed, the CR-Z makes a total of 200-hp and 175 ft-lbs of torque.

Other mods include an LSD and some big brake upgrades.

Hopefully Honda is serious about taking this car racing and we’ll be at the press conference tomorrow to find out.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/11/sema-2010-honda-hpd-cr-z-racer-gets-a-turbo-and-push-to-pass-hybrid-boost.html

Formula One: Honda eyeing return in 2013?

The hot rumor in the Formula One paddock this weekend at the Suzuka circuit in Japan says that Honda is evaluating a return to Grand Prix racing. The idea is that the Japanese manufacturer is interested in an F1 comeback as a result of the likely adoption of relatively small, turbocharged engines in 2013.

Honda quit Formula One at the end of the 2008 season, citing the sport's outrageous costs during the height of the global recession. It sold its U.K.-based team for a nominal sum to a management buyout led by Ross Brawn, who promptly masterminded a domination of the 2009 world championship.

The prospect of a fresh engine formula is attracting the attention of many automobile manufacturers, including Volkswagen Group's Audi and Porsche marques.

Source;
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101008/F1/101009899

Widebody, mid-engine Honda CR-Z coming to SuperGT?

The GT Channel crew have snagged a handful of shots of a widebody Honda CR-Z being built for an unknown venue, and while it could just be an elaborate show car for this January's Tokyo Auto Salon, it's possible Honda is prepping the CR-Z for a run in Japan's SuperGT touring car series.

With one of the Honda HSV-010 teams holding down second place in the GT500 class this season, HoMoCo could be looking to capitalize off its success – and the popularity of the hybrid hatch in Japan – by fielding a CR-Z is the GT300 class. The engine and chassis restrictions are less rigid compared to the top-tier SuperGT racers, so the mid-mounted V6 (or V8?) shown in the gallery below is a-okay with JAF (the regulating body behind SuperGT) – even with a set of turbos.

If the build is taking place now (check the carbon fiber doors coming out of the autoclave), Honda or one of its racing affiliates is likely to start testing the CR-Z racer this fall before the new season kicks off in March of 2011.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/widebody-mid-engine-honda-cr-z-coming-to-supergt/

Honda Civic Si Takes 1st Place At SCCA RallyCross Championships

When someone says, “rally car” you probably immediately think of a Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Perhaps with the PR around the new 2011 Ford Fiesta, you think of Kent Block’s tricked out WRC Fiesta rally car. One thing is for sure, you probably don’t have your eyes set on something like a Honda Civic Si. However, much to the surprise of a lot of people, one particular stock Honda Civic Si took not only 1st place, but 2nd place in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) RallyCross® Modified two-wheel drive championships. It just goes to show that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

For the second consecutive year the SCCA National RallyCross Championships have been held in Fountain, Colo. at the U.S Truck Driving School. Last year’s event was so successful that the SCCA home office in Topeka though it would be a good idea to come back to the Rockies and run another championship event. Quite an event it was too, with almost 80 cars, some of which traveled from all over the contiguous 48 states. The real surprise though was the type of cars that come out to race at these events.

The SCCA National RallyCross Championships saw cars from the expected Subaru WRX to VW Golfs to the more unusual Chevrolet Berretta. To some degree, Rally racing isn’t so much about the type of car, as it is about the driver. Ken Cashion, operational steward of the National RallyCross Championships, wanted to prove that sometimes you don’t have to go overboard to win a Championship title. Cashion and myself set off to do what some deemed to be the impossible—win the modified two-wheel drive championships with a stock (except for rally tires and rims) Honda Civic Si with six-speed manual transmission. At 195 horsepower and with the infamous Honda VTEC motor, the Civic Si isn’t playing around. However, could it beat fully modified cars?

The answer was yes. Honda, from the factory, is able to build a car that could not only take first place in the Championships, but also claim second place (with yours truly behind the wheel) in the same category and another second place victory in the prepared two-wheel drive class. This little red Civic also claimed the fastest time of the day in its class on Sunday with myself piloting it around the course.

Bottom line—Small cars aren’t what they used to be and Honda has the proof in the pudding with the Civi Si. The question now is, will you check on out for yourself?

Source;
http://www.allsmallcars.com/blog/1048629_honda-civic-si-takes-1st-place-at-scca-rallycross-championships

Honda raises money for Make-A-Wish Canada

Edmonton, Alberta – Honda Canada has raised $112,578 for the Make-A-Wish children’s charity, through two weeks of fundraising initiatives during races in Toronto and Edmonton.
Honda donated its sponsorship signage to Make-A-Wish Canada for Canadian IndyCar driver Paul Tracy’s race suit, pit signage and car.

Visitors to the Honda Indy Toronto and Hondy Indy Edmonton were invited to offer a donation in exchange for programming and interactive activities that included racing simulators, tire change pit stop challenges and other activities. For a donation, racing fans could also sign Tracy’s race suit.

Honda Canada matched funds raised by race fans dollar-for-dollar, while half the sponsorship of other Tracy sponsors, including Motegi Wheels, PHD, The Taylor Group and Grip Limited, were donated to the charity.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/07/27/honda-raises-money-for-make-a-wish-canada.htm

Honda Pegasus Study Inspired by... Harley Earl's GM Firebird Concepts

Automotive designers find inspiration in all kinds of places. For independent designer Andrus Ciprian from Romania, it was Harley Earls' legendary GM Firebird concept cars of the 1950s. The thing is that he didn't use this inspiration on a GM product but on a futuristic Honda racing car design study that he named Pegasus.

The Romanian designer has dreamed up a small gas-turbine jet engine as the power source for the imaginary winged prototype, while other features include specially designed wheels that increase air-flow to the brakes. Full mage gallery after the break.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/07/honda-pegasus-study-inspired-by-harley.html

Super GT Provisional Entry List Revealed

For those of you that don't know, this was going to be the replacement for the Acura/Honda NSX....
It’s shaping up to be a great season of Super GT this year with the news that 13 GT500 and 25 GT300 teams have completed entry registrations.

Among those 13 GT500 teams, 5 supported by Honda with its new HSV-010 GT with Epson, Keihin, Raybrig, ARTA and Weider teams running the new car. Only three teams, Calsonic Impul, HIS Advan Kondo and Motul Autech, will field Nissan’s GT-R in 2010 with Hasemi Motorsport leaving their GT-R behind and moving out of the GT500 class to enter a Nissan Fairlady Z in the GT300 class. Nissan has also introduced a new 3.4L V8 for this season and hopes to be very competitive up against the previous season winning Lexus SC430.

GT300 class has had a total of 25 registrations, two more than last year thanks to the previously mentioned team Hasemi Motorsport, plus an new entry in the form of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage fielded by A Speed. ThunderAsia Racing is a Singapore-based team running a Mosler MT900M and will be the first wholly international team to race in the Super GT for an entire season. The team that brought an ‘Itasha’ BMW Z4 M to Round 6 of the 2008 Super GT season will return this year but under a new organisation, now named Goodsmile Racing with Cox and fielding a Porsche 911. Toyota Team Tsuchiya that raced in the GT500 class previously will now be called Samurai Team Tsuchiya and enter the GT300 class with a car that has yet to be announced.

An interesting battle among tire manufacturers will surely add some spice to each race too with all three Nissan GT-Rs running different tire brands, with Nismo Motul Autech running Michelin tires, Calsonic Impul running Bridgestone and the HIS Advan Kondo running Yokohama. So expect to see some different race strategies between these teams running the same car but different tire brands.

The season opener will be held at Suzuka Circuit on March 20 – 21.
Entry list: http://supergt.net/supergt/news/2010n/news100222_1e.htm

Source;
http://www.7tune.com/super-gt-provisional-entry-list-revealed/

Honda Performance Development, Inc. Begins Honda FF Engine Deliveries for 2009 FIT

02/19/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Honda Performance Development recently began shipping 1.5-liter Honda Fit engines to racers planning to run the engine in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Formula F competition.

Through its introduction to the category, HPD hopes to strengthen FF's position as the first step in American open-wheel auto racing.

The initial batch of fuel-injected Honda L15A7 overhead-cam engines was shipped to competitors who had previously secured their orders via cash deposit. The Fit engine can be adapted for installation in existing FF chassis.

"This is an exciting day for all of us at HPD," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development. "We hope that this foundational step in our grassroots motorsports initiative will help grow the FF class by making it more affordable and competitive."

The Honda FF engine was developed by HPD in cooperation with Maryland-based Quicksilver RacEngines. The engine was developed to equal the performance of the traditional Kent power plant through utilization of an intake restrictor plate and appropriately mapped Engine Control Unit (ECU), as confirmed during comparative testing with representative Kent engines under SCCA supervision. Final track output will be mandated by the SCCA through its restrictor determination.

Honda-powered FFs are approved for SCCA competition effective March 1, 2010.

Developed from the current Honda Fit, introduced in 2009, the L15A7 engine in FF form is intended to provide open-wheel racers with a modern, fuel-injected design offering superior service life, increased availability and lower operating costs. Engine rebuilds will be reduced, with a corresponding reduction in the need for top-end refreshing. In addition, crankshaft and valve-spring life should be extended dramatically; and most ignition and all carburetor maintenance will be eliminated."Many of us at HPD, myself included, have been involved in FF racing," said Marc Sours, HPD Production Division Manager and Large Project Leader for HPD's grassroots effort. "We believe in the class and want to see it grow in popularity. With the delivery of this first batch of Honda FF engines, and future orders, we are hoping to increase participation through economical competition."

Honda Fit race engines can be purchased as a complete package, including a base L15A7 engine and FF engine conversion kit (including intake, exhaust, dry sump, lightweight alternator, restrictor plate and ECU). Individual component parts will also be available for purchase separately.

HPD also offers chassis kits for three of the most popular FF designs: the Swift DB-1, Swift DB-6 and Van Diemen RF99-09 models. Several current race-car manufacturers, including Fast
Forward Components (Piper) and Citation Engineering, offer FF chassis ready to accept the Fit engine.

For more information on the Honda Fit FF engine, racers can explore the HPD website, http://racing.honda.com/hpd, or contact the company at:

Honda Performance Development, Inc.661-702-7777grmsadmin@hra.com

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is Honda's racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for American Honda's high-performance racing cars and engines. In addition to its new grassroots motorsports business, HPD is the single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series and spearheaded Acura's championship-winning efforts in the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

Quicksilver RacEngines (QSRE) is a private company in Frederick, MD, owned and operated by Sandy Shamlian since 1973. QSRE engines have been a staple in open-wheel and sports-car racing, logging countless professional and amateur race wins and championships in the USA, England, Venezuela, Australia and Canada in classes such as Zetec F2000, Formula Continental Sports 2000, Formula Atlantic and FF1600.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5383

Honda's HSV-010 (Next Gen NSX!) Spied by Kansenzyuku (via Vtec.net)

What makes these snap shots bitter sweet is the fact that this NSX was so close to production that they were able to sell the GTA.co to allow them to enter the race with this car! This would have been a sweet production car!

Now, here's how I feel....

Source (via www.vtec.net);

http://www.kansenzyuku.com/circuitdiary/diary.cgi?no=129

Honda to compete in GT500 class of 2010 Super GT Series with HSV-010 GT

December 22, 2009―Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced today that it will compete in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series (managed and run by GTA Co., Ltd.) with its HSV-010 GT.

The HSV-010 GT was developed exclusively for racing with the hope of offering thrills and dreams to fans through an unremitting focus on speed—the starting point of all motorsports. The model conforms to the 2010 GT500 Regulations, (including a 3.4-liter V8 engine and an FR layout) issued by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), having earned JAF-GT500 basic vehicle registration. The HSV-010 GT is slated to debut at the Super GT season opener at the Suzuka Circuit, held on March 20–21 (Sat.–Sun.), 2010.

* The letters “HSV” stand for Honda Sports Velocity.

Since joining the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1997 with its NSX-GT, Honda has competed in a total of 106 races during 13 years through the end of the 2009 season. During this time, Honda has taken the pole position 50 times and won 37 races.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=870316

7tune; New Super GT Honda Confirmed

With the last race of this year’s Super GT already over and done with, fans of Honda have been left wondering what will replace the current NSX GT car for next season.

Due to new Super GT regulations forcing the use of FR cars for the 2010 season, fans of the mid-engine Honda saw the last race of their venerate NSX earlier this month at Twin Ring Motegi Circuit here in Japan. With it’s first debut back in 1997 at the then All Japan GTC (followed by the JGTC and now Super GT), the NSX has had an illustrious career, claiming 49 poles with 36 race wins from 105 starts. With all this, Honda and the NSX teams have obviously attracted a multitude of fans and supporters over the last 13 years. But now, with rule changes forcing the end of the NSX’s career, Honda has announced that it will continue it’s participation in the Super GT. With an FR S2000 you say? Well no, actually with none other than it’s shelved FR Super Sports V10.

The shelved project, which had to be put on permanent hold along with Honda’s F1 involvement due to the economic crisis, will find new life and will be used as the base for the GT car in season 2010.

But surely it’s not possible!? While at first the idea may seem a little far fetched it all makes good sense. Before being given the axe, the FR V10 was under going development and work on a Super GT variant was already in place. It’s release was to coincide with the release of the road going version into the market. Times have changed though and whilst the race version of the car will be released next year, its road friendly counterpart will not. Honda will use special permission from the organizers of Super GT to allow this to happen and let the car compete in the GT 500. This will also let Honda off the homologation hook, meaning no limited run of V10s will have to be made or sold unlike the unicorn like NSX-R GT.

While details at this point in time are still sketchy, Honda will be releasing more details shortly and we await what FR goodness will be in store for us come 2010.

Source (with more pix);
http://www.7tune.com/new-super-gt-honda-confirmed/

Honda Pulls out of Formula One Racing, Cites Global Downturn

The title pretty much says it all. I have put together a few links to some of the news. Sad day for Honda Racing.

Here are the links;

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Honda-quits-F1-racing-cites/story.aspx?guid=%7B495F98DF-4B9F-45A7-A192-316E69F1BA14%7D


http://www.torontosun.com/sports/othersports/2008/12/05/7641291-sun.html


http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=137228


http://blogs.indystar.com/racingexpert/2008/12/dec_5.html


http://www.indystar.com/article/20081205/SPORTS0107/812050477/1052/SPORTS01

Lotus Helps Development of Honda Civic Hybrid Race Car

Yeah, you read right....

Bet you never thought you’d see a Honda Civic IMA Hybrid in the air like the one in featured in the picture above. Of course, this isn’t your ordinary hybrid but a race prepped version of the eco-friendly Civic created by Oaktec. The Lancashire based company has been developing the Honda Hybrid system for motorsport since 2004. Oaktec took part in several rallies around the UK winning the F1000 Class A Championship in 2006 with a Honda Insight. Now Oaktec has joined forces with Lotus to develop the performance of a Civic Hybrid for rallying and circuit racing.

Though no details on the car’s specifications have been revealed yet, Phil Barker, Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies at Lotus said that the British automaker will work with Oaktec to create a revised electrical specification for more power and a control system that will allow a more aggressive regenerative braking strategy.

Paul Andrews, Senior Partner of Oaktec said: “Maximizing racetrack performance from a hybrid drivetrain is a complex technical exercise but one that Lotus Engineering has the experience and expertise to help us deliver. We look forward to seeing our success on the rally tracks replicated in the race circuits. We will be breaking new ground with the project when Gavan Kershaw of Lotus Engineering and Jamie Corstorphine of Autocar magazine will race our Honda Civic Hybrid for the first time in the Dunlop Max Sport Cup at Rockingham circuit on 28th September.”

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/09/lotus-helps-development-of-honda-civic.html

Edmunds Review: 2008 Honda Civic Mugen RR

Honda's Own Skyline GT-R
By John Barker, Contributor Email Date posted: 09-08-2008

Our first sight of the rarest and probably most desirable Honda Civic on the planet is a flash of blood-red paint and a glint of black wheel spokes a couple of hundred yards away, parked in a roadside turn-off in the middle of England. Even at this range, we know it's the real thing, and up close the 2008 Honda Civic Mugen RR is even more striking.

When the Mugen RR went on sale in Japan last September, all 300 examples were snapped up in just 10 minutes. This is the only example in the U.K. and is likely to remain so, as RRs are now changing hands at a premium in Japan. While the standard Honda Civic Type R costs $25,600 in Japan, the Mugen RR went for $43,900.

That's a premium of $18,300 for what appears at first glance to be a gentle massaging of the already impressive JDM Civic Type R sedan. The more you delve into the details of the 2008 Honda Civic Mugen RR, however, the more plausible becomes Mugen's claim to have built the ultimate front-drive car.

The Mugen Way
Mugen, of course, is the Japanese word for "Unlimited," and it began when Hirotoshi Honda built a racing car in his father's workshop back in 1965 while he was still a student at Nihon University. And, yes, his father was Soichiro Honda, the patriarch of Honda. Mugen has specialized in high-performance and motorsports with Honda products since it was formally established, although the company was restructured in late 2003 under the ownership of M-TEC.

Mugen is well known for offering tuning and styling parts for Hondas, but everything on the RR is unique and will not be on sale separately. Take a chunk out of one of the forged-aluminum 18-inch wheels and you'll have to prove that you own an RR to get another. The same goes for the carbon-fiber front airdam and rear aero diffuser, the aluminum vented hood and the adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing.

Despite these lightweight pieces, the RR is only 22 pounds lighter than the Honda Civic Type R upon which it is based, even with the lightweight carbon-fiber Recaro racing seats inside the cabin.

You won't find a substantial power uplift either. In prototype form, the RR was said to have a 256-horsepower, 2.2-liter version of the Honda K20A engine, but the production version sticks with the standard displacement of 1,998cc. Mind you, the 237 hp it does produce is more power than the stock 222-hp Type R unit. The improvements come from a ram-air intake, a larger cold air box, new intake and exhaust camshafts, stiffer valve springs, a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, a low-restriction catalyst and dual exhaust.

Track Record
Now, we're big fans of the Honda Civic Type R, even though its appearance in Japan as a four-door sedan instead of a three-door coupe caused something of a scandal (Honda U.K. even built its own Type R coupe in response).

The Type R's grooved, street-legal slicks, limited-slip differential and a K20A with a 9,000-rpm redline make it pretty impressive. The Mugen RR sets out to be even more focused, but we can't help but cynically imagine that this will be like the difference between a four-blade and a five-blade disposable razor, i.e. largely imaginary. After all, the Civic Type R's own K20A spins out 225 hp at 8,000 rpm and 158 pound-feet of torque at 6,100 rpm.

Nevertheless, the Mugen RR is 2 seconds quicker than the Type R around the Tsukuba Circuit, the 1.3-mile road course that Japanese car manufacturers regard as an important standard of speed just like the Nürburgring Nordschleife (only, you know, shorter). So the RR does the business.

For the rest of the article;
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=131768?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*#2